PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Social Affairs met with the Chair of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on November 7 to discuss the progress and challenges of implementing the recommendations of the UNCRC in Cambodia.

UNCRC Chair Ann Marie Skelton praised the Cambodian government’s efforts to implement child protection rights, especially those of the relevant ministries and institutions and the General Secretariat of the National Council for Children.

Along with discussing Cambodia’s progress in child rights, the leaders also focused on accelerating the adoption of the Law on Child Protection and the Handbook on Child Protection Procedures for local administrations.

Social Affairs Minister Chea Somethy, who is also Chairman of the National Council for Children, said that the Ministry will continue to make more efforts to implement UNCRC recommendations and continue good cooperation with UNICEF.

He added that the Ministry is currently chairing the inter-ministerial technical working group to prepare a draft law on child protection, which will be finalized and submitted to the Council of Ministers Legal Counsel for review before submitting it to the National Assembly for approval in the near future.

The Minister thanked the UN for its cooperation and support in technical assistance and through UNICEF funding to support the upcoming draft laws.