DPA
Phnom Penh - The United Nations' Cambodia office said Wednesday that the government should allow extra time for interested parties to examine an anti-corruption law that has been criticized as flawed. The parliament, which is dominated by the ruling Cambodian People's Party, began debating the draft law Wednesday, one day after a coalition of civil society groups called for more time to study its provisions.
"[The UN country team] notes with concern that an extraordinary session was convened only days after the draft was shared publicly with parliamentarians," the UN said, adding that the lack of public input into legislation had become standard practice in recent years.
Cambodia is ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, and donors and civil society have been calling since 1995 for a law to tackle graft.
The UN said the draft law ought to be debated openly by all interested parties "to ensure that it is consistent with international standards as required by the constitution" as well as making sure that it protects the rights of all Cambodians.
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