UN pledges support as Cambodia faces justice system strains

PHNOM PENH, March 19, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia has appealed for greater international backing to ease mounting pressures on its justice system, during talks between Justice Minister Koeut Rith and United Nations Resident Coordinator Vladanka Andreeva.

The meeting, held Wednesday at the Ministry of Justice in Phnom Penh, addressed challenges ranging from prison overcrowding and youth justice reform to the rise of cybercrime.

Rith said the government is prioritizing drug-related offences and prison conditions, but stressed that progress would require sustained support from development partners. He called for closer cooperation with UN agencies to help drive reforms.

Andreeva, who recently took up her post in Cambodia, pledged the UN’s commitment to expand assistance, particularly through agencies focused on human rights, child protection and crime prevention.

Both sides also voiced concern over the impact of tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border, where some communities face displacement and economic disruption. Andreeva said the UN would explore options for humanitarian aid to affected residents.

The talks mark an early step in renewed engagement between Cambodia’s justice authorities and the UN, as both seek to deepen collaboration in tackling complex legal and social challenges.