National
• 3 hours ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
Cambodia Reaffirms Abolition of Death Penalty as Deputy PM Leads Paris Delegation
PHNOM PENH, July 6, 2026 – Cambodia has reaffirmed its firm stance against capital punishment at the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice H.E. Keut Rith leading the Kingdom's delegation to the international forum.
The congress, held from June 30 to July 2, 2026, brought together approximately 700 delegates from 19 countries and major international organizations. French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed the gathering.
Cambodia is one of only two Southeast Asian nations to have abolished the death penalty, a position it has maintained since 1989. The abolition is enshrined in both the 1989 Constitution of the State of Cambodia and the 1993 Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, reflecting the country's commitment to the right to life and human dignity.
Photo Credit: ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ Ministry of Justice
At the forum, H.E. Keut Rith outlined the Royal Government's support for ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims to abolish the death penalty. This ratification would represent a new step consistent with Cambodia's constitutional framework and its more than three decades of practice without capital punishment.
The ratification would also demonstrate Cambodia's firm commitment on the international stage to the elimination of the death penalty and the promotion of human rights, justice, and dignity. Once ratified, Cambodia would have an international obligation not to reintroduce the death penalty in the future.
— Source: Ministry of Justice
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
The congress, held from June 30 to July 2, 2026, brought together approximately 700 delegates from 19 countries and major international organizations. French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed the gathering.
Cambodia is one of only two Southeast Asian nations to have abolished the death penalty, a position it has maintained since 1989. The abolition is enshrined in both the 1989 Constitution of the State of Cambodia and the 1993 Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, reflecting the country's commitment to the right to life and human dignity.
Photo Credit: ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ Ministry of JusticeAt the forum, H.E. Keut Rith outlined the Royal Government's support for ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims to abolish the death penalty. This ratification would represent a new step consistent with Cambodia's constitutional framework and its more than three decades of practice without capital punishment.
The ratification would also demonstrate Cambodia's firm commitment on the international stage to the elimination of the death penalty and the promotion of human rights, justice, and dignity. Once ratified, Cambodia would have an international obligation not to reintroduce the death penalty in the future.
— Source: Ministry of Justice
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
