THE CIVIL REGISTRATION

OF

KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA

Heng Sophat 1

Table of Contents

1- Background

2- Policy and Legal framework

3- Civil Registration’s System

4- Civil Registration’s Procedure

5- CR Implementation

6- Issues and challenges

7- Partner Supporting

8- Strategic plan of Civil Registration

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1- Background

Before civil war, Cambodia used to have a legal base

( civil code) and a proper civil registration system for

providing services to its population. The civil code has

allowed minister of interior and minister of justice

issuing joint guidelines for establishing the formalities

and procedures of civil registration. At that time, the

implementation has well processed, but however, this

affair was not comprehensively implemented over the

country because some people are still unavailable CR

documents for use. Esp., the people living in the

remote area. 3

1- Background

In 1970 because of civil war, the civil registration was

implemented only in the urban area especially in

Phnom Penh.

Around 1975 to 1979, the civil registration was

completely eliminated and all the documents related

to civil registration were completely destroyed.

Around 1979 to 2002, the civil registration started to

process all over the country. But the formality was

not uniform and the procedures were differences

from one place to other. However, most of people

have still unregistered the birth registration. 4

1- Background

In December 2000, by the sub-decree 103,

the Ministry of Interior, RGC, created the

legal framework for civil registration system

in the country.

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2- Policy and Legal framework

Base on sub-decree 103, Civil registration is the

common bond tying nationality with the state and

status of a person within his/her own family, national

society and establishes duties and obligations for that

person. Civil registration certificates are letters that

record civilian ship of Khmer citizens and foreigners

who are legally living within jurisdiction specified by

laws of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Civil registration

certificates include birth certificate, marriage

certificate and death certificate. 6

2- Policy and Legal framework

In Cambodia CR has defined to record three main

legal events : Birth, marriage & death

Birth : Sub-decree 103, has defined that the

parents must bring baby to register at commune or

sangkat of their permanent address on time during

30 days after giving birth and it will be free of charge.

Marriage : Cambodian law provided complete

right & freedom to man & woman having suitable

qualification to marriage without imposing.

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2- Policy and Legal framework

Death : Cambodian policy has encourage the

dead registration to person died in order to finish

the legal individuality of that person & to the state or

relation or person interested to manage & to protect

the interest of the dead person.

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2- Policy and Legal framework

Cambodia has been a new civil code in 2007, but this code

have been implemented in 2012. However the new CR

system, from 2002, have suitable legal base to implement.

Those legal bases are :

Law on nationality

Law on marriage and family

Law on immigration

Law on inter country child adoption

Sub decree No.103 on civil registration

Sub decree No.183 on marriage between C & F

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3- Civil Registration’s System

Administration Structure for CR

Center : Ministry of Interior, Department General of

Local Administration, Department of General

Administration, Office of Statistic & Civil Registration.

Province : Provincial Administration, Provincial Office

of Statistic & Civil Registration.

District : District Administration, Office of General

Administration and Finance.

Commune : Commune office.

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4- Civil Registration’s Procedure

CR documents are issued by mandated officials

at commune/sangkat level.

The CR system allows the state to know the

exact number of its population, to protect its

citizens and to do socio-economic development

planning.

The responsibility of recording birth, marriage

and death has been given to CC and chief of

commune for official assigned in this purpose.

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4- Civil Registration’s Procedure

The registrars are recorded in two identical books.

After closing the books, one was sent to first

instance for legal used and other was sent to

district for safe keeping, issuing a copy to applicants.

The CR books are to be opened on first Jan. of the

current year and closed on the last day of the year.

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4- Civil Registration’s Procedure

Most people did not have any type of CR

documents, so witnesses are the proof for their

civil status.

In the record has been taken thumb print from

witness, person concerned and/or reporter.

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5. CR implementation

Before the national mobile civil registration

less than 5% of the birth certificate issued.

During the national mobile civil registration

birth and death certificate are delivered free

of charge.

MoI conducted training on how to register to

mobile team members which is supported by

ADB.

ADB provides incentive for mobile team

member $5/100 records registered. 14

5. CR implementation

MoI conducted a public information campaign

directed to population on importance and benefits

of birth, marriage and death registration documents.

Plan international Cambodia and UNICEF assist MoI

on public awareness campaigns.

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5. CR implementation

Over 90% of birth certificate issued. (11,828,208 B

& CB. Registered compare to the total population

of 12,860,124 in 2006).

Start computerizing CR data [2002-2006] in 2009

supported by ADB.

Over 6 millions records were included into

computerized system.

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6- Issues and challenges

Some people living in the remote area have

ignored in civil registration, however the mobile

team members have reached to their home.

C/S official ’ s capacity in civil registration

implementation.

People’s migration from one place to other.

The report of the implemented result is not timely.

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6- Issues and challenges

Legal framework (sub decree’s gaps).

Institutions & procedures of CR

Human resource, Training, Capacity Building &

Public awareness.

Supported mean, equipment, Budget for serving CR

CR use for health system planning & Linking CR

with social economic development

Need more funds from Govt. and partners in order

to sustain the supply of system.

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7- Partner Supporting

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UNICEF Supported

Piloting to 3 provinces is :

Prey Veng, Kamchay Mea District, 8

Communes and 129 Village

Svay Rieng, Svay Teab District, 9 Communes

and 60 Villages

Kompong Speu, Samroung Tong District, 15

Communes and 296 Villages

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Cause of death

1 Respiratory infection CMgWpøÚvdegðIm

2 High Blood Pressure CMgWelIsQam

3 Traffic accidents eRKaHfñak;cracr

4 Diabetes CMgWTwkenamEp¥m

5 Heart disease CMgWebHdUg

6 TB CMgWrebg

7 HIV/AIDS CMgWeGds_

8 Meningitis CMgWrlakeRsamxYr

9 Malaria CMgWRKuncaj; 21

Cause of death

10 Diarrhea CMgWrak

11 Dengue CMgWRKunQam

12 Cholera CMgWGasnñeraK

13 Typhoid CMgWRKuneBaHevon

14 Liver cancer CMgWmharIkeføIm

15 Lung cancer CMgWmharIksYt

16 Cervical cancer CMgWmharIkmat;s,Ún

17 Maternal deaths mrNPaBmata

18 Others CMgW b¤ eRKaHfñak;epSg²

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WHO-HMN Supporting

Supported the budget to MoI for strengthening

capacity building on CR to Provincial/Capital,

District/Khan/Municipality and Commune level

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URC Supporting

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MBDD

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Sample of Death Reports

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Communes

MBDD Data Flow

Districts

Province

Ministries • System Administrator (User Control, Permission

Control…)

• Check and Feedback

• Generate Report

• Check and Feedback to district or communes

under coverage

• Generate report

• Check and Feedback to communes under

coverage

• Generate Report

• Entry/Edit/View for own data

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Com

Com

Com

Com

Com

Com

MBDD

Input

Process and Storage on Cloud

Output

Pilot MBDD web based database

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MBDD

MBDD Data Collection

Birth Death

Married

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8- Strategic plan for Civil Registration

Ensure all Cambodian people are available CR

documents for use.

Strengthen CR system with quality, effectiveness,

sustainability.

Joint highest children’s right & protect Cambodia

children through birth registration after birth.

Contribute to protect Cambodian people living

legally abroad.

Joint to strengthen rule of law, enhance the right &

obligation of people through civil registration.

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6- Strategic plan for Civil Registration

Cooperate with MoH for birth and death

registration, esp. to find out the cause of death.

Cooperate with partners to develop our legal

frameworks related to civil registration.

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Thank You for Your Kind Attention !

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