THE CIVIL REGISTRATION

OF
KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA
Heng Sophat
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Table of Contents
1- Background
2- Policy and Legal framework

3- Civil Registrations System

4- Civil Registrations 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.
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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.
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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.

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.
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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.

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 Registrations 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 Registrations 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 Registrations 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 Registrations 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.
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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.
Peoples 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 decrees 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
CMgWpvdegIm
2 High Blood Pressure CMgWelIsQam
3 Traffic accidents eRKaHfak;cracr
4 Diabetes CMgWTwkenamEpm
5 Heart disease CMgWebHdUg
6 TB CMgWrebg
7 HIV/AIDS CMgWeGds_
8 Meningitis CMgWrlakeRsamxYr
9 Malaria CMgWRKuncaj;

1 Respiratory infection

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Cause of death
CMgWrak
11 Dengue CMgWRKunQam
12 Cholera CMgWGasneraK
13 Typhoid CMgWRKuneBaHevon
14 Liver cancer CMgWmharIkefIm
15 Lung cancer CMgWmharIksYt
16 Cervical cancer CMgWmharIkmat;s,n
17 Maternal deaths mrNPaBmata
18 Others CMgW b eRKaHfak;epSg

10 Diarrhea

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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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MBDD Data Flow

Ministries

System Administrator (User Control, Permission

Control)
Check and Feedback
Generate Report

Province

Check and Feedback to district or communes

under coverage
Generate report

Districts

Check and Feedback to communes under

coverage
Generate Report

Communes

Entry/Edit/View for own data

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Input
Com

Output

Pilot MBDD
web based database

Com
Process and Storage on Cloud
Com
MBDD

Com

Com

Com
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MBDD Data Collection

Married

MBDD

Birth

Death

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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 childrens 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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