Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Cambodian courts to unveil public information boards

PHNOM PENH, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian courts this week will unveil public information boards designed to improve the accessibility and transparency of the country's legal system, local media reported Wednesday.

The information boards, installed in sets of three, make details of court rules and procedures available to the public, the Mekong Times newspaper said.

The first board lists civil dispute filing fees and lists the criteria under which fees may be waived; the second lists the defendants' rights under the newly passed Criminal Procedure Code; and the third board provides information on the rights of accused persons, minors and victims of crime, it said.

The project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the East West Management Institute (EWMI), hopes to have public information boards at every provincial court by mid-July.

The idea for the information boards came from a model courthouse in Kandal province developed by the Ministry of Justice with USAID support, a U.S. embassy spokesman said.

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