Cambodia must establish an independent, national human rights institution with the power to conduct investigations and sanction those guilty of violations, representatives of the country’s two leading local rights groups said on Friday. a consortium of rights groups met Thursday in Phnom Penh to discuss the <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/groups-want-independent-human-rights-body/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Unions planning a mass rally at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park on Sunday to call for the release of 23 detainees and a higher minimum wage in the garment industry say they will proceed with the event despite City Hall’s decision Thursday to deny permission. The nine <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/unions-to-proceed-with-mass-rally-in-freedom-park-despite-ban/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

During the third meeting of the joint-party Electoral Reform Commission on Monday, the ruling CPP and opposition CNRP agreed to 14 points for future discussion, but failed to address the central issue of reforming the National Election Committee. The CNRP entered the first round of talks <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cpp-piles-on-talking-points-in-election-reform-talks/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The number of mothers who died in labour has nearly halved over four years, from 182 fatalities in 2011 to 100 in 2015.1​ Deaths among children have also dropped, although they remain comparatively high, and the prevalence of underweight newborns is high compared to many <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/topics/maternal-and-child-health/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Ministry of PlanningODC and the Ministry of Planning has formed a collaborative partnership with an effort to engage CSOs in and strengthen the implementation and review process of the country-specific goals of the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development.Read moreMinistry of Education, Youth and SportOpen <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/about/partnerships/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Small-scale quarries producing construction materials are a key part of the mining industry in Cambodia. Clay for brick and tile manufacturing and sand and gravel are found in many locations.Under the Law on Mineral Resource Management and Exploitation (‘the mining law’) there are six types <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/topics/quarrying/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A SCOTTISH mAn hAs become A Knight in the Kingdom of CAmbodiA for his services to lAndmine cleArAnce in the country. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/scot-honoured-for-cleAring-lAndmines/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The government is drafting a new food safety law in an effort to better protect consumers, a Health Ministry spokesman Friday. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/food-safety-law-being-drafted-by-government/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Democracy watchdog Comfrel yesterday rolled out a new website intended to help young workers garner support for a variety of causes. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/comfrel-launches-online-tool-for-change/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Considered a nuisance throughout much of Cambodia, the long-tailed macaque might not seem like a species in need of protection. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/wild-macaques-laundered-for-sale-in-vietnam/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Data Research and GIS SpecialistKalyan is a data research and GIS specialist at Open Development Cambodia (ODC). He used to work for ODC since it was firstly established in 2011 until 2015. Later he led GIS technical project of GPS navigation in a private sector. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/p_profile/loch-kalyan/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported yesterday that Cambodian officials have agreed to assist in the investigation of a scandal ridden South Korean savings bank with investments in the Kingdom. a South Korean investigation has revealed that bank executives and shareholders used deposits to <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/kingdom-officials-in-on-busan-probe-report/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A ThAi militAry officiAl sAid yesterdAy 38 CAmbodiAns Arrested in ThAilAnd on MondAy were Among A group of About 70 Allegedly Attempting to smuggle luxury rosewood out of SisAket province. A source close to ThAi defence spokesmAn Col ThAnAtip SAwAngsAeng, who spoke on condition of Anonymity, <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/thAi-border-bust-Almost-snAred-70/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Three villagers have been summoned as a result of  bloody clash last year stemming from a land dispute and eviction by the Kompong Speu Provincial Court. The 65 hectares of land have been awarded to Kuo Sheng a Taiwanese businessman by the Supreme court. Licadho, <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/k-speu-court-summons-three-in-land-dispute/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Nautisco Seafood Manufacturing Inc, a Canadian-Cambodian shrimp producer in Preah Sihanouk province, has accused the private equity fund Leopard Capital, one of its shareholders, of draining the company of its finances. In a statement released Friday, Nautisco said that Phnom Penh Municipal Court had ordered the <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/shrimp-firm-in-dispute-with-equity-fund/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Kampong Thom province Police and soldiers have been deployed to Prey Lang forest to monitor the activities of about 500 villagers patrolling for illegal loggers, a police official said yesterday. The police and military officers gathered along a road leading to the CRCK rubber company, which has <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/police-to-monitor-activists/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Shanghai-based Join.In Hospitality Management (JHM) has revealed plans to expand its Tonino Lamborghini Hotel &amp; Resort &ndash; a luxury hotel chain &ndash; by opening a hotel in Siem Reap, its first outside China. In a press release, JHM announced earlier this week that it has <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/siem-reap-resort-in-works-by-china-firm/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A committee of more thAn 20 nAtionAl And internAtionAl orgAnisAtions filed A petition to the EU on October 10 to prevent it from signing A timber trAde Agreement with VietnAm, noting thAt the deAl would be disAstrous to the Kingdom’s forests. The petition clAims VietnAmese <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/eu-timber-deAl-in-firing-line/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The government has decided to set up a protected area of more than 100 hectares in Ratanakkiri province to protect the environment, biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources. a sub-decree, dated December 25 and published by the Environment Ministry yesterday, said the government decided <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/government-designates-lumkod-lake-as-protected/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A senior Ministry of Interior officiAl on TuesdAy instructed municipAl, district And commune Authorities to set Aside A specific time to hold forums with NGOs twice A yeAr to show the willingness And commitment of sub-nAtionAl AdministrAtions to Address their concerns. SecretAry of stAte At <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/government-pushes-tAlks-with-ngos/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>