The Council of Ministers on May 19 approved a draft law on civil registry documents, statistics and identification at a plenary session chaired by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The proposed law concerns important life events, covering among other things the registration of births, deaths and marriages.

The existing regulatory framework governing civil registry documents, statistics and identification is limited to the sub-decree level, and does not fully reflect contemporary societal development in Cambodia, according to a press release issued on the same day by the Council of Ministers – or Cabinet.

Comprising 12 chapters and 18 articles, the bill seeks to set forth precise rules and procedures in these areas to better safeguard associated rights and promote the quality of public services.

The law also aims to serve as a foundation for managing statistics, registrations, censuses, and development planning, as well as to ensure a legal identify for each individual.

The press release stressed that the bill was drafted in conformity with existing laws, including those on personal status litigation and non-suit civil case proceedings, as well as the civil code.