Speech by UNDP Country Directory Elena Tischenko at Graduation and IT Equipment Handing-Over Ceremony

Opening remarks by Elena Tischenko,
UNDP Country Director, Cambodia

Graduation and IT Equipment Handing-Over Ceremony
UNDP/MoI Capacity Development Initiative for Cambodian ID Card Personnel – a Cambodia-wide undertaking
Ministry of Interior
9 August 2010

Excellency Yun Chhunny, Deputy General Police Commissioner of the Royal Government of Cambodia
Excellency Chan Kimseng, Director of Central Department of Public Order
Excellency Reach Sophort, Deputy Director General of General Department of Local Administration
Excellency Kem Gunawath, General Director of TVK

Distinguished participants and trainees, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon,
First of all, I would like to thank the General Commissariat of National Police, Ministry of Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia for its excellent cooperation thus far with UNDP and development partners. We are here today to mark the graduation of the trained personnel and to witness the hand-over of IT equipment for the issuance of national ID cards.

Allow me to acknowledge on this occasion the efforts undertaken by all to improve the National Identity Card programme and ensure that all Cambodian citizens are served effectively. Although I am still new in Cambodia, I have been very well briefed about this close and fruitful collaboration, which started back in 2006.

UNDP’s support to the Cambodian National ID Programme is part of a broader effort to strengthen democratic reform and electoral processes in the country through technical assistance and capacity development.

For many years, UNDP has been closely involved in electoral support programmes, including assisting Cambodia to conduct elections and adhere to the international standards of inclusive democratic processes. Over time, the nature of our partnership has evolved from event-related electoral assistance to strengthening capacities, mechanisms and instruments in between the ballots. It is in this context that the UNDP-supported project, Strengthening Democracy and Electoral Processes in Cambodia, seeks to assist Cambodia in achieving the following broader objectives: the evolution of democratic values, increased and improved access to information, empowering citizens to exercise their civic rights and understand their obligations and responsibilities as stated in the Cambodian Constitution, and promoting dialogue between the government, political parties and civil society to foster greater political tolerance.

In 2000, the Royal Government of Cambodia launched its national ID card programme with the aim of providing all Cambodians with a legal identity document which could be used for various purposes including business transactions, employment contracts, voting in elections and so forth. These ID cards were issued to last for 10 years. According to the Ministry of Interior’s statistics, several million ID cards will either expire or due to be issued for the first time to Cambodians aged 15 or older during the period of 2010-2013. The estimates for the year 2010 alone show that more than 2 million ID cards need to be renewed/issued, with an additional 5 million to follow for the period 2011-2013.

In order to respond effectively to the need of renewal and issuance of so many identity cards to Cambodian citizens, the Ministry of Interior, together with its partners, have carried out extensive planning and preparations. This includes strengthening IT capacities of MoI personnel through the Information Technology training programme, the first graduates of which we are here to recognise today. The new computer-based ID card application system incorporates the latest in technology, and it is essential that operators are equipped with the right skills to use it in the field.

National ID card personnel were selected from all provinces in Cambodia to participate in the training, which included basic computer skills and more specific training on how to carry out the mobile ID card processing . I would like to acknowledge KhmerDEV, who implemented the training with the support of UNDP and MoI’s National Police Commissariat. UNDP believes that multi-stakeholder partnerships like this one, are crucial if we are to sustainably strengthen national institutions of Cambodia.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

The national ID card is an important legal document that can be used by all Cambodians for a variety of administrative purposes, including employment or unemployment benefits, health care support, education, taxation purposes and voter registration. Malaysia and Singapore are examples in the ASEAN region where national identity cards are woven into the fabric of daily life – in these countries, they are used for a range of processes like the ones I have outlined above.

Acknowledging the significance of having a national ID card system, while being careful to overcome any challenges in implementing it, MoI in collaboration with UNDP, has made efforts to improve the security of the system.

In addition to building technical skills of staff, UNDP and MoI have worked to improve and enhance the legal framework governing the national ID card programme. It is encouraging to note the establishment of the Technical Working Groups by MoI, in which UNDP is participating with other development partners. These technical working groups are expected to review, through broad consultations with stakeholders, and advance important issues including voter registration, electoral reforms, and draft Law on Identification. This range of efforts and unfolding initiatives will allow us to achieve a more effective and unified system for better public service applications, and to positively influence the quality of the voter list for future elections.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our colleagues at MoI and UNDP for bringing us all together for this event. Such training enables us to implement effective and comprehensive systems in support of efficient public service and electoral processes in Cambodia. It also highlights the broader continuing efforts of national stakeholders and development partners to enhance good governance and democratic development in Cambodia.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the trainees who have successfully completed this information technology training course. I wish you all the best in applying your new knowledge and skills to your work.

Thank you.