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The Cambodian National Commission For Unesco:
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| The Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO is the main counterpart of the UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh. Since its creation in 1997, the National Commission has been the institution responsible for structuring the multi-faceted contacts that UNESCO keeps with civil society and national authorities. The National Commission is therefore the focal point for the implementation of many UNESCO activities in the country. |
 In Cambodia, the National Commission includes representatives from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Culture and Fine Arts, and Information. The Cambodian National Commission is chaired by H.E. Mr. Sok An, Senior Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers. The Deputy Chair is H.E. Ms. San Saphoeun, Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. The Secretary-General of the National Commission is Ms. Tan Theany and its Deputy-General is Mr. Yos Eang. The Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO initiates and participates in many projects and activities of UNESCO in Cambodia, such as:
- The monitoring of the implementation of projects funded under the UNESCO "Participation Programme". These projects are directly executed by different Ministries and government agencies, such as the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the APSARA Authority or the Ministry of Environment.
- The National Commission for UNESCO acts as a focal point for the World Heritage process in Cambodia, including the request for nomination of sites and the subsequent submission to the World Heritage Centre of the national tentative list of Cambodia. Upon finalisation, this list will identify the priorities of the Royal Government of Cambodia in the field of the safeguarding and enhancement of their cultural and natural heritage. It is worth noting that Cambodia made in 2002 an official request for the inscription of the temples of Preah Vihear and Banteay Chmar into the World Heritage List. The National Commission for UNESCO also submitted to the World Heritage Centre in December 2002 an official request of assistance from UNESCO for the updating of the natural sites within the national tentative list of Cambodia.
- In close co-operation with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the National Commission for UNESCO facilitates the work for the reinforcement of the existing legal framework in the field of the protection of cultural heritage. This includes the preparation of the Sub-decree of implementation of the 1996 Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage and the ratification of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects. This international instrument complements the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
- In close partnership with the UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO participates in the organisation of various conferences, seminars and workshops in the various fields of competence of the Organisation, including the 11th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation (Phnom Penh, 6-9 March 2001). Among other events in 2002, the National Commission for UNESCO facilitated a National Conference on ECCE Policy and Co-ordination for High Level Inter-Ministerial Group that took place on 28-29 October 2002 in Phnom Penh.
- The Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO also contributes to the implementation of specific activities in partnership with UNESCO, such as the Festival of Asian Children's Art, 2000-2002.
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