Over the past year, Cambodian government officials and powerful business interests have increased their use of the courts to discourage dissent and protect their financial positions. As a result, the independence of the judiciary has been called into greater question. The general political climate also remains unfavorable to any far-reaching reform of the judicial sector in the short term.

To strengthen support for reform of the judicial sector,in October 2008 USAID/Cambodia awarded a $20 million cooperative agreement to East-West Management Institute Inc. to implement the 5-year Program on Rights and Justice II.

This audit will determine whether USAID/Cambodia’s Program on Rights and Justice II is strengthening the foundation for reform of the judicial sector in Cambodia.

Source: Office of Inspector General - ANNUAL PLAN - FISCAL YEAR 2011