The Ministry of Interior’s General Department of Prisons (GDP) is planning to hold a forum with relevant ministries, embassies, and human rights NGOs to find a comprehensive solution to ongoing overcrowding issues in prisons, as the number of inmates continues to rise.

During an inspection tour of the Svay Rieng provincial prison, Chhorn Sannath, GDP director-general, explained that in order to address overcrowding, the department is working on easing case backlogs, promoting humanitarian principles, seeking pardons, reducing sentences and transferring inmates to other prisons, according to an interior ministry TV (MOI TV) broadcast on Wednesday, September 11.

“As a final measure, we have transferred between 200 and 250 inmates to other prisons. Now, only 6 or 7 facilities still have space for inmates. Other places have refused to take more due to severe overcrowding,” he said.

He added that to tackle this challenge, the GDP is conducting internal meetings and will seek policy approval from Minister of Interior Sar Sokha to organise a roundtable discussion or workshop in the future. 

The department will invite officials from several relevant ministries, including the ministries of justice, finance, social affairs, education and interior, as well as representatives from embassies to Cambodia, human rights organisations and other relevant bodies to join the forum.

“Only by working together can we resolve the overcrowding issue once and for all. Prisons are not the sole responsibility of the GDP or the interior ministry, but are the collective responsibility of the government, as well as all citizens and prison officials,” he added. 

He also claimed that while overcrowding in Cambodian prisons is currently ranked sixth within ASEAN countries, the department is "preparing in advance" to prevent future challenges. The interior minister has advised the GDP to not only focus on expanding prison facilities, but also consider the broader picture.

"We are only ranged at level six in terms of overcrowding. In the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar, the situation is worse than ours. However, if we don’t prepare for the future, when we cross the red line, then what will we do?” he said. 

According to the interior ministry, there are currently over 50,000 inmates of 49 nationalities in prisons nationwide. The GDP has transferred management of them to all provincial prisons, and most provinces are managing effectively. However, some provinces still face issues, and require further monitoring and improved efficiency.

At the Svay Rieng prison, there are 1,535 inmates, of whom 826 were convicted of drug-related crimes, including 62 women. During the inspection tour, it was observed that individual cells are severely overcrowded, despite the installation of shelves to store personal belongings. 

As a further solution, the GDP has ordered the construction of storage units outside the cells and the removal of unnecessary items from inside the rooms, according to the ministry.

Am Sam Ath, operations director at rights group LICADHO, could not be reached for comment on the matter on Thursday, September 12.