ADB Supports Integration of Environmental Law into Cambodian Judicial Education
On 28 May 2026, the Royal Academy for Justice of Cambodia (RAJC) launched its inaugural training program on environmental law for judge trainees. The program is anchored by a comprehensive curriculum developed and tested with the support of ADB. With this launch, the RAJC assumes full ownership of the environmental law training program, independently and sustainably preparing judges to adjudicate environmental cases.
The RAJC developed this program as part of a multi-year initiative under ADB’s Regional Technical Assistance Strengthening Judicial Capacity Towards Sustainable Economic Development in Asia and the Pacific. In 2023 and 2024, experts from ADB’s Law and Policy Reform Program provided foundational training on environmental law, environmental case management, and legal pedagogy to a core group of teacher judges and faculty members. In parallel, the ADB experts produced a comprehensive environmental and climate law curriculum, as well as detailed teaching notes, to ensure the long-term sustainability of this capacity-building endeavor. The ADB experts completed and formally handed over these training materials to the RAJC in 2025.
At this inaugural training session, ADB experts successfully transitioned to a supporting role, providing remote coaching and observation while the RAJC trainers commanded the room, driving active participation among the aspiring judges. The trainers applied tailored teaching techniques, including small group discussions and practical learning exercises. They also enriched the ADB-produced materials with their own perspectives and experiences, demonstrating a high level of expertise, local leadership, and ownership of the program.
This partnership between ADB and RAJC continues to provide a solid foundation for sustained judicial environmental law training. RAJC trainers are scheduled to lead subsequent environmental law training sessions in June and August 2026. In addition, there are plans for the Cambodia Ministry of Justice to publish the ADB-produced training materials, further embedding environmental law in the institutional training of future generations of judges, prosecutors, and other court officials.