Education: Cambodian lawyers and student lawyers training courses – 23 to 26 December 2014
Henri Capitant Association in partnership with the Lyon Bar Association, and the Cambodian Bar Association organized three days of training in criminal law and ethics for Cambodian practitioners and student-lawyers. Focused on current issues, training is a perfect example of the association insertion in the local legal area, which makes it an important partner for institutional events. Among the trainers, were present Mr Frédéric DOYEZ (Lawyer, representative of the Lyon Bar Association) and Mr Pierre FRONTON (Lawyer in Lyon Bar).
This event was divided into two sections. First, sessions on criminal law presented by Mr. Pierre FRONTON and secondly, sessions on ethics presented by Mr. Frédéric DOYER.
We must act like a man of thought and think like a man of action
The first day began with several speeches of personalities here in Cambodia, including the French Ambassador in Cambodia, Jean-Claude POIMBOEUF and the president of the Association Henri Capitant in Cambodia Mr Prasnar YI. The latter recalled the important role of training in the harmonization of law. According to him, contributing to the harmonization of law “is to act upstream, first in schools and universities, but also by supporting training activities in order to improve the understanding of Cambodian law by those whose aim is or will be to defend“.
Further, he underlined the importance to link the academic world with the professional world, highlighting that the mission of the association “requires its opening to and integration of practitioners and legal professionals: ushers, clerks, corporate lawyers, lawyers, notaries, judges, prosecutors; but this mission also requires close cooperation with the authorities and the civil society”.
For his part, The French Ambassador wished to recall the strong links between France and the Kingdom of Cambodia, illustrated in particular by the legal cooperation between the two countries. Addressing the audience, he defined the role of lawyer as a vocation more than a simple job, and quoting the famous phrase of a French barrister, “it is not only the defense of the widow, the fatherless, the victim, but all those who need to make their truth heard“. Moreover, the Ambassador found the right words to highlight the “heavy but exciting” responsibility of lawyers in strengthening the rule of law, and the importance of ethics that remains both “[the] shield” and “[the] weapon” of the profession.
Finally, he underlined that “it is fundamental that local actors like Henri Capitant Association play a leading role in the reflexion process, not only on the theoretical aspects of Cambodian law, but also its practical aspects, and this training today is also a good example”.
Quoting Henri Bergson, Prasnar YI returned to this point in concluding “we must act like a man of thought and think like a man of action.”
Henri Capitant Association in Cambodia wishes to thank, again, all participants, the Embassy of France in Cambodia, the Lyon Bar Association, the Cambodian Bar Association and the Judicial Training Centre.