Juvenile Defendants’ Right to be Tried within a Reasonable Time in Cambodia: An International Human Rights Analysis

A delay in proceedings pending trial has a significant impact on defendants, particularly juveniles. The majority of prominent human rights instruments and their governing bodies seek to address the right to be tried within a reasonable time. Nevertheless, the unique position of juvenile defendants in relation to this right is considered with substantial inconsistency. Cambodia has ratified several international treaties acknowledging this fundamental right and recently adopted the Juvenile Justice Law. Consequently, this article examines the extent to which the right for juvenile defendants to be tried within a reasonable time has been incorporated into the relevant international, as well as the Cambodian legislative framework, and case law