The government’s long-awaited draft acid law has been submitted to the Council of Ministers, an official said yesterday, though he warned that there would be a lengthy review process ahead.

Ouk Kimlek, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Interior and vice president of the Acid Control Commission, confirmed yesterday that the draft law had been passed to the Council of Ministers late last month.

“We have a long time to complete the job because the Council of Ministers will convene inter-ministry [reviews] to see the draft law again and hold a full session to adopt it before sub-sending it to the national assembly,” he said.

Om Samat, a senior investigations officer at the rights group Licadho, called yesterday for the draft law to be made public to civil society organistations and victims and urged the government to speed up its passage.

“The meaning of the draft law is good ...  I hope when the law is enforced, it will reduce victims of acid attacks,” he said.