More than 200 Phnom Penh officials yesterday received a presentation from Ministry of Justice officials promoting free local “justice centres” for resolving disputes outside the court system.

Seng Sovannara, under secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice, said that the justice centre project aimed to resolve controversy outside the courts.

“[We aim] to continue ... the project in 2011 to reach the construction of an out-of-court system,” said Seng Sovannara.

Seng Sovannara said that the Justice and Interior ministries had established 20 district-level centres and 57 commune-level committees between 2006 and 2010.

According to Ministry of Justice figures, the project received 6,106 dispute cases from January 2007 to March 2010, of which 2,319 cases were resolved, 186 were sent to court, 270 found no resolution, 25 withdrew their complaints and 3,306 are ongoing.

Phnom Penh Municipal Deputy Governor Pa Socheatevong said that the centres had contributed to the settlement of  labour disputes.