Cambodia continues efforts to establish a Legacy Institution for genocide prevention, education
This photo taken on March 28, 2025 shows tourists looking at portrait photos of victims of the Khmer Rouge regime at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh. The ECCC Legacy Institution aims to prevent the recurrence of the genocidal regime and support public education. - AFP
PHNOM PENH: The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has shared a concept note on the establishment of the ECCC Legacy Institution, which aims to prevent the recurrence of the genocidal regime and support public education.
This dissemination took place on June 19, and was chaired by Vongsey Vissoth, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers and chairman of the Working Group for Cooperation with the UN and Development Partners for the Implementation of the ECCC's Residual Functions.
The meeting was attended by officials from relevant ministries, Joseph Scheuer, UN coordinator in Cambodia, representatives from 18 embassies, and representatives from numerous domestic and international organisations.
Vissoth stated that Prime Minister Hun Manet has a far-reaching vision to establish the ECCC Legacy Institution. He noted that the institution aims to strengthen and maintain long-term peace in Cambodia, prevent the recurrence of atrocities and genocide and share Cambodia's hard-earned experiences related to post-conflict resolution, peacebuilding and transitional justice at the regional and global level.
He added that the institution will have the mission of managing and preserving archives related to the ECCC, as well as promoting training and research on the ECCC's achievements, valuable experiences and jurisprudence.
In addition, it will educate future generations of Cambodian youth and the general public to prevent atrocities and genocide in Cambodia. It will also foster partnerships with national and international institutions to enhance education, peacebuilding, the prevention of genocidal crimes and transitional justice.
'The meeting participants fully supported the establishment of this Legacy Institution and pledged their support to make it a significant hub for information and research through education, dissemination and in-depth national and international research to promote justice within peace, and to prevent crimes and atrocities in the future, with the goal of maintaining long-term peace in Cambodia, the region and the world,' said an ECCC statement.
Vissoth expressed gratitude for the support of the UN and the international community for the ECCC's operations. He called on relevant parties, the international community, development partners, private sector leaders and international organisations to participate in this initiative and support Cambodia's new institution.
He also urged contributions of ideas and resources in partnership to establish the ECCC Legacy Institution, contributing to shared regional and global responsibilities for peacebuilding, post-conflict resolution and transitional justice. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
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