The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), commonly known as the Khmer Rouge tribunal, inaugurated a purpose-built resource centre on September 27.

The centre is intended to serve as the centrepiece of the ECCC’s legacy and as an access point for information, following the completion of judicial proceedings.

The ECCC also launched an educational outreach video series which will highlight various topics related to the chambers’ 16 years of trials and investigations. The video will be released on the ECCC’s social media channels.

Kranh Tony, acting director of administration at the ECCC, said the resource centre is established to respond to the need for broad outreach and educational work related to the trial process. The archives are open to the public.

The centre will also monitor the implementation of projects that support the civil parties and victims of the Khmer Rouge regime.

“The ECCC is proud to announce the inauguration of the resource centre and the launch of an educational outreach short video series,” said Tony during the inauguration event.

The centre is located on the new ECCC premises at Building 40, Russian Blvd (Street 110), downtown Phnom Penh.

Its library and research space will be open to the public from October 2, free of charge. From Monday to Friday, it will be open from 10am to 8pm. On weekends and public holidays, it will be open to 6pm.

The centre has six main parts: a library and research hub, an innovative website, a digital and hard copy archive, a multi-purpose venue for organising workshops and moot courts, a consultation and exhibition venue, and a remembrance and reflection space.

Among the distinguished guests of the inauguration ceremony were the ambassadors and diplomats of several implementing partner countries, including Japan, France, Germany, South Korea and the EU, as well as UN resident coordinator Joseph Scheuer.

Vongsey Vissoth – standing Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers and chair of the Royal Government Task Force on the implementation of the ECCC Residual Functions – presided over the event.

Vissoth reiterated that the government, UN, and the international community will continue to support the ECCC in its residual functions.