The May 20 National Day of Remembrance serves as a time to commemorate the suffering of the victims of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. Supplied
The National Day of Remembrance, observed annually on May 20, is one of 26 reparation projects initiated by civil parties — survivors and victims of the Khmer Rouge regime — and officially recognised by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. This day was established as an official holiday by the Royal Government of Cambodia under Sub-Decree No. 19 ANK.BK, dated February 14, 2018.
It serves to commemorate the victims and honour the immense suffering endured during the Democratic Kampuchea regime, which lasted from April 17, 1975, to January 6, 1979.
The National Day of Remembrance, along with other ECCC reparation projects, aims not only to provide symbolic justice, but also to preserve the memory of the Khmer Rouge atrocities for future generations.
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) is a hybrid tribunal established in 2006 by the Royal Government of Cambodia in cooperation with the UN. Its mandate is to prosecute senior leaders and those most responsible for crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge regime between April 17, 1975, and January 6, 1979, including crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. As a result of its proceedings, ten Khmer Rouge leaders were investigated and tried.
Among them, Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch), Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Khieu Samphan is currently serving his sentence in Kandal Provincial Prison.
Since the conclusion of its judicial proceedings in late 2022, the ECCC has been carrying out its legacy functions, focusing on education and public outreach to help prevent future atrocities and genocide in Cambodia, the region, and beyond.
Since 2023, the ECCC Mobile Resource Centre (ECCC Bus) has reached high school and university students in 133 locations across all 25 provinces and capitals, engaging a total of 86,596 participants. Additionally, the ECCC Resource Centre welcomed 46,558 domestic and international visitors, while 39,379 students, researchers and members of the public have utilised the library and its facilities for study and research.
Today, the Resource Centre Library is drawing significant interest, with 150 to 200 students coming to study there each day. It is becoming a vibrant hub for nurturing the next generation of young men and women, students and scholars in this era of peace.
In addition, to preserve this history as a human legacy for the world and future generations — to foster understanding of genocide and help prevent its recurrence — the ECCC has established a consultation room for victims of the Khmer Rouge regime and a permanent exhibition hall documenting the 16-year trial process, 2006 to 2022. A remembrance park is also under development and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
In addition to ongoing efforts, the Cambodian people are fortunate to have the visionary leadership of His Excellency Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, who has outlined a long-term plan to establish an institution dedicated to preserving the legacy of the ECCC.
The future ECCC Heritage Institution will serve as a centre for remembrance, the preservation of historical archives and the promotion of the ECCC’s legacy. It will also provide a platform for scholars and researchers in the fields of peace education, genocide prevention, transitional justice and the commemoration of victims, while advancing the values of culture, peace, development and justice.
This piece was authored by the Public Affairs Section of the ECCC. The views and opinions expressed are the organisation’s own.
