(Phnom Penh): On March 12, 2025, at the Council of Ministers Friendship Building of, H.E. VONGSEY Vissoth, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in Charge of the Council of Ministers and Chairman of the Royal Government’s Task Force on cooperation with the United Nations and Development Partners for the Implementation of the ECCC Residual Functions; presided over its second meeting with participations of H.E. KEO Remy, Senior Minister in charge of Special Missions and Chairman of the Cambodian Human Rights Commission, as well as representatives from 14 relevant line ministries and institutions.

The H.E. Deputy Prime Minister began by expressing his deepest gratitude to Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, former Prime Minister, who was the visionary architect and initiated the ECCC establishment as a model hybrid court and allowed victims to directly participate in court proceedings.

This Court has unprecedentedly, in Cambodia’s more than 500 years of history, contributed to national reconciliation, reached the main objectives in building peace within the spirit of the Paris Peace Accords and through the win-win policy, and especially achieving territorial unity. H.E. Deputy Prime Minister also underscored the far-sighted vision of Samdech Maha Bovor Thipadei HUN MANET, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, who is continuously building on legacy of Samdech Techo in strengthening and maintaining long-lasting peace and sustainable development.

Following the progress report by H.E. HEM Kranh Tony, Acting Director of ECCC Administration Office, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister highly commended the ECCC’s achievement made during the 16-year court proceedings from 2006 to 2022 and in the implementation of the ECCC residual functions 2023-2024, where the Court has preserved a significant and valuable legacy in strengthening peace and national reconciliation through the dissemination and education of historical truth with the aims to understand, remember and prevent the recurrence of atrocities and genocide in Cambodia.

The meeting also discussed and agreed on the contents of the Draft Concept Paper on the Establishment of an ECCC Legacy Institution in the future with the aims to: 1- Manage and preserve the archives as well as establish a museum on the ECCC’s historic Accountability Process; 2- Promote training and encourage research on the ECCC’s valuable achievements, experiences and jurisprudence; 3- Enhance education and outreach programs to future generations and the public on the prevention of atrocities and genocide in Cambodia, regionally and internationally; and 4- Establish partnership with relevant national and international institutions to promote peace education, genocide prevention and transitional justice.

On the establishment of an ECCC legacy institution in the future, H.E. Permanent Deputy Prime Minister added: This legacy institution is a national body with ownership and is also open to national and international organizations and relevant partners to collaborate, especially in relation to promoting the ECCC’s legacy, education, dissemination, in-depth research at the national and international levels, and the support for victims and survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime, as well as promoting a culture of peace, development, and universal justice, which are the core values of Cambodia today.

The meeting ended with the discussion, where a decision was made on a plan to celebrate the National Day of Remembrance on 20th May 2025, in a more broadly, substantively and meaningful way, and for the spirit of promoting the ECCC’s achievements and legacy more widely within the framework of line ministries, as well as national and international institutions, in order to prevent the recurrence of the atrocities in Cambodia, as well as to enhance Cambodia’s work prestige; H.E. Deputy Prime Minister VONGSEY Vissoth requested relevant line ministries and institutions to further participate and strengthen cooperation in a more energetic manner, to ultimately prevent the return of genocide in Cambodia and maintain long-lasting peace and sustainable development in Cambodia.