Dossier

Fifty Years on - Dealing with the Past Means Embracing the Future

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In 2025, we reach a somber milestone: the 50th year of remembrance of the Khmer Rouge's ascent to power. To commemorate this tragic chapter in history and to foster deeper understanding and reflection, we will re-publish a series of articles and special contributions of the Foundation dealing with the past to pave the way for a future of peace and reconciliation.

We start with a suggestion of key readings for our brothers and sisters of generation Z and others to come,  to learn about this dark chapter of Cambodian history, unpacking the complex historical tapestry of the Khmer Rouge era, providing in-depth insights into the regime's origins, its devastating policies, and its lasting scars on the fabric of our society, including particular aspects of gender based violence during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Through rigorous research and compelling narratives around transitional justice, we aim to illuminate the experiences of those who lived through this period, ensuring their stories are not forgotten and that the lessons learned serve to prevent similar atrocities in the future. Finally, we highlight a few examples of project-based works for understanding, healing and moving forward.

The opening contribution of this dossier is written by Ms. Doch Sotheavin, Coordinator for our program on Gender Equality, who belongs to the generation of the Millennials, which still learned elements of this chapter of Cambodian history from direct engagement with their grandparents who raised their parents during that time.

Historical Insights - some reading suggestions

The particularity of gender based violence during the Khmer Rouge Regime

Transition and Justice

Justice done? The Legacy of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal after the judgment of case 002/01, 12th Aug 2014, Phnom Penh

Justice done? The Legacy of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal after the judgment of case 002/01, 12th Aug 2014, Phnom Penh

On the 7th August, 2014, the Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) sentenced Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan to life imprisonment, having found them guilty of crimes against humanity committed between the 17th April, 1975, and December, 1977. This verdict marks the completion of the first trial in Case 02, known as Case 002/01, which commenced on the 21st November, 2011, and concluded in October, 2013, after 20 months of evidentiary hearings.
By Maria Lobato
Justice and Reconciliation After the Khmer Rouge: What Has Been Achieved?

Justice and Reconciliation After the Khmer Rouge: What Has Been Achieved?

On the 40th anniversary of the fall of Phnom Penh, the Heinrich Böll Foundation organised a conference with the purpose of assessing the achievements and the shortcomings of Cambodia’s transitional justice process. “Justice and Reconciliation after the Khmer Rouge Regime: What has been achieved?” took place in Meta House, Phnom Penh, on 18 February 2015, and brought together researchers and experts from a number of different disciplines.
By Maria Lobato
speak-out-sister

Speak Out Sister Project

‘Speak Out sister project’: the NGO KDKG and its cultural centre Meta House, implements Cambodia’s first multi-media campaign “Speak Out, Sisters” (SOS). SOS raises awareness for the plight of SGBV-survivors in past and present among Cambodian youth as a catalyst for positive change.  Project activities include interactive theatre in classrooms, schoolyard exhibitions, intergenerational dialogues, video productions, TV broadcasts and social media outreach in cooperation with NGO “Women’s Media Center” (WMC and the “Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports” (MoEYS). Desired changes are to alter community perceptions of past and present SGBV and to make the broader public more aware that women’s priorities are central to peace.

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