KhmerRouge

The Cambodian people have seen massive shifts of the pendulum when it comes to their art, architecture and music. 

As Cambodia closes in on 50 years since the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime, generational trauma persists in many households and the country continues to maneuver the legacy of the mass atrocities committed during the 1970s.

This essay reflects on the history of the Khmer Rouge through a millennial, second-generation survivor's perspective, informed by recounted stories and existing research as way of embracing the future. 

‘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.

GIZ Cambodia supports justice and healing processes. The project aims to integrate the ECCC’s experiences into Cambodia’s national reconciliation processes, promoting healing for the victims and long term social reconciliation.

Khmer Rouge Tribunal or Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) designed as a resource for researchers, educators, and the general public, the ECCC website provides up-to-date information on the court's proceedings, open access to public archives, and interactive tools to deepen understanding of the legal efforts to address the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge.  

Kdei Karuna works with young people, schools, and survivors to explore the issue of gender-based violence during the Khmer Rouge regime. Their activities include youth soft skills development, creating safe spaces for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors, empowering youth leaders to address past community conflicts, and establishing youth-friendly clubs focused on Khmer Rouge history and peer education. 

This article is based on a presentation by Ms. Kasumi Nagakawa during a panel discussion at a 2015 HBF conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the fall of Phnom Penh.  Read full conference report here