Cambodia Genocide Survivors Celebrate New UNESCO Status
UNESCO Honors Cambodia’s Genocide Sites
Survivors Praise the World Heritage Listing
- Chum Mey, one of the few who escaped Tuol Sleng (S‑21), now sells his memoirs inside the prison compound. He described his torture as “beating, electrocution and starvation.” His tears turned into thrilled joy when UNESCO inscribed the site.
- Norng Chanphal, a child of S‑21, returns daily to the museum. He felt “so glad and excited” that Tuol Sleng now receives international recognition. For him the designation offers a lasting lesson of life and a reminder that the regime must never recur.
- Women such as Khuon Sovann and her sister prayed in front of victim inscriptions. They regarded the UNESCO listing as a “good” step that would preserve the memorial and honor the suffering of Cambodians.
Three Sites Earn World Heritage Status
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S‑21) – former high school turned notorious prison for an estimated 15,000 victims.
- Choeung Ek Genocide Centre – a cremation site of mass killings.
- M‑13 – a rural location in central Kampong Chhnang province where many were executed.
Legacy and Future Generations
The inscription acknowledges the Cambodian government’s effort to transform a land “once ravaged by war and genocide” into a place of peace and dignity.
Survivors see the UNESCO recognition as a reminder that the next generations must learn the history, honor the victims, and keep the memory of that horror alive forever.
