Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ECCC and CSOs will support Khmer Rouge victims, survivors

ECCC and CSOs will support Khmer Rouge victims, survivors

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The meeting on September 08 was generously hosted by the Legal Documentation Center related to the ECCC (LDC) at their office on Russian Boulevard in Phnom Penh. LDC

ECCC and CSOs will support Khmer Rouge victims, survivors

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), commonly known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, on September 8 led the first constitutive meeting of a newly established working group of civil society organisations (CSOs) which discussed ongoing and future work serving the needs of victim-survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime.

The ECCC said in a September 9 press statement that more than 20 people had participated in the meeting, including Hang Vannak, chief of the Victims Support Section, Pich Ang and Falguni Denath, lead co-lawyers for the Civil Parties, Chea Savon, director of the Legal Documentation Center, and 16 representatives of nine civil society organizations.

The meeting follow-ed up on a victim workshop held in May during which a civil society working group was determined to be required to play an active role in victim-centred programmes for the duration of the ECCC.

The statement said that the meeting had produced tangible results, including plans for a neutral secretariat led by civil society organisations and the ECCC. The secretariat will meet monthly through the end of the year to coordinate activities.

“Those present yesterday also agreed that the working group shall remain open to additional participation by any other relevant organisations or institutions with representatives in Cambodia. The administrative structure of this working group will be confirmed in detail at the next meeting in October,” it added.

ECCC is the UN-back tribunal which tries crimes including genocide and crimes against humanity which occurred under the Khmer Rouge regime in the period from 17 April 1975 to 7 January 1979. It is estimated that up to three million people passed away during this period.

The tribunal is approaching closure, with the ECCC set to pronounce the final judgment in Case 002/02 against Khieu Samphan, Khmer Rouge head of state, on September 22.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication