UNESCO granted the Tuol Sleng Genocidal Museum with the Jikji Memory of the World award on Friday for its preservation of historical documents and photo archives.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said it will encourage private and State institutions to conserve and preserve the Cambodian heritage.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum director Hang Nisay told The Post on Sunday that the decision on the award was made by the evaluation committee.
“An eight-member evaluation committee was convened to select candidates. The committee selected Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum for this award,” he said.
The museum will be presented with a certificate signed by the UNESCO secretary-general and $30,000 in cash.
“It is good that the international community recognised the documents at our museum. They are of value to humanity to study the history of the Khmer Rouge or the history of the region.
“Receiving the Jikji award makes it meaningful to continue conservation work at our museum,” Nisay said.
The programme, he said, is designed to promote and encourage individuals or institutions that have put in the effort to protect and preserve inherited documents.
The programme also focuses on the goal of education, training, dissemination and sharing of knowledge to citizens of all races and ages.
He said the Jikji award is given to individuals and public institutions once every two years.
