The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) have jointly launched the second phase of the “Peace Education Archives Preservation and Digitisation and Site Conservation for Youth Empowerment (PEACE)” project, also known as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Archives Preservation and Digitisation Project Phase II.
A Grant Arrangement was signed at the museum in Phnom Penh on Aug. 8 by Ms. Choi Moon Jung, Country Director of KOICA Cambodia Office, and Mr. Alam Sardar Umar, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, while the Record of Discussions (RoD) was inked by H.E. Dr. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts and Ms. Choi Moon Jung.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Choi Moon Jung expressed the profound importance of this project. “KOICA’s aid project in Cambodia symbolises the shared sorrow and burden between the Cambodian and Korean people,” she said. “We aim to alleviate Cambodia’
s grief and pain through this project, and it serves as a foundation to educate future generations about Cambodia’s tragic past to protect the country from similar tragedies in the future.”
According to a KOICA’s news release, the first phase of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Archives Preservation and Digitisation Project saw significant achievements, including the digitisation of over 745,494 pages and nearly half a million archives. These records are now accessible through a bilingual website. The project also provided essential technical assistance to the museum staff, contributing to the museum’s recognition with the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize in 2020.
Building on the success of the first phase, it continued, KOICA has committed an additional US$3 million over five years, starting in 2024. This phase extends the project by one year and provides an additional US$1 million in funding compared to the original proposal. The project aims to promote a peaceful society through culture and heritage
education and youth empowerment, aligning with Cambodia’s national strategy, the Pentagonal Strategy – Phase I.
According to the same source, in recognition of the project’s success and the expertise of Mr. Hang Nisay, Director of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, both Rwanda and Timor-Leste have sought his insights, inviting him to join their respective committees. These countries, which have experienced their own tragic histories, value the lessons learned from Cambodia’s digitisation and preservation initiatives. By collaborating with Rwanda and Timor-Leste, Mr. Hang Nisay contributes to a broader international effort to preserve and learn from the past, fostering a global dialogue on memory, justice, and reconciliation.
The tourism sector, a crucial pillar of Cambodia’s economy, has already demonstrated its potential by generating billions of dollars in revenue and creating numerous jobs. In 2019 alone, the sector directly employed 630,000 people, with tourism receipts reaching US$4.9 billion, which constitut
ed 18.2 percent of Cambodia’s GDP-the highest among ASEAN+3 economies. Moving forward, the project aims to attract more tourists, further boosting tourism revenue, creating jobs in conservation, digitisation, and education, and enhancing skills development, particularly in archival management and peace education. These efforts will not only increase employability but also ensure sustainable economic growth for Cambodia.
By ensuring the preservation and accessibility of historical archives, the project facilitate academic research and foster a deep awareness of the past, encouraging a collective responsibility to prevent future atrocities. Additionally, protecting and preserving our cultural heritage sites and promoting intergenerational dialogue not only helps to safeguard our rich cultural legacy but also preserves the oral histories and practices that define our identity. These efforts are vital for fostering a sense of continuity and connection among all generations of Cambodians.
‘On behalf of the gover
nment of the Republic of Korea, KOICA has committedly delivered the responsibilities to strengthen the partnership between the two countries and to bridge the people more closely, and will continue to do so,’ KOICA underlined.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is a bilateral grant aid agency of the government of the Republic of Korea. Since its opening of the Phnom Penh Office in 2003, the KOICA Cambodia Office has implemented various development cooperation programmes in education, health, and rural development sectors.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse