Khmer Rouge Sites in Cambodia Added to UNESCO Heritage List

On July 11, 2025, UNESCO added three historic sites in Cambodia, linked to the Khmer Rouge’s brutal regime, to its World Heritage List. This decision was made during the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, marking 50 years since the regime’s rise. The move aims to preserve these places as reminders of the tragic past and promote peace and education.

Sites of Brutality Now Sites of Remembrance

The three sites added are,

• Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) in Phnom Penh — a former high school used as a prison where over 15,000 people were tortured.
• M-13 prison in Kampong Chhnang province — an early secret prison operated by the Khmer Rouge.
• Choeung Ek Killing Fields, 15 km south of Phnom Penh — used for mass executions and burials, known worldwide through the film The Killing Fields.

These sites represent some of the darkest events in Cambodian history, where nearly 1.7 million people died between 1975 and 1979 during the Khmer Rouge rule.

Honoring the Past, Educating the Future

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet welcomed the recognition and urged citizens to beat drums across the country on Sunday morning to mark the event. In a video message, he said, “May this inscription serve as a lasting reminder that peace must always be defended.”

Youk Chhang, head of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, said these sites will help educate the younger generation and promote healing and awareness of the past.

The listing is Cambodia’s first nomination of a modern historical site, especially one related to recent conflict and genocide. Previously, Cambodia had four ancient sites on the list: Angkor, Preah Vihear, Sambo Prei Kuk, and Koh Ker.

Global Recognition of Cambodia’s Painful History

The Khmer Rouge took power on April 17, 1975, and forced people from cities into the countryside. Many were starved, tortured, or killed. The regime ended in 1979 when Vietnam invaded. In 2022, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal concluded its work, having convicted only three leaders over 16 years, despite spending $337 million.

The new UNESCO recognition shows a shift towards acknowledging modern conflict sites, not just ancient landmarks, as part of global heritage.