The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) were established under an agreement between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations.
With the support of the international community, the ECCC investigated crimes that occurred between 17 April 1975 and 6 January 1979 and assisted the people of Cambodia in their pursuit of justice, national reconciliation, and peace.
The ECCC investigated senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea (as Cambodia was then called) along with those who were most responsible for crimes committed at the time.
These two categories were mainly adherents of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, also referred to as the “Khmer Rouge” and members of the “Pol Pot regime”.
khmer rouge
Over a million people were killed or perished in Democratic Kampuchea. Generations were left traumatized by collective mistreatment.
The ECCC investigated more than 100 crime sites across Cambodia. Judges concluded that the Khmer Rouge committed genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
crimes
Victim empowerment is a cornerstone of the ECCC framework which has given a voice to those who suffered at the hands of the Khmer Rouge.
The ECCC enabled victim-survivors to participate meaningfully in the judicial process and allowed them to claim reparations in recognition of their suffering.
The ECCC took
3,936victim statements
and heard the testimony of
334witnesses in three trials
victim-survivors
Investigations and court proceedings took place between 2006 and 2022.
During this time, the ECCC exposed the extent of Khmer Rouge atrocities and became the first internationally supported domestic tribunal to convict a former head of state for the crime of genocide.
judicial process
After completing judicial proceedings, the ECCC commenced residual functions in January 2023.
The ECCC continues to provide for the protection of victims and witnesses, and supervises the enforcement of sentences. It also disseminates information to the public and provides access to documents, among other functions.
today
The ECCC’s case files contain a wealth of unique information.
The archive comprises over two million pages of legally and historically significant documents in Khmer, English and French. It includes tens of thousands of evidentiary records and stores more than 1,350 judicial decisions. The archive can be accessed in person at the ECCC or online by any member of the public.
Over
232,000documents in the judicial archive in Khmer, English and French