The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) welcomed archivists from Cambodia and Vietnam for the training “Records and Archives Management Program 2024” on August 28, 2024. Organized by the National Archives of Korea (NAK) and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of Korea, this training aims to enhance skills and foster knowledge exchange related to digitization.
The day's agenda included two lectures on "Long-term Digital Preservation Policy & Technical Information Management" and "UNESCO Memory of the World Preservation Project and Case Study," followed by a guided tour of the ECCC's premises and its Resource Centre.
This event provided an opportunity for archivists from various institutions to gain insights into advanced digital preservation techniques and modern archival methods implemented by the National Archives of Korea. Participants included archivists from the ECCC, the Legal Documentation Centre (LDC), the National Archives of Cambodia (NAC), the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (TSGM) and the Records and Archives Department of Vietnam (SRADV).
H.E. Tony Kranh, Acting Director of the Office of Administration at the ECCC, provided context in his welcome speech, stating: “With regard to Cambodia Archives system, we have the Law on Archives. It was enacted in 2005 and the Sub-Decree on the Organization and Functioning of the Archives Council was issued in 2019, to establish principles and procedures for the effective management and maintenance of public archives. Nevertheless, we should consider whether this Law needs to be updated and modernized in accordance with current digitization.”
He added: “The pillar of the reform is human resources above all. We need skilled people with a good career perspective. Therefore, I believe that this program will significantly contribute to the development of skilled and competent individuals in this very important field.”
This training day is part of the "Records and Archives Management Program 2024", which began in 2022. This year, the training runs from August 26 to 30 and is specially organized in Phnom Penh. It highlights the importance of digitization in modern archival practices, a focus that will continue to shape the future of archival management in the region.
