Projects
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge was responsible for 1.7 million deaths between 1975 and 1979. After decades of silence, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia gives victims and their families a final chance to find justice.
Since 2003, the Open Society Justice Initiative has been present on the ground in Cambodia to monitor developments, raise local and international awareness about the court, and provide technical assistance in the lead-up to the court’s opening. After long delays and troubled negotiations, the court, imperfect as it is, officially started operations in July 2006. Five individuals were subsequently arrested, and the first trial began in March 2009. Twelve thousand people have so far actually traveled to the court to witness some part of the proceedings, and countless more have tuned into radio and TV feeds.
This impressive progress, however, is set against a backdrop of crippling administrative and operational problems. In 2007, the Justice Initiative brought to light serious allegations of corruption at the court. It has been a vocal advocate for much needed changes, including protections for whistleblowers.
Meanwhile, the court also suffers from a lack of independent outreach efforts to the Cambodian people. Journalists wanting to report on the court’s work have had difficulty getting information from the court or accessing what they need to cover its proceedings.
The court continues to search for additional funds from the international community to finish its work, now virtually certain to extend beyond its initial three years.
