Cambodian CRSV Survivors Voice their Needs for Reparations as Hybrid Tribunal Discusses Reparations and Legacy

READ THE REPORT

Today, REDRESS and partner organisations Kdei Karuna and Global Survivors Fund’s (GSF) publish their new report entitled Cambodia Study on opportunities for reparations for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV): left without Calla, which examines the scope and prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) during the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979) and the main obstacles that survivors face in realising their right to reparations.  

The study further explores what survivors’ believe should be included in effective reparation programmes. Finally, the study draws conclusions and explore the steps that the Cambodian authorities, civil society and the international community could take to help survivors in their search for redress.  

The study draws from consultations with survivors in-country, with experts and stakeholders, and desk research. This is part of a multi-country study led by the GSF to fill the gap that exists around the world to honour the right of reparations for survivors of CRSV.  

The report arrives just as the residual functions of the ECCC (the hybrid tribunal dealing with the Khmer Rouge crimes) are being decided. The residual functions are meant to enable final reparations projects and legacy, and facilitate the archiving process. The international civil party (victim) lead co-lawyer of the ECCC also just resigned from her functions because of the lack of resources allocated to her team by the Tribunal. This prevents her and her team from bringing the final judgements to the attention of their clients, and to meaningfully engage them in talks surrounding the tribunal’s residual functions. 

The recommendations included in the study echo the opinions of 82 survivors: The Cambodian government, the ECCC, the international community and donors need to undertake a real commitment and concerted efforts to bridge the gaps in prevention, accountability, justice, reparations and protection of CRSV victims and survivors and their families in Cambodia. In particular, the ECCC should consult survivors, including those who did not participate in the ECCC proceedings in the design and delivery of its residual functions. 

Also read Julie Bardèche and Alejandra Vicente’s Blog post on the same topic here. 

For more on REDRESS’ involvement in the project, see here   

For more information or for an interview, please contact: Eva Sanchis, Head of Communications, on +44 (0) 7857110076 or [email protected] or Julie Bardèche, Legal Advisor, at [email protected] 

Photo from S24, Nhim Kim Sreang, Head of S21 Photography Unit (Toul Sleng Genocide Museum.) Photo courtesy of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DCCam Archives)