Sustainability and Linkages with Other Activities

The Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam)’s overall organizational objective is to archive and publicize original records produced by the Khmer Rouge regime. In doing so, DC-Cam seeks to promote healing, encourage reconciliation and implement transitional justice for Cambodians.

DC-Cam and its funding partners, in particular USAID, place high priority on financial and programmatic sustainability. In that interest, DC-Cam will seek advice and support from other partners, stakeholders and related institutions to inform the development of its sustainability strategies. These are likely to include USAID initiatives such as the Capacity Building of Cambodia’s Local Organizations Program (CBCLO), the Cambodian Civil Society Strengthening Project (CCSSP) and Development Innovations (DI).

DC-Cam also will coordinate and consult with a variety of international, regional and local universities and genocide remembrance, research and teaching organizations for advice on how to achieve greater financial sustainability. Cambodian and international organizations and initiatives are making important contributions to post-Khmer Rouge peace and reconciliation by focusing on archiving Khmer Rouge and ECCC – the Khmer Rouge Tribunal – materials, engaging in genocide education and outreach, and deploying healing-oriented initiatives that rely on art, dance, and traditional therapy to treat victims of the Khmer Rouge.

DC-Cam will continue and extend its collaboration and coordination with these organizations, locally, regionally and internationally grant.

Once the ECCC has completed its work and is closed down, DC-Cam will collaborate with USAID, the UN and the Royal Government of Cambodia on coordinating planning for locating a permanent home for preserving and maintaining the tribunal’s extensive archives. DC-Cam also will cooperate with the CCSSP to conduct public opinion polling on public attitudes as to (i) which entity should retain custody of and be responsible for managing, securing and preserving both the ECCC archives and DC-Cam’s archives; (ii) how the work of the ECCC should be memorialized; and (iii) and what role, if any, the ECCC should have once its adjudicative functions have been discontinued. Results of the polling will be shared with DC-Cam’s partners and stakeholders.