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On May 20, 2025, the Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities (AIPG) commemorates the annual National Day of Remembrance for the Cambodian Genocide. This year marks 50 years since the genocide began in 1975, a solemn anniversary in remembering one of the most devastating atrocities of the 20th century.
Between 1975 and 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime, under the leadership of Pol Pot, committed horrific crimes against the Cambodian people. Approximately two million people—over 20% of the country’s population at the time—lost their lives.
The Khmer Rouge sought to radically transform Cambodia—then known as Kampuchea—through an extremist ideology modeled after Maoist China. Their brutal agenda aimed to eliminate social classes and eradicate Western influence in pursuit of a utopian agrarian society, infamously dubbed “Year Zero.”
Originally observed as a “Day of Hate” or “Day of Rage,” the commemoration has evolved in tone and purpose. In 2018, the Cambodian government officially designated May 20 as the National Day of Remembrance. While symbolic public re-enactments continue, the day now centers on education, reflection, and honoring the lives lost. It provides an opportunity for Cambodians and the international community to reflect, pay respects, and reaffirm a commitment to preventing such atrocities from happening again.
In pursuit of justice and accountability, the Cambodian National Assembly established the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) in 2001, with support from the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials (UNAKRT). This tribunal has played a crucial role in documenting crimes, prosecuting key figures, and fostering national and international awareness of the genocide.
The Auschwitz Institute stands in solidarity with all those affected by the Cambodian Genocide and reaffirms its dedication to preventing future atrocities through education, remembrance, and international cooperation.
