IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE:​ A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF THE ECCC

D197480

IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE:​ A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF THE ECCC

English

Cambodia

2025

DC-Cam/D197480 25/05/2026

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Type written document (tx). 84 pages in English

PART I: OVERVIEW OF THE ECCC; PART II: CASES; PART III: ACCOMPLISHMENTS; PART IV: CHALLENGES.

In 2005, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) came into being after lengthy negotiations between the United Nations (UN) and the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC).
In its foundational documents, the UN and RGC defined the purpose of the ECCC as bringing to trial senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea and those most responsible for certain international and domestic crimes committed during the regime. The Court was based on a predominantly inquisitorial criminal justice model, with some common law aspects. Within this model, Cambodian and internadonal judges, prosecutors, defence counsel, civil party lawyers, and administrators
carried out the Court’s work.

This Retrospective provides the former International Co-Prosecutor’s informed perspective of the ECCC. Its primary purpose is to present an objective snapshot of the Court to the Cambodian people, including civil society and judicial institutions, as well as to the international
community, pardcularly those operating in the justice, human rights, and academic fields.

The Retrospective identifies in summary form the key features of the ECCC and explores its operational, participatory and normative legacies. It covers four broad areas. First, it outlines the institutional framework of the ECCC, including its mandate, jurisdiction, structure, composition, judicial process and unique features. Second, it provides an overview of the proceedings and results of the seven cases prosecuted. Third, the Retrospecb’ve reports on the ECCC’s key accomplishments. Finally, it explores the challenges faced by the Court, solutions found, and lessons learned.

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