How can education prevent violence and promote lasting peace? This question guided the recent Peace Education Assessment Consultation Workshop at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (TSGM). The event was organized by UNESCO in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MoCFA), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), and TSGM. It is part of the PEACE Project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The workshop brought together 35 stakeholders, including government officials, educators, civil society members, and development partners. The goal was to review and confirm the preliminary findings of Cambodia’s Peace Education Assessment and discuss ways to strengthen peace education in schools and heritage sites.
Strengthening Peace Education Through Evidence and Collaboration
The Peace Education Assessment is a key part of the PEACE Project. Phase I focused on preserving and digitizing over 700,000 archival pages from TSGM. Phase II now emphasizes peace education, youth engagement, and heritage site learning.
The assessment looked at three main areas:
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Youth knowledge and views about peace and historical memory.
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Lessons from existing peace education programs.
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Ways to integrate peace education into memorial sites, including Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek, and M-13.
The workshop highlighted progress and challenges, such as unequal access to programs, different teaching methods, and the need for better coordination among institutions.
Key Discussions and Priorities
Participants discussed priority actions to improve peace education. Key points included:
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Linking classroom learning with hands-on experiences at memorial sites.
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Building teacher and facilitator skills to teach sensitive topics.
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Using memorial sites as spaces for dialogue, reflection, and civic learning.
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Ensuring sustainability and coordination across sectors.
Most participants supported the assessment recommendations and suggested creative youth-focused projects. They highlighted the need for interactive tools that engage young people. These tools help youth reflect on Cambodia’s post-conflict future and encourage a peaceful, inclusive society.
Collaborations between schools, memorial sites, and civil society were identified as key to making peace education more effective.
Next Steps for the PEACE Project
The assessment recommends turning Cambodia’s memorial sites into youth-centered learning hubs linked to schools. These hubs aim to promote peace, global citizenship, and critical thinking both in-person and online.
Feedback from the workshop will guide site-specific and cross-site recommendations, helping shape future programs, education materials, and coordination efforts at TSGM, Choeung Ek, and M-13.
UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to working with national authorities, educators, memorial institutions, and development partners to make peace education a foundation for reconciliation, social cohesion, and sustainable development.
The PEACE Project continues to show how heritage, education, and youth engagement can unite to build a more peaceful and informed future for Cambodia.
