Sat Jul 12 10:18:10 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article written from that information:

**Summary:**

The Khmer Rouge’s torture and execution sites in Cambodia, most notably the S-21 prison (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum), have been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Survivors expressed their joy and relief that the horrors they endured are being recognized and preserved for future generations. They hope the UNESCO designation will serve as a permanent reminder of the genocide and prevent similar atrocities from happening again. The Cambodian government welcomed the inscription as a sign of the country’s progress toward peace and dignity.
**News Article:**

**Cambodia’s Genocide Sites Earn UNESCO Recognition, Offering Hope and Remembrance**

**Phnom Penh, Cambodia – July 12, 2025** – Survivors of the Cambodian genocide are celebrating the inclusion of three Khmer Rouge torture and execution sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The designation, announced Friday, includes the infamous Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), the Choeung Ek Genocide Centre, and the M-13 site in Kampong Chhnang province.

Tuol Sleng, a former high school converted into a prison, was where an estimated 15,000 people were tortured and killed during the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979). The recognition has been met with widespread jubilation from survivors.

“I am so thrilled,” said Chum Mey, a survivor of S-21 who now sells his memoirs at the museum. “The listing by UNESCO reminds me of the torture against me.”

Another survivor, Norng Chanphal, who sells his memories at the site, expressed hope that UNESCO’s recognition would ensure Tuol Sleng’s preservation as a crucial historical reminder. “This is a lesson of life for people around the world to clearly understand the regime,” said Chanphal. “UNESCO recognition offered some justice to the souls of my mother and other victims of Tuol Sleng.”

Khuon Sovann, who lost over ten relatives in the genocide, visited one of the sites with her sister to pray for her brother-in-law. She stated that the UNESCO listing was good and would help preserve the site.

The Cambodian government has also welcomed the UNESCO designation, viewing it as an acknowledgment of the country’s journey from a land ravaged by war to one dedicated to peace and dignity.

The Khmer Rouge regime resulted in the deaths of approximately two million Cambodians through starvation, forced labor, torture, and execution.
The UNESCO recognition aims to prevent such a tragedy from happening again by preserving sites and serving as a warning.

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