In the dates between the 20th and 22nd of February 2024, UNESCO Phnom Penh and Jakarta Offices, in collaboration with the government of Timor-Leste, and the Royal Government of Cambodia, have successfully organised in Phnom Penh a three-day International Benchmark Training to exchange good practices and lessons learned in Conflict Reconciliation and Peacebuilding with their Cambodian counterparts.
The participants to the Benchmark Training consisted of a delegation of 15 high-level Timorese government officials from the Chega National Centre, the National Institute for Training of Teachers and Education Professionals, and other relevant government institutions.
Thanks to the collaboration from various Cambodian institutions, including the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the Legal Documentation Centre, the National Archives, and the Royal Palace, the training has contributed to sharing knowledge and experiences with the participants, in order to support Timor-Leste's efforts in reconciliation and peacebuilding, in particular through the promotion of history and peace education, a goal which is in alignment with UNESCO's overarching mission to bolster national accountability and capacity in pursuit of a brighter future.
As noted by Mr Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO representative to Cambodia: "History education holds a pivotal role in countries grappling with complex historical legacies. Understanding the past is foundational for shaping individual and collective identities, fostering social cohesion, and preventing future atrocities".
Having gone through difficult pasts, both Cambodia and Timor-Leste have worked on rebuilding after conflicts. Through field visits, presentations, and group discussions over the three days, the delegates learned about Cambodia's rich heritage and complex history, and gained insights and mutually beneficial lessons on strategies and policies to support high-quality history and peace education in a sustainable manner.
Mr Hugo Maria Fernandes, Executive Director of the Chega National Centre, highlighted: "Visiting various institutions in Cambodia has provided valuable experiences and references for the Timor-Leste government's endeavour for building a peaceful society. The delegation working in different aspects, including heritage promotion, memory preservation, archive management, and quality education, will continue introducing initiatives and policies back in Timor-Leste to preserve past memories and make them accessible for the public."
This training further represents a contribution to regional reconciliation and peacebuilding endeavours within the ASEAN framework, as an example of intercultural dialogue and South-South cooperation. In welcoming the Timor-Leste delegation and emphasizing the efforts made by Cambodia in the preservation and commemoration of difficult history, His Excellency Mr. Hab Touch, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts remarked: "I wish this training could become a bridge, to connect Cambodian and Timorese people, through learning about each other's past and promoting collaborative efforts to enhance the quality of education for reconciliation and peacebuilding".
The Benchmark Training for Exchanging Experience and Knowledge on Conflict Reconciliation and Peacebuilding is conducted under the framework of the History and Peace Education Project which is being implemented by UNESCO Jakarta Office thanks to the financial support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
