Cambodia Marks 75 Years of UNESCO Membership

Cambodia Marks 75 Years of UNESCO Membership

PHNOM PENH, 3 July 2026 — Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday marked the 75th anniversary of Cambodia’s membership in UNESCO, highlighting the country’s achievements in securing international recognition for its cultural and historical heritage while calling on all Cambodians to help preserve it.

In a social media post commemorating Cambodia’s accession to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on July 3, 1951, Hun Manet said the country has since succeeded in registering four World Heritage Sites, seven Intangible Cultural Heritage elements, and three Memory of the World documentary heritage inscriptions.

Cambodia’s four UNESCO World Heritage Sites include Angkor Archaeological Park (1992), Preah Vihear Temple (2008), Sambor Prei Kuk Archaeological Site (2017), and Koh Ker Archaeological Site (2023).

The country has also secured UNESCO recognition for seven elements of its intangible cultural heritage: the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, Sbek Thom (Khmer shadow theatre), Tugging Rituals and Games, Chapei Dang Veng, Lakhon Khol of Wat Svay Andet, Kun Lbokator, and the Khmer Krama.

In addition, Cambodia has three documentary heritage inscriptions under UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register: the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Archives, the Ta Krud narration of the Reamker, and the Inao-Bussaba manuscript.

Hun Manet said the UNESCO inscriptions help preserve Cambodia’s cultural identity, safeguard invaluable heritage passed down by previous generations, and document the nation’s history.

He concluded by stressing that protecting Cambodia’s cultural heritage is the responsibility of every Cambodian citizen.