When the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (hereafter: "ECCC") were established in 2005, the Transcultural Psychosocial Orgainzation (hereafter: "TPO") Where fully prepared with a special program to provide psychosocial support to those who had been traumatized by the Khmer Rouge regime. TPO has operated in 5 provinces and has run an outpatient clinic in Phnom Penh Since 2000.
The NGO is one of the few organizations providing mental health services and psychiatric treatment in Cambodia, and had foreseen and prepared 2-3 years prior to the start of the ECCC for people needing counseling services when the tribunal started, realizing that people would need to be aware of their own psychological problems and find ways to deal with these when reminded about their past.
In a society where so many Cambodians continue to struggle with the aftermath of their country's violent past, facing the past and seeking for truth and justice are crucial processes in order to recover from mass atrocity. Experiences in other countries show that active participation in a court or any other justice initiative can have highly empowering impact on survivors of mass atrocity. However, it remains risky, as the logic of jurisdiction may not always meet the needs of victims and painful memories may resurface during the course of the tribunal.
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