Cambodia Urges International Support for Preah Vihear Temple Restoration at UNESCO Forum

Cambodia has reiterated its appeal to the international community for continued support in protecting and restoring the Preah Vihear temple, citing that damage caused by armed conflict in 2025 not only affects the temple's structures but also threatens its Outstanding Universal Value and humanity's cultural identity. This appeal was made by Ms. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, who led the Cambodian delegation to the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held from July 19 to 29, 2026, in Busan, Republic of Korea. A press release from the Ministry of Culture dated July 22 stated that in her intervention to the assembly, the Minister expressed gratitude to the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS, and all international partners for their continued support of Cambodia's efforts in conserving and protecting the Preah Vihear temple, a World Heritage site. Cambodia also appreciated the international community's attention to the temple following the armed conflict along the Cambodia-Thailand border in 2025, especially the joint advisory mission between the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS conducted in March 2026 at the invitation of the Royal Government of Cambodia. Ms. Sackona informed the assembly that the armed clashes in July and December 2025 had caused severe damage to this World Heritage site, affecting its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), Integrity, and Authenticity. The temple's structures suffered heavy damage from direct attacks, while local communities remain displaced and unable to access their sacred sites, which are part of their cultural heritage, traditions, religion, and identity, as usual. She highlighted that with support from the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund and other international partners, Cambodia had implemented numerous emergency measures, including demining cluster bombs and artillery fragments, 3D documentation of the temple, protection of vulnerable structures, and registration and documentation of architectural fragments to support future conservation and restoration work. She also emphasized that these efforts could not be fully realized as long as threats to the heritage site persist. The Cambodian delegation drew the Committee's attention to the continued presence of Thai military forces in the vicinity of Preah Vihear temple, as well as other unilateral activities affecting Khmer cultural heritage within Cambodia's sovereign territory. These actions pose a risk of further damage and reflect an intention to create a fait accompli on the ground. Ms. Sackona called on Thailand to respect international law and seek peaceful solutions to border issues through the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Boundary Commission, in line with the Joint Statement dated December 27, 2025. Concurrently, the Cambodian delegation requested the World Heritage Committee to continue closely monitoring the situation of the heritage site, provide ongoing support for urgent conservation and restoration work, and reaffirm the importance of respecting international conventions on the protection of cultural heritage. Ms. Phoeurng Sackona concluded that the tragedy that befell Preah Vihear temple serves as a reminder to the international community that protecting World Heritage is protecting peace, dialogue, and a shared responsibility of humanity.