Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S-21, is one of the most haunting and important historical sites in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Originally a high school, it was transformed into a secret prison and interrogation center by the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 and 1979. Under the leadership of Pol Pot, over 17,000 people, including men, women, and children, were imprisoned, tortured, and later sent to execution at the Killing Fields. Today, the site has been preserved as a museum to honor the victims and educate future generations about the horrors of the Khmer Rouge era. Visitors can see prison cells, photographs of victims, torture devices, and written records of those detained. The museum stands as a powerful reminder of Cambodia’s tragic past and the resilience of its people in the face of unimaginable suffering.