The Day of Remembrance is observed in Cambodia on May 20 each year, commemorating the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime, which ruled the country from 1975 to 1979. Originally called the National Day of Hatred, this observance began in 1984, initiated by a group of intellectuals and clergymen. The date marks significant events, including the start of mass killings in 1976 and the initiation of forced collectivization in 1973. Commemorations typically include public speeches and the burning of effigies of Pol Pot. The event was paused during the UN peacekeeping operation in the early 1990s but was revived in the late 1990s and officially renamed the Day of Remembrance in 2001. Although commemorations are now on a smaller scale, they continue to honor the memory of those who suffered under the Khmer Rouge.