NDI and IRI invite you to a discussion with Mu Sochua in Washington DC

The National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute invite you to attend a discussion on the recent commune council elections in Cambodia and the role of women in politics in Cambodia. We will be joined by Mu Sochua, a former Minister of Veterans and Women’s Affairs in Cambodia and the Secretary General of the Sam Rainsy Party.

Wednesday, May 16th
12:00-1:30pm
2025 M Street, NW
5th Floor
Washington, DC 20036

Mu Sochua will provide an overview of Cambodia’s April 1, 2007 commune council elections and give her presentation:

“Why Women in Politics? What Politics?”

On April 1, Cambodia held commune council elections for its 1,621 communes and urban sub-districts known as sangkats. These elections were an improvement over Cambodia’s first local elections held in 2002 elections. The level of violence and intimidation during the election period decreased significantly from 2002 levels and the National Election Committee (NEC) improved its administration of election day procedures and moved closer to neutrality by changing its composition to include two opposition party representatives. More citizens stood as candidates than in any other election in Cambodian electoral history – 12 political parties fielded a total of 102,266 candidates to compete for 11,353 council seats. A record number of women candidates ran in this election – 21 percent of the total number of candidates were women. Nevertheless, serious problems continue to afflict Cambodia’s electoral system. Problems related to the registration process, voter list, and low turnout were among some of the issues that marred the electoral process.

Mu Sochua is one of Cambodia’s leading advocates working to strengthen women’s political rights and prevent the trafficking of women and children. When the Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975, Sochua left Cambodia to live and study in France and later the United States. She returned to Cambodia after 18 years in exile. She ran in the 1998 elections and won a seat representing Battambang, one of the most war-torn provinces in Cambodia. From 1998 to 2004, she served as the Cambodian minister for women’s and veterans’ affairs – and was one of only two women serving the Cabinet. In December 2006, Mu Sochua was elected the first woman Secretary General of Cambodia's opposition Sam Rainsy Party. She is involved in numerous civic activities focused on strengthening the rights of women, defending human rights, and preventing the trafficking of women and children. She has also been engaged in campaigns to end domestic violence, including the successful campaign to pass Cambodia’s first law against domestic violence.

If you are able to attend, please RSVP to Michele Buckley at mbuckley@ndi.org or 202-728-5650. This event will be held at NDI’s office at 2025 M Street, NW on the 5th floor, across the street from NDI’s main office at 2030 M Street.