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| Cambodian opposition political figures Mu Sochua (R) and Sam Rainsy (L) walk to court in Phnom Penh, July 24, 2009. (AFP) |
2011-03-04
Radio Free Asia
A leading opposition figure calls for the defense of women's rights ahead of International Women's Day.
Mu Sochua, president of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) Women's Wing, spent 18 years in exile from her homeland after she was forced to flee war and genocide during the Khmer Rouge era. After earning degrees in the United States, she returned to Cambodia in 1989 to work as an advocate for human rights. She won a seat to parliament in 1998 and soon afterward was asked to take over the Ministry of Women's and Veteran's Affairs. She stepped down from her cabinet post in 2004, citing corruption as a major obstacle to her work, but has continued to represent Cambodia's women as a member of parliament.
Founded in 1995, the Sam Rainsy Party Women's Wing works to mobilize women on issues that are crucial to women's lives, train and prepare SRP women leaders at all levels, and provide women candidates with winning positions on the SRP lists of candidates.
Ahead of International Women's Day, Sochua and her group underlined the need for reforms in various fields to better protect women in Cambodia.
"On March 8, 2011 the world celebrates the 100-year anniversary of International Women’s Day. Today we must honor the vital role that women play in the development of our country. It is a day for us to stand together, raise our voices and defend women’s human rights.
Women’s rights whether economic, social, cultural, civil or political—have equal status. The state is obligated to create and enforce adequate standards that recognize this equality. The SRP believes that existing national policies tied with community action and the protection and recognition of the most basic human rights should align to establish a foundation for the protection of women’s rights. Gender empowerment exists through strengthening and promoting increased political participation, equal access to economic opportunities, increased access to health care and stronger enforcement of policies on prevention of violence against women.
Cambodia must adopt economic policy tools that embrace promotion and realization of equitable access to land, employment and equal standards of living.
The SRP strives to establish a national action plan that would incorporate existing international laws and in-country policies to end violence against women. This would include new legal reforms, monitoring systems and improved access to information. It is not only the responsibility of the State, but of the whole community to ensure the protection of women against all forms of violence.
International Women’s Day is not only a day to reflect on the progress that has been made around the world, but to recognize all the work that remains. The SRP Women’s Wing believes that developing women’s leadership is essential in order to achieve its goal that all Cambodians have access to equal economic, political and human rights—including personal security, financial independence, health care, and education.
We must ensure that enough women have support in their own lives to turn the tides of unawareness and both empower women into positions of leadership to make change, and build grassroots support for protection of women’s human rights and dignity."
6 comments:
To all Khmer people
Khmer every where are going to stand up at the same time and kick Hun Sen regime on March 18 for the sake of our country, liberate our people from tyrant. We must take part together on that date, March 18, to struggle for a change in Cambodia, we must joint hands and hands, shoulders and shoulders including monks, people and the people from all walk of life. Now we set the date March 18 to topple Hun Sen regime. Please, stand up together in Phnom Penh on that date.
All khmer women must stand up for the benefit of our nation and country. This is a time for change. Men have ruled this earth for thousand of years and getting no where but war and still is continuing. If we want war to end, women must stand up for once and take charge just like in Aust, USA, India and many other nations across the spectroms of this universal. We have to make a change and we all have to work together as a team by having common goals and common interests. Calling upon the armies and all personal levels to set a date and make a change or otherwise Hun Sen must make amend with Madam Mu and Sam Rainsy as to no one is to be condemned by this so-call political order. It is wrong to condemn our khmer profession and allowed other to take the benefit of our conflicts.
It is understood that Viet could be behind all this but still we khmer should know better on how to deal with our professional people, that is using a professional dialogue for the benefit of our profession rather than punishing them as to be insulted, for what? why allowing other people to take the benefit of our conflicts or of our down fall. It is like abusing our children and allowing others to enjoy watching it. The educated people love to promote their profession while uneducated people love to abuse their profession for others to see that they are tough... what a shame! Aust
what up with the candle during the day light?? SRP some of your political tool seem a bit to funny and wierd.
you are Khmerization or Rainsy it piontless to say that Hun sen unprepair during 2008 while Thai troop walk in into Cambodia, did you see Khmer sodier, you see them right? the enemy was out of number and they do not have reason to make a war yet, we have to starte from somewhere and mame it well kknown to the international or the people first, and no one know where to attack, if you smart you will not comments like ignorance people like this, why you are so good in criticism, are you blind now we controle 100 percent both on battle and on internatioal deplomatic, don't it appear a perfect work for Hun sen he did sofar didn't he?, you think queer rainsy could do that? Sam he could not do it, wasn't it?. only intergrity previal, you KI team and idiot boss Rainsy are totaly work against your own Khmer people mike
8:10pm.
Candle light is not meant to light up the day but rather to show symbol of the peaceful struggle to free your head from being stepped by Yuon or by your leaders.
SRP supporter.
Yes!That's so great! Catch Thai or gun Thai;Khmer people praise our brave Khmer soldiers at Thailand Khmer border,but the east side with
Vietnam-Khmer border Khmer soldiers
are white chicken ears.They allowed
Vietnamese soldiers coming to work
as worker rubber plant fields in seven provinces with tanks and guns,
What do they use for?
The 6,000,000 are Vietnamese illegal immigrants,why are they here in Cambodia for?
I have relatives in Kompong Cham and Friends in Svay Rieng too.
They called me once a month;my wife
went to visit in Cambodia,once every two years also.
Some people here are what?Are they
Hun Sen....
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