MU SOCHUAApr 22, 2006
BENEFIT: Nobel Peace Prize nominee from Cambodia will speak here
By Elizabeth M. Stewart
Ridgefield Press (Connecticut, USA)
When Redding resident Michele Tayler visited Cambodia recently, little did she expect she’d be organizing a fund-raiser on her return for Cambodian women and young girls.
But a chance meeting in Phnom Penh with Mu Sochua, 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee and former Cambodian government minister for women’s affairs, changed all that.
Ms. Mu painted an excruciatingly vivid picture of the pain, suffering, intimidation and degradation borne by tens of thousands of Cambodian women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence — rape, beatings, sex trafficking and the attendant risk of HIV/AIDS. Ironically, it was International Women’s Day.
Returning home Ms. Tayler enlisted the help of fellow Reddingite Elizabeth Stewart, Wilton resident Diane Fogerty, former Ridgefielders Elizabeth Fogerty-Bell and Margaret Rattigan, and Jen Thomas from Danbury. Together they formed WAVE — Women Against Violence Everywhere.
With Ms. Mu’s help, WAVE formed an alliance with grass-roots Cambodian women’s aid group Strey Khmer and its “Sanctuary from Violence” Project.
The group’s goal is to provide a network of safe houses in the most violent and vulnerable communities in the country; in this instance a former rubber plantation commune in Kompong Cham Province, where rape and violence against women are a part of daily life. A safe house provides not only a sanctuary, but a chance for women and girls to reclaim their dignity and rebuild their broken lives.
In Cambodia, a little money goes a long way — establishing and equipping one safe house in a village and providing training for women volunteers costs around $2,000. The aim of the WAVE event on May 4 is to raise enough money to provide one “Women’s Sanctuary” in each of the commune’s 18 villages.
Ms. Mu is traveling to the U.S. and will be the evening’s guest speaker. “Sochua has an extraordinary ability to go to the root of the problem,” said Kavita Ramdas, president and chief executive officer of the San Francisco-based Global Fund for Women, which has funded several of her efforts. “Zen Buddhists would say she’s like water — it may flow very gently but can wear down the hardest stone.”
Mu Sochua acts as adviser to the Strey Khmer board and is on the board of the Global Fund for Women. In 2005 she was a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Vital Voices’ Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Award honoree.
“Sanctuary from Violence” Cocktail Reception and Benefit will take place Thursday, May 4, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Cass Gilbert Garden House, Keeler Tavern Museum 132 Main Street.
To buy $30 tickets or for further information call WAVE 938-3116 or e-mail info @ thewaveproject.org
This event is conducted under the auspices of Give2Asia, a publicly supported 501(c)(3) organization. Donations and in-kind contributions are tax-deductible as permitted by law.
But a chance meeting in Phnom Penh with Mu Sochua, 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee and former Cambodian government minister for women’s affairs, changed all that.
Ms. Mu painted an excruciatingly vivid picture of the pain, suffering, intimidation and degradation borne by tens of thousands of Cambodian women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence — rape, beatings, sex trafficking and the attendant risk of HIV/AIDS. Ironically, it was International Women’s Day.
Returning home Ms. Tayler enlisted the help of fellow Reddingite Elizabeth Stewart, Wilton resident Diane Fogerty, former Ridgefielders Elizabeth Fogerty-Bell and Margaret Rattigan, and Jen Thomas from Danbury. Together they formed WAVE — Women Against Violence Everywhere.
With Ms. Mu’s help, WAVE formed an alliance with grass-roots Cambodian women’s aid group Strey Khmer and its “Sanctuary from Violence” Project.
The group’s goal is to provide a network of safe houses in the most violent and vulnerable communities in the country; in this instance a former rubber plantation commune in Kompong Cham Province, where rape and violence against women are a part of daily life. A safe house provides not only a sanctuary, but a chance for women and girls to reclaim their dignity and rebuild their broken lives.
In Cambodia, a little money goes a long way — establishing and equipping one safe house in a village and providing training for women volunteers costs around $2,000. The aim of the WAVE event on May 4 is to raise enough money to provide one “Women’s Sanctuary” in each of the commune’s 18 villages.
Ms. Mu is traveling to the U.S. and will be the evening’s guest speaker. “Sochua has an extraordinary ability to go to the root of the problem,” said Kavita Ramdas, president and chief executive officer of the San Francisco-based Global Fund for Women, which has funded several of her efforts. “Zen Buddhists would say she’s like water — it may flow very gently but can wear down the hardest stone.”
Mu Sochua acts as adviser to the Strey Khmer board and is on the board of the Global Fund for Women. In 2005 she was a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and Vital Voices’ Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Award honoree.
“Sanctuary from Violence” Cocktail Reception and Benefit will take place Thursday, May 4, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Cass Gilbert Garden House, Keeler Tavern Museum 132 Main Street.
To buy $30 tickets or for further information call WAVE 938-3116 or e-mail info @ thewaveproject.org
This event is conducted under the auspices of Give2Asia, a publicly supported 501(c)(3) organization. Donations and in-kind contributions are tax-deductible as permitted by law.
2 comments:
Huh,this self serving person is nominated for Nobel Price? Holy cow what had she done beside ran around from France to Cambodia then jump ship like infidel. Ridiculously rubbish
To the anonymous post above: save your diatribe for dictators such as Hun Sen. Miss Mu Suchua deserves the recognition that had been bestowed on her by many organizations at home and abroad for her effort in figting for women rights. Also, she should be commended for switching from FUNNCINPEC to SRP and the reasons are self-explanatory. Your diatribe is unwarranted especially on a courageous lady such as Mu Suchua.
Post a Comment