MP Mu Sochua, to attend Global Ambassador’s Program in Haiti

February 23, 2012

photograph by Cattleya Jaruthavee

On February 28 to March 1, 2012 Cambodian Member of Parliament Mu Sochua will act as a Global Ambassador for the launch of the Vital Voices and Bank of America global mentoring program “The Global Ambassador’s Program” in Pétion-Ville, Haiti. The program seeks to resolve the women’s leadership gap by connecting the expertise of the world’s top women from business, media, government and civil society to outstanding emerging local women leaders. The 2012 program’s Global Ambassadors include: American actress and activist Maria Bello; Minister of Agriculture in the Republic of Liberia, Dr. Florence Chenoweth; a Marketing Executive at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch; and Constance Morella, the former United States Government Ambassador to the OECD.

Haitian women’s voices are barely present in the country’s social and economic decision making processes. Currently, women make up less than 3% of Haiti’s Parliament. As a result, throughout the course of the past few months, Haitian women’s organizations have hosted 308 focus groups for women across the country to identify and develop policy platforms regarding key issues affecting Haitian women. The Global Ambassador’s Program will provide a space for local leaders to meet, consult, and develop their policy platforms under the mentorship of the Global Ambassadors.

During the program, Haitian women leaders will draft a set of policy priorities based on the issues identified by Haitian women across the country. Each Global Ambassador, including MP Mu Sochua, will mentor two extraordinary Haitian women leaders as they lead this consultative process to produce a National Women’s Platform. On March 1, the National Women’s Platform will be presented to President Michel Martelly to ensure the acknowledged policy priorities are accounted for in the next legislative cycle.

For more information regarding The Global Ambassador’s Program and Global Ambassador MP Mu Sochua, visit: sochua.wordpress.com.

Young Women for Democracy- Ramdoul

“I am confident that people will vote for me because I am from this village. I am involved in the struggle of the people to find better ways for their daily survival" - Ramdoul

Born in the Barkrateh village (in Khmer “the broken cart”) , Ramdoul is one of seven children in a family where education has always been a priority. Her parents worked as sellers in the market but their income was very limited. However they were able to loan Ramdoul enough money to attend the Battambang University.

At 25, she already has completed her Bachelor’s` degree in accounting and has been an active party member since 2006. She leads the youth movement in this cluster of villages with skills and experiences she has acquired from youth training from the International Republican Institute(IRI) and her active participation in the Sam Rainsy Party Youth Wing

Her commitment to the empowerment of youth has gained her great recognition from her peers and the party leadership.

She will run for the first time as candidate for the 2012 commune elections. The party is confident that she will win her seat and has trusted her with a winning position on the party list, in Battambang province-North West of Cambodia.

Attended a Human Rights forum in Battambang

In 1997, over 10,000 hectare of the forest in the district of Koh Kralor were given to Khmer Rouge army officers and leaders in exchange for their re-integration and to stop the armed conflict.

The remaining 3,800 hectares of the forest were reserved for social concessions. 

Throughout the years, the former KR officers and leaders have sold part of the 3,800 hectares that are state land. In the meantime, villagers from the neighboring commune have cleared the remaining forest for farming.

The sale of the state land continues till today with the help of the commune chief, the village chief, and other former KR leaders with protection from police and the court. Villagers who have cleared the forest for farming are threatened, their crops destroyed and face arrest and detention.

I have intervened and rescued many villagers, including children who are arrested and detained. Villagers live in fear of arrest.

My question: why are local authorities allowing and are part of the sale of state land?

My solution: the committee in charge of land management should register villagers with no land and provide them land equally and with transparency, to end the dispute. 

My recommendation to the people: vote for a commune chief who will defend your land and not for a candidate who will sell your land.

A day after the forum took place, a woman is accused of stealing some type of farming equipment. The commune police are threatening with arrest. 

This is a threat and a message to villagers to not speak up against the local authorities.

Building Democracy With Women

Building democracy with women is not just smart, it is fair and just. Building democracy is one step at a time and along the way there are moments of full fulfillment and moments of despair.

Along this work in progress of building democracy, I have come across powerful women – they are powerful because of their deep sense of worth and value.

At this moment in time, I am preparing a new team of young and very dynamic young women who are the future of Cambodia.

Proud to be a member of the opposition as it teaches me about values.

I have cried a river along the way and watching my people cross this rapid river to tend their land every day fills my heart with stronger determination that one day, we shall overcome.

When standing there to watch the women and the disabled man cross the river, tears came from the deep wholes in my heart.

I could not cross that river, that day.

Help Increase the Number of Women Candidates in Cambodia

Women’s empowerment must start within the party but also in society. Women’s empowerment is not only critical to the promotion of the rights and well-being of women, it is central to the development and strengthening of Cambodian fledgling democracy. Cambodian democracy cannot fulfill its potential when half of its citizenry is underrepresented.

Read how you can donate to the Justice Fund, which aims to help more women get elected in Cambodia.