Undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia and their families.
Radio monthly Call-in show on Voice of America
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/cambodia-failing-its-women-lawmaker-says/2979197.html
Over 2 million Cambodians are in Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and the Middle East , majority as undocumented workers.
The main reasons for migration:
1/ poverty
2/ landlessness
3/ debts
4/ unemployment
5/ seeking living wage
Villagers walking from Kompong Chhnang to protest against govt. economic concessions
At the bottom of Cambodia’s economic stability.
Inequality a defining challenge for the world, and for Cambodia
Visiting maternity ward in Phnom Penh
The debate and the defunding of Planned Parenthood that is going on in the USA is a global issue. Party politics dominates it all. In other parts of the world, it is religion that is the driving force behind, front and center of the debate But whose body is it?
It is about women’s body and Congresswoman of Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren says it all:
and this his is what my daughter says:
No strings attached?
This is the reason why freedom of speech, of assembly and of association is so crucial for the affected communities to speak out.
Youth and local activists are arrested, on pre-trial detention considered as enemy of development and of the state. This China even more room to occupy Cambodia.
At local level, even provincial governors have no say, no knowledge or little of it till development deals are signed.
Progress and growth do not depend solely on infrastructure. How many more unsustainable development projects must there be till trade and economic ministers will sit down with villagers to hear their side of the story.
The Ministry of Environment has denied two major reports on the devastating level of deforestation in Cambodia. Same attitude as the National Human Rights Committee denial of reports on human rights.
The government reaction to facts: denial or/and shutting down protest.
Meeting with officials at the West Wing.
At State Department
Public Hearing with Cong. James McGovern, Co-Chair of Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
Meeting Assistant Deputy Scot Marcel- State Department-16/09/15
Members of Parliament from Cambodia, Malaysia, and Myanmar visited New York and Washington, DC, this week as part of an advocacy mission organized by ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR). In discussions with US policymakers and UN representatives, APHR members stressed the importance of standing up for democracy and human rights in Southeast Asia. They also discussed their recent fact-finding mission to Myanmar and their concerns about the human rights situation as elections approach. http://aseanmp.org
Mu Sochua: MP & Human Rights Advocate 