Cambodia women face many problems, they are discriminated against at work and in the home. They are not traditionally educated or given equal opportunities. They are the victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

Mu Sochua has spent most of her life fighting to change this. She has revolutionized what women can do in Cambodia. Her work to lift women out of oppress led to her nomination for the Nobel Peace prize in 2005.

Seang Soleak spoke with her for Asia Calling.

“I have mobilized women to work for women and by women. The global network of women gains a lot of support from the international community. We work to help women and our society to be free of poverty.�?

Mu Sochua left the country during the civil war to live and study in France. She then moved to California as a refugee. She could have enjoyed a comfortable life in the United States but after graduating from the renowned Berkeley University, she packed her stuff in a suitcase and was ready to come home.

“Although I had lived in the United States, I never felt at home. I had always dreamt of coming back to Cambodia to help develop the country; my heart is always with Cambodian women. I could see women being trafficked in sex industry; women being discriminated; women with HIV/AIDS. They are living in a difficult situation.�?

Mu Sochua returned to Cambodia in 1989 and founded a women’s organization called Neary Rotanak or “Women are precious gems�?. It was the first non-governmental organization in Cambodia after the civil war.

“Neary Ratanak is a national program that promotes gender equality. We worked to change an old Cambodian proverb: It says, “A man is gold; a woman is a white piece of cloth. Once stained, it’s never cleaned�?. So we have changed the proverb to “Men are gold. Women are precious gems.�?

Mu Sochua married an American and has three daughters.
She ran in the 1998 elections and won a parliamentary seat representing Battambang province and joined the government as a minister.

She has been involved in various activities focused on strengthening human rights, and preventing human trafficking. She has also been involved in campaigns to end domestic violence and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.

“When I was minister for Women’s affairs, I had the power. I thought how I could not stop such a social injustice. One way that we could address the issue is to educate and empower them.�?

During her term, Mu Sochua tried to spend as much time as possible out of the office. She want to experience the real situation facing the countries women and has help in particular trafficked women.

Her activities led her to winning the Vital Voices Anti-trafficking and Human Rights Award.

“I negotiated with Thailand allowing trafficked Cambodians to go home rather than be thrown in jail as illegal immigrants. We have to speak out for our women. We will never understand the real situation from reading reports,�?

52% of the Cambodian population is female. They are contributing to the social and economic development of Cambodia. But this is often goes unrecognized.

“Everywhere you go, you see women selling on the streets, in market places, and in the rice field. 90% of Garment workers are women. They are contributing everyday to the economic growth of the country.�?

Mu Sochua joint the opposition party after her term ended in 2003. At that time, she proposed a law addressing domestic violence to the national assembly.

“Gender inequality is nothing new in Cambodia, where traditionally girls have been far less likely than boys to be educated. I proposed this law because I thought without it, Cambodian women would still suffer. Fortunately, the law was passed in 2006.�?

Mu Sochua was elected secretary general of the opposition party in late 2006. She is the first woman to serve this political position.

“I think women have the ability to hold such a high position. But they just don’t have the opportunity. Some are even more efficient than men.�?

As a high-ranking official for the opposition party, Sochua doesn’t seem to worry about her personal security.

“I don’t need a bodyguard because I think people and other women can keep me safe wherever I go. But sometimes I feel lonely because there are very few women at this level. Although she is now not the minister of Women’s Affairs, she is still determined to create a better future for Cambodian Women.�?