Remarks by Ambassador Carol Rodley at Women Creating Future Reception

U.S. Embassy, Cambodia March 26, 2010

H.E. Minister Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs
Honored guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

I am thrilled to see so many remarkable women – and, a handful of either very special, or very BRAVE men – in this room tonight.

We are here to celebrate you and the work you do to promote women’s equality in access to education, healthcare, jobs, credit, culture, and more.

You are all living proof that women can participate fully and equally in the economic, political, and social life of your country.

Many of you also work to protect women’s right to live free from violence.  I believe that every person in this room deeply understands that human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.

Women’s issues are a critical component of the most urgent transnational problems we face today, and they should be on the agenda of everyone, girls and boys, men and women, from the grassroots to the policymaking levels, in political life and beyond. 

Violence against women is endemic around the world.  Ending it requires everyone’s participation, including an active and vocal role for men and for religious leaders of both sexes.  

In addition to the words Secretary of State Clinton just left you with, she has also said that “Women are the key to progress and prosperity around the world.”

I fully agree, and look forward to the time when International Women’s Day will be a historical and retrospective celebration of women’s path to the achievement of equality – when every day belongs equally to women and to men, and every day is a good day for human rights.

Each day, Cambodian women overcome threats and intimidation to promote peace, equality, and dignity – whether it is in their own home, community, or government. 

Presenting the annual Woman of Courage award is an opportunity to celebrate acts of bravery and determination by these extraordinary women in Cambodia who, in transforming their own society, create a more peaceful and prosperous nation for all.

As program supervisor for harm reduction NGO Korsang, Reaksmey Chen provides counseling, health, HIV/AIDS and other vital information to an often neglected group of female drug addicts in Cambodia.

She has advocated for the need to focus more energy and resources on female drug addicts in a country where sex workers and drug addicts are typically seen as criminals and shunned by society.

Harm reduction projects continue to face substantial political, social and financial obstacles in Cambodia, where the stigma and social exclusion associated with drug use and HIV make work in the field demanding and dangerous.

Reaksmey's outreach efforts have resulted in improved social understanding, increased awareness of the need for humane and equitable treatment for drug addicts, and more services for female addicts and their often addicted children. 

Reaksmey is an emerging leader whose work helps to diminish the spread of HIV/AIDS, drug use, and trafficking in Cambodia.

She truly is a bright light, role model, and leader in an otherwise dark environment.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to recognize Reaksmey's work, courage and compassion and to present her with this year’s International Woman of Courage Award from our Embassy.

Thank you Reaksmey, and congratulations!

And now I have the distinct honor to announce the opening of the inaugural You Khin Memorial Women’s Art Prize. 

The Embassy is proud to be one of the sponsors of this initiative which is designed to raise awareness about Cambodian women artists and to promote their work in front of a wide audience. 

We have partnered with Java Arts and other curators in Phnom Penh to make this happen and I personally am very excited to see the results which we expect in May of this year.

Since I arrived in Cambodia almost two years ago I have noticed that the country is experiencing an artistic renaissance that is quickly expanding to cities and provinces outside of Phnom Penh. 

As proof of that we have Khaouch Touch here with us tonight, an artist from Battambang who will be speaking shortly. 

As the arts expand so does the ability of Cambodians young and old to tell their story through film, dance, photography, painting and literature. 

This country’s rich history, both ancient and modern, is fodder for this generation’s artists and I hope that the women who participate in this initiative will use that to their advantage. 

I look forward to seeing their work after the submission date of May 2.  With that I would like to introduce Ms. Dana Langlois who will give you some specifics about the competition.

Thank you all for coming, and enjoy the great company and the rest of the evening together.