Dr Pung Chhiv Kek, also known as Dr. Kek Galabru, was born on October 4, 1942. She received a medical degree in France in 1968. She practiced as a doctor and conducted research in Phnom Penh from 1968 to 1971 and also worked in Canada, Brazil and Angola.
"I spent four years [1960-64] here in a class of 32 – two Cambodian women and three Frenchwomen. The boys in class didn’t discriminate against us," she said to Phnom Penh Post.
"When I decided to go to France in 1964, I had the same diploma as other French students – [the French university] tested me for the first year to see if I had the academic level, and it was no problem. After four more years in France, I became a medical doctor with a French diploma."
After studying medicine in France and practicing it while following her diplomat husband to various posts abroad, she became instrumental in achieving political peace in her country.
In 1987-88, Pung Chhiv Kek, as a Cambodian living abroad, helped arrange negotiations between Prime Minister Hun Sen and then-deposed King Norodom Sihanouk. The negotiations eventually led to the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1991, which mandated a United Nations mission to Cambodia to supervise elections and resolve the long-standing conflict.
In 1992, she returned permanently to Cambodia and founded founded the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (Licadho), which she heads at great personal risk. Licadho was one of the first human rights organizations established in Cambodia.
Licadho educates the people on their democratic rights and provides defense in court for victims of torture, domestic violence and police attacks.
Pung Chhiv Kek looks like a queen, slim and erect in her long blue silk dress. In fact, her parents, both teachers and later government ministers, were friends of the royal family. This enabled her to play a key role in opening negotiations between Cambodias Prime Minster, Hun Sen, and opposition leader, Prince Sihanouk, which led to the Paris Peace Accords of 1991.
Today she has offices in half of Cambodias provinces, with 1000 collaborators, mostly volunteers.
Its first self-given task is to educate people to vote freely, disregarding the threats of the ruling party. One of its main activities is to represent victims of domestic or police violence mainly women, children, opposition leaders, teachers, social workers and members of NGOs in court, where it has won about a third of its cases.Pung Chhiv Kek. Image: Victor Blanco / Southeast Asia Globe
It also fights the massive illegal logging condoned by the corrupt government and the army. Above all, it teaches people their rights through classes, comic books, TV and radio programs and theater productions.
Last year, Pung Chhiv Kek was awarded the Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest decoration, for services to peace-building and human rights.
Her definition of courage is, “To do something for the people in spite of the intimidation.” No wonder the taxi-driver had no problem finding her modest office in Phnom Penh: Everybody in Cambodia knows Licadho.
Source : Phnom Penh Post | Southeast Asia Globe
