Tuesday, 26 August 2008

Two Cambodians Join Human Rights Forum

By Nuch Sarita, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
25 August 2008

Two Cambodians joined a global forum for the improvement of human rights held in the US earlier this month.

Phearun Kuch, an information technology officer of Friends-International in Phnom Penh, and Haksym Chhay, who is studying for a master's degree in health and social science in Thailand, joined emerging leaders from around the world at the Intergenerational Leadership Program, held at University of Connecticut in August.

The "Global Intergenarational Forum Celebrating 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights" gathered participants from the ages of 18 to 30 to discuss their experiences in working for improved human rights.

"I learned a lot from many well-known guest speakers during the whole forum," Haksym Chhay said. "The topics covered were human rights, peace and reconciliation, leadership, fund raising and millennium development goals. Speakers shared their life experiences on leadership and how they have struggled for the promotion of reconciliation and peace and the respect for human rights and democracy."

Human rights in general and child rights specifically are "global issues," Phearun Kuch said. "I'm not alone in doing my work helping children. Since the 75 participants of the 50 countries are from different backgrounds, I found that social issues like human rights, child rights, gender equity, poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS and education will come into a positive solution.

"Participation in the Forum was based on individual commitment to human rights in any field of interest.

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