EMBASSY PHNOM PENH'S NOMINATION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000861 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/IWI, DRL/ILCSR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN KPAO PREL PHUM ELAB SUBJECT: EMBASSY PHNOM PENH'S NOMINATION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN OF COURAGE AWARD ¶1. Embassy Phnom Penh is proud to nominate Sam Sreymom for the International Woman of Courage Award. Charge d'Affaires Piper Campbell oversaw the nomination process which proved to be difficult this year considering the number of Cambodian activists that have received regional and international attention for their work. Word of Ms. Sreymom's accomplishments have not yet traveled beyond the borders of her country, although she is well known amongst her peers. The Embassy is thrilled to have this opportunity to recognize her work and her courage through this nomination. Name: Sam Sreymom Job Title: Vice President of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) DOB: June 5, 1979 COB: Cambodia Citizenship: Cambodia Address: #16A, Street 376, Sangkat Boeung Kang III, Khan Chamcar Mon, Phnom Penh Telephone: 012 212 812 E-mail address: sreymom@ftuwkc.org Passport number: N0300705 ¶2. Award justification: Sam Sreymom is one of Cambodia's leading labor advocates, working as vice president of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) since 2003. In particular, she serves the interests and protects the rights of Cambodia's estimated 350,000 garment and shoe industry workers, of whom more than 90 percent are women. In a field dominated by men, where only 6 of the roughly 90 labor union leaders are women, Sam Sreymom has been a formidable negotiator on behalf of garment factory workers in labor disputes with management. She also represents union members of the FTUWKC when cases appear at the country's labor Arbitration Council. Sam Sreymom has received several arrest threats for her role organizing and participating in workers' rights protests against factory management. With high inflation afflicting workers in early 2008, Sam Sreymom was instrumental in organizing union federations to lobby the government and employers to increase wages. Partially due to her efforts, the government added a mandatory cost of living increase of $6 for garment and shoe workers in April 2008. Sam Sreymom stands out for her labor advocacy philosophy to exhaust all negotiating possibilities before striking or protesting. She has sat at negotiating tables with factory managers, government officials, and International Labor Organization representatives. Much of her focus has been on improving working standards for female laborers such as allowing women to take maternity leave, criminalizing sexual harassment, and providing toilet facilities. She has been a champion for issues such as the prohibition of anti-union discrimination and workplace education on HIV/AIDS. Her efforts have directly contributed to factory condition improvements such as increased ventilation, access to safe drinking water, and in some factories the installation of medical and canteen facilities. The garment and industrial sectors have played an important role in the economic development of Cambodia in the past ten years. Labor conditions and workers' rights have been a continuous issue of contention for formerly impoverished Cambodians who are trying to make a better living in the garment sector. Sam Sreymom is active in other social sectors, especially the protection of human rights, democracy and women's empowerment. In December 2005, she joined with other civil society representatives demanding the release of five prominent human rights activists detained on defamation charges. The activists were released in January 2006. Also in January 2006, Sam Sreymom led a march to the site of the killing of prominent labor leader Chea Vichea. For her activity, Sam Sreymom was threatened and also summoned for questioning by Phnom Penh municipality government authorities. ¶3. The subject has been informed of her nomination. CAMPBELL