Happy International Women’s Day!

To all the women of this world, today is the day we celebrate, our worth, our value and our accomplishments. 

As a Khmer-Krom woman growing up abroad, I feel very blessed to live in a society that promotes and protects the rights of women like myself. Thanks to my parents and their courageous journey of life and death through the jungles of Cambodia, I have an education, a future and a voice today.

For many of my indigenous sisters in Kampuchea-Krom, the future remains bleak and their voices often go unheard. As the world celebrates international women’s day, a Khmer-Krom business owner in Preah Trapeang province is questioned and intimidated for  printing  a t-shirt that contained the term, “Khmer-Krom.” 

The right to self identify as Khmer-Krom is one example of the discrimination that our people face, including our women. An old song, sung by a Vietnamese monk that came into light earlier this year, highlights the biases against Khmer Krom women, calling them “mein/Khmer”, “Black”and “cheap”. 

An article that was written awhile back and later taken down, spoke about a  belief that Khmer-Krom people are “backward and stupid” and despite the government’s efforts, they have this inability to learn. 

Sometimes it is not one’s inability to learn, rather it is about one’s inability to be open minded, to truly listen and understand what the indigenous peoples are asking.

Such as recognition of the Khmer-Krom people as indigenous, having the right to self identify and to determine our own futures without fear, threats or intimidation. To have access to the very land that our ancestors lived on so we could grow food and feed our children.

Yesterday, I had the privilege to be part of an event organized by the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) that brought the indigenous women of Vietnam together for the first time to celebrate international women’s day. 

Mrs. Nit Son, KKF women leader, opened the session in Khmer and highlighted the hope that lies in our generation, to move women’s rights to the next level.

“Because of COVID 19, we are unable to celebrate our annual international women’s day in Philadelphia, however I am glad we have the opportunity to meet each other.” 

She was instrumental in bringing the voice of our Khmer-Krom women to the UN for the first time in 2007, during Vietnam’s CEDAW review. 

Ms. Phun, from the Voices of the Highlands, spoke about the need for us to reexam the stories that we tell ourselves and the stories that parents tell us about our gender roles.

“Being here today is about a chance for me to reclaim the narrative of the story being told about my people and in particular about bunong women,” says Ms. Phun. 

Ms. Samone, from Aid to Tai people spoke about the struggles of her people and how the dams were built on their ancestral lands forced thousands to be displaced. She also  spoke about how the women were left behind to take care of the children as their men went far in search of jobs during the COVID 19 pandemic.  

She has recently formed the Aid to Tai organization with the help of two Tai Dam women. 

“It goes to show that women are leading the charge for advocating for their own human rights,” Samone adds.  

“I am able to proudly tell everyone that I am Khmer- Krom, I am fighting to achieve justice for my people in Kampuchea-Krom.” Priscilla Kim Ong, also shared her experiences of what she has learned since interning for KKF.

Despite the overwhelming challenges that our Khmer-Krom women back due to poverty and COVID 19, there are signs of hope that indicate the work we are doing is making a positive impact back home.

For example, there is a greater sense of pride and identity as Khmer. Many Khmer-Krom women are wearing traditional Khmer clothes at Khmer New Year or wedding ceremonies. There are songs being produced that speaks for the love of one’s culture and identity as well as history of the people and our temples.

And despite the risks, our Khmer-Krom women are wearing the shirts, with phrase, “Khmer-Krom Women Celebrating International Women’s Day” in Kampuchea-Krom today. (Images on slideshow are from Facebook).

I am grateful to be able to share the space with our indigenous sisters and brothers yesterday. It was an empowering and inspiring event, a first of it’s kind to bring indigenous women from Vietnam together.