Asian Pacific Leadership Forum Award
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Just two days before the opening of the VII Asia-Pacific Conference in Singapore, the Cambodian Red Cross and its staff and volunteers celebrated the first ever event in the history. It was the ceremony to officiate the recognition to Madam Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Red Cross, as the APLF (Asia-Pacific Regional Forum) and National Outstanding Champion on HIV/AIDS. |
In the remarks made by Mr. Tony Lisle, the Cambodia UNAIDS country coordinator, in the name of the United Nations Country Team stated that: “
Today, as we recognize Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen as APLF and National Champion on HIV/AIDS, we celebrate Cambodia’ s achievements over the last several years in reversing the course of the HIV epidemic. These achievements, remarkable in the context of Cambodia’s other nation building and development challenges, have been made possible by committed leadership across all sectors, government, legislative institutions, the judiciary and civil society. Cambodia’ s leadership is providing an important example, not only for other countries in Asia-Pacific, but for other regions of the world “ .
Cambodia has been one of the countries hardest hit by HIV in the region, but thanks to effective leadership, it is also a country where significant progress has been made in responding to the epidemic, even as serious challenges remain.
In his recognition letter dated 26 September 2006, Dr, Peter Piot, the Executive Director of the UNAIDS Geneva based, stressed his belief that the role of Madam Bun Rany Hun Sen as APLF Champion will make important difference in further strengthening the response to AIDS, initially through efforts to mobilize the private sector to provide workplace programmes that would reach a critical mass of people with regular information and services, as well as advocacy to reduce stigma and discrimination.
The letter was presented to Madam Bun Rany Hun Sen by Mrs. Teresita Bagasao, APLF Manager, representative of the APLF Steering Committee chaired by former Prime Minister of Thailand, Khun Anan Panyarachun. The recognition letter from APLF is quoted as written, “
I appreciate your decision to join us as National Outstanding Champion of Cambodia. Actions taken by leaders is significantly important for effective response to HIV/AIDS. Your actions will help to prevent the spread of this dreadful disease among young people and stop discrimination. Once we have commitment, we will bound to success “.
In accepting the title and upon the reception of the recognition letters, Madam Bun Rany Hun Sen, said “
The role that I have accepted today has added another great value to everything that the Cambodian Red Cross has done and is doing effectively in order to participate with the Royal Government of Cambodia in responding to the disastrous threat of HIV/AIDS. Indeed, in the name of the Cambodian citizen, I hope that this personal efforts and sacrifices will be helpful in mobilizing all types of forces and resources from both national and international levels so that they can be formed into a dynamic and eventually become the appropriate contribution to the national building and liberate Cambodia from poverty and misery “. She was further quoted that “
I would like to stress out my strong commitment to devote without regret of my physical strength, intelligence, spirit and available resources to lead national movement and join with the government in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS and addressing its negative impacts on the society and family, especially to reduce discrimination against HIV/AIDS victims while working together to provide more caring services and hopes to the victims “. Before concluding, she appealed for active participation from all levels of society including the victims to join together to strongly commit to transform from a person who spreads HIV/AIDS into a person who prevents HIV/AIDS, from person who ignores HIV/AIDS into the one who actively addresses the impact of HIV/AIDS, especially to participate in a campaign against HIV/AIDS victim discrimination “, whilst underlined that HIV/AIDS is the common issues that people around the world have to jointly address to a stage that brings under control the spread of untreatable HIV/AIDS, which devastate life, family and society regardless of social classes, skin colors, high ranking officials, sex and rich or poor.
There are big challenges ahead in meeting Cambodia’s goals for overcoming HIV/AIDS. The responses contribute towards achieving Cambodia Millennium Development Goals which include the effort of reducing the infection rate of HIV/AIDS to 1.5% by 2015 and the commitment to Universal Access to prevention and treatment for all Cambodians by 2010. The achievement of this particular goal will be beneficial in improving the wellbeing of Cambodian citizen at all levels, especially for women and children as well as improving the quality of human resources which is the key important base for the development of the country.
APLF Leadership Award
Twelve young people under age of 25 coming from different part of the country were recruited among dynamic and active youth who have spared no efforts in their action to prevention, care for and stop discrimination to people living with HIV/AIDS.
The award is the first one since 1994, when the Cambodian Red Cross started its HIV/AIDS project. After years of consistent appeal for prevention, care for and stop discrimination, in particular on the occasion of the annual World Red Cross Day, the Cambodian Red Cross multiple community based activities in response to HIV/AIDS and other health care related, it has contributed to the reduction of the prevalence from 3.3% in 1997 to 1.9% in 2003. In front of 4000 people attending the World AIDS Day meeting on December 1, in the Hun Sen public park, the APLF National Champion in HIV/AIDS, Madam Bun Rany Hun Sen, presented the APLF Leadership Award to the elite young leaders of the future.
In her role as APLF member and National Champion in response to HIV/AIDS, she solemnly underlined that undoubtedly, fighting against HIV/AIDS and addressing its impacts are the cross-cutting works that require participation of all people, ministries/institutions, provinces, municipalities, local and international organizations, civil societies and private sectors. She appealed to government officials, legislative members, investors, employees, workers, youth, students and the public in all social milieus working together to make a positive change by getting rid of the discrimination to HIV/AIDS victims, promoting humanity and forgiveness spirit, providing hopes to the HIV/AIDS victims and their families through love, concern and care, and helping to address difficulties of the victims based on their own ability in the name of the human being in order to live in harmony and dignity of our society.
Care and Hope
Within two months, more than 300 HIV/AIDS patients in two state hospitals, among them 169 children received care and counselling support from the APLF National Champion, Madam Bun Rany Hun Sen. Walking from bed to bed, she chatted with the patients, counselled them by her smile, her touch, her talks of their beloved ones. She encouraged them to look to bright future whilst efforts are made to universal access to prevention and treatment for all Cambodians. As committed President of the Cambodian Red Cross and First Lady of the country, she demonstrates vigorously to people that the people living with HIV/AIDS are also human being, and should enjoy equal rights. No discrimination to them is the key message spreading out to public through her activities.
A regular TV broadcast of young people debate on the prevention, care support and anti-stigma is a plan initiated by the APLF National Champion. The first televised debate is for students from the Royal Universities of Phnom Penh, Medical Sciences, Fine Arts and Tourism, the main coverage in the month of the World AIDS Day. It is expected that the debate could absorb young people and private sectors in peer education on the key strategic directions on HIV/AIDS: prevention, care support and anti-stigma. It will contribute to the universal access in Cambodia.
