job & Phnom Penh, 3 January 2014: Gender mainstreaming is a key cross-cutting issue set in the First 3-year Implementation Plan 2011-2013 (IP3) of the 10-year National Program…
Phnom Penh, 3 January 2014: Gender mainstreaming is a key cross-cutting issue set in the First 3-year Implementation Plan 2011-2013 (IP3) of the 10-year National Program (2010-2019) for Sub-National Democratic Development (NP-SNDD).
According to a study conducted by the Training and Gender Mainstreaming Institute, a research institute for Cambodia’s development, women’s roles in politics at sub-national levels are remarkably increasing. The numbers of female commune councils increased from 8.5% in 2002 to 15% in 2007 and reached 17.8% in 2012. Although the numbers increased, gender mainstreaming is still an important element of the Royal Government of Cambodia’s (RGC) local government reform.
Mrs. Tith Som On, 65, was elected as Sak Sampov Commune Chief in Dang Kor district, Phnom Penh capital, for 15 years (three mandates in office). Mrs. Som On said the reason why she was elected to be the commune council chief was that she always fulfilled the needs of citizens and consistently solved their problems, such as providing better services and making other developments. In addition, she has built up good relations with her constituency as well as the other organizations representing them.
“I became a commune chief because I wanted to serve my constituency honestly, responding to their needs as well as being accountable to the district and capital level,” she said.
Before becoming a commune chief, Mrs. Som On had done a significant amount of public service. In 1981, she became a youth deputy at Sak Sampov commune. Because of her potential, in 1993, the commune councilors selected her to be a member of a commune council. And she became an agent of the Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC), which addresses women’s issues in her commune.
In 2002, Cambodia held the first commune council election. Mrs. Som On stood for this election. She finally has been elected commune council chief since.
“Being a commune chief is not an easy job,” she said. “I have been elected to hold this position, so I have to try my best to serve everyone’s interests.”
She most often says, “Do as what you said and always be the first.” Mrs. Som On explained commune chief must follow promises made with the people in development.
Mr. Em Sokong, first deputy of Sak Sampov commune, said having a woman to be a commune chief could also make the commune’s work run smoothly.
“Women are more patient than men,” he said. “When the problem occurs, she can manage the situation and any anger well. Also, she is closer to the citizen than man when visiting field because she understands the people’s problems well and can solve those problems more effectively than men in the commune.”
Mrs. Som On is the third child amongst the 13 in the family. Her father was a physician, and her mother was a housewife. She lost her parents and six other brothers and sisters during Khmer Rouge-led 1975-1979 killing field. Now she lives alone in a house built for her by a charity group lead by Her Excellency Kep Chuktema, wife of former Phnom Penh governor. She most often takes the commune to be a house because of the love of work.
Most people in this commune love and respect her because she always cares the local people’s hardships.
A 29-year old villager, Mrs. Soeung Kalyan, said the elected commune chief is helpful and serve the local people fairly.
“The commune chief loves everyone equally and never delays the time whenever I run on the civil registration paper,” she said.
Another villager, Mrs. Jork Sreyphan, 29, similarly said she love the commune chief because she is helpful to villagers. She always visits the villagers to educate them.
Under her leadership, the 65-year-old commune chief has made remarkable achievements, including the construction of health post, canals, schools, and rural roads across villages in her commune and delivered public service without discrimination.
Because of hard work and older age, her relatives suggested her to resign from her position. However, she refused to quit.
“In reality, being a leader is not always loved by all the people,” she said. “Some like and some dislike. My relatives are not happy about that and try to force me to quit. Because I love my work, I will make more effort to serve the citizen if they still need and support me.”
To lead her commune to be more developed, including effective public service delivery, Mrs. Tith Som On said she will continue to build up good relations with superior levels because they don’t know our deficiency at the commune level.
“The superior levels will never know what we want unless we tell them,” she added. “In addition, I will continue to build up good relations with various development partners to mobilize funds to develop the commune. Building good relations with the citizen is also important—addressing their problems on time and educate them to be knowledgeable of property maintenance.”
Years of the commune chief’s success in her work are also because of supports of the members of Sak Sompov commune council and her staff.