Meet the Cloghers: Empowered Women Blogging for Human Rights
Rising Voices Grantee Project Update
Cloghers training. Photo provided by project.
Cambodian bloggers, or cloggers, are increasingly using the internet to start powerful conversations about human rights and social change. Amongst them, a group of empowered women, known as Cloghers, are utilising blogs to voice their opinion.
CCHR’s Empowering Cloghers Project provides training for Cambodian women who are studying in Phnom Penh, giving them the skills to start their own blogs. Following the initial training, we are excited to introduce to you some of the Cloghers and their blogs.
The Cloghers are using their blogs to share their dreams for the future of Cambodia. Kang Vilay, for example, asserts that “I have a passion to promote justice and defend human rights, especially fair trial rights”, and she is using her blog to achieve this. Education is another issue that several Cloghers are passionate about. Ung Meylegn said that “I believe in education, without it we could not help the world. Education should be for everyone.” Regardless of their diverse dreams, it is clear that the Cloghers are committed to creating a better Cambodia.
Many of the Cloghers had to move from their rural homes to Phnom Penh for university, and come from a range of provinces. They chose to study diverse degrees, and many defy traditional gender roles. For example, Clogher Bo Branda chose to study Information Technology, a highly uncommon choice for women. Another Clogher, Sum Dany, recalls hearing her neighbours discouraging girls to study. Despite this, she is now completing a Law Major at the Royal University of Law and Economic Science.
The Cloghers also have broad work experience. Young Vichny, for example, worked on a climate change project at Youth Resource Development Program. Seng Sreanghong has worked with various NGOs working on elections, and human rights and peace advocacy. The diverse experiences and knowledge of the Cloghers demonstrate that women from all backgrounds have the power to positively contribute to change within their societies.
The Cloghers are further passionate about blogging itself. Hong Sokheang enjoys research and “sharing news that is related to Cambodia and other countries around the world.” Sreanghong also expressed a particular sentiment that all Cloghers seem to possess, when she stated that “I will study hard and become a good blogger in the future.”
Overall, the Cloghers represent a generation of Cambodian youth that are passionate about social change and human rights. We welcome all Cambodians to read their blogs and contribute to the emerging discussions that are fundamental for the future of human rights in Cambodia.
You can follow the Cloghers’ blogs here:
