Sochua Mu

Mu Sochua is an outspoken activist and a former opposition politician from Cambodia. She left for the US as the Vietnam war was spreading and returned in 1991 to rebuild Cambodia, first by founding Khemara, an NGO for women’s empowerment, and then by joining politics. She won a seat in Parliament, serving as Minister for Women’s and Veteran’s Affairs from 1998-2004. During her tenure, she led a nationwide campaign to combat human trafficking and domestic violence. As the government became increasingly corrupt, Sochua made the decision to step down and join the official opposition, becoming Vice President of Cambodia’s National Rescue Party that was unconstitutionally dissolved in 2017 which forced her into exile.