Keo Tha : A leader of Courage, Passion and Commitments!

Keo Tha, 45, used to work in a karaoke and massage parlor in Svay Park, Reussey Keo District of Phnom Penh, locally known as a home to sex workers. Now she leads the Women's Network Unity (WNU), an organization of sex workers working with sex workers. About four years back she used to fall sick very often and in 2004 when she did a blood test was found to be positive with HIV. Tha has three daughters (15, 12 and 11 years old). All of them are HIV-negative.

"It is extremely difficult for me to earn living for my children, still I feel proud and strong enough to work with women sex workers. Many women sex workers including me are facing stigma and social discrimination. We are victim of trafficking, rape abuse, violence and drug abuse by the clients and brothels owners. I feel I have a social responsibility to work for the rights of many women sex workers like me. My engagement with WNU started in year 2000 as a volunteer peer educator. WNU has provided me with opportunity to link my issues with wider platforms and lobby for rights of many women sex workers about their rights to negotiate with clients for using condom to protect HIV and transmission of STDs and lobbying with various actors to protect us sex workers against violence and abuse. I also work to link women sex workers in Svey Park with information related to health care services and legal support." - Keo Tha expressed.

Keo Tha's commitment for the rights of vulnerable women sex workers and her hard work has earned her national and regional credibility. She assumed the leadership position of WNU in 2002 and now she leads WNU in 14 provinces in Cambodia. She receives a monthly allowance of 25 USD from WNU. She plays a vanguard role to organize sex workers (women and men), transgender and lesbians communities to come together to fight against social discrimination, and advocate for health care services, and safeguard against violence against women sex workers. She is a renowned activist, who works relentlessly to advance the rights of the sex worker's community through enhancing their literacy and vocational capacity. WNU, through Tha's leadership has built strong collaboration with the ministry of women affairs to create platform for advocacy for women survivors of violence.

"My reason for being involved with Cambodian Alliance for Combating HIV/AIDS (CACHA) is that CACHA brings a groundswell of civil society voices to demand a stronger response, more accountability and more resources in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is a defining moment for us to influence decision-makers to analysis the small gains, the big loses and make new promises to contain the epidemic." - Tha said.

"In my perspective, the HIV prevalence in Cambodia is still the highest among women sex workers and partners and HIV continues its relentless spread from high transmission pockets into villages and households. Indeed, social, psychological and economic issues are also significant. Issues such as discrimination, violation of women's rights, self exclusion from social network and food insecurity, lack of agriculture and vocational skills all contribute to denial of rights of positive people. My fellow sex workers need information and a strong network to address issues related to condom use, forced labour, domestic violence, law enforcement, and drug abuse and food security." - Tha added.

Thus, I would like appeal to government, non-government actors, and donor agencies to adopt and filter down policies, programs and implementation mechanism for greater effectiveness of the law enforcement and prevention of violence against women and State safeguard and mechanism for advancement of women and children's rights.

Interview by: Many

"My reason for being involved with Cambodian Alliance for Combating HIV/AIDS (CACHA) is that CACHA brings a groundswell of civil society voices to demand a stronger response, more accountability and more resources in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is a defining moment for us to influence decision-makers to analysis the small gains, the big loses and make new promises to contain the epidemic."

she said...