CNV: 07/08/2014
Excellencies, Lok Oknha, Distinguished National and International Guests,
Dear all the Participants!
Today,
I am delighted to participate in the closing of the “the General
Assembly of the Sixth-Term Cambodian Red Cross” held over the last two
days. This General Assembly is a great opportunity for us to take stock
of the achievements of the Fifth-Term Cambodian Red Cross and review
progress and challenges in the implementation of the Cambodian Red Cross
Strategy 2011 – 2020 which has four core areas, viz. disaster
management, promotion of health and healthcare in community, promotion
of humanitarian principles and values, and institutional development and
resource development aimed to enhance the efficiency and garner trust
from the public, especially to materialize new achievements in the sixth
term and beyond. In this spirit, I strongly believe that the General
Assembly has thoroughly reviewed and deliberated the work implemented to
date and diagnosed the root of the problems faced by the organization
to serve as the basis for reforming program activities and setting new
direction for the new term in the cause of contributing to humanitarian
sector, rescue of lives, reduction of the hardship and material shortage
of people, especially the acceleration of poverty reduction and
enhancement of the living standard of the people.
Taking
this opportunity, I would like to express my high appreciation to all
levels of the management, officials, volunteers and youth of the
Cambodian Red Cross for all the sacrifices and great effort in a strong
sense of responsibility to implement the Cambodian Red Cross Strategy
2011 – 2020, based on an even stronger foundation, assessment of
strengths and weaknesses, and regular experience exchange to achieve
subsequent success. At the same time, I also wish to value all donors
highly for providing firm support and close cooperation by exerting
mental and physical strength to contribute to the humanitarian
activities of the Cambodian Red Cross in the interest of the nation and
the people.
I
also would like to congratulate Samdech Kittiprittbundit on her
reelection as the president of the Cambodian Red Cross continue to
manage and lead the sixth term of office of the Cambodian Red Cross.
Taking this opportunity, I wish to lend my full support to the elected
members of the central committee for this term of office as well as
chief financial officer, secretary general and deputy secretary general
who have just been appointed. I strongly believe that members of the
central committee, chief financial officer, secretary general, deputy
secretary general, all staff and volunteers of the Cambodian Red Cross
will step up effort even further in the cause of building capacities in
the humanitarian sector to respond to disasters and lessen the hardship
of the people throughout the nation. At the same time, the Royal
Government of Cambodia will continue to support in terms of policy
framework, regulations and other supporting mechanisms as well as
material and financial contribution and encourage the Cambodian Red
Cross to implement its Strategy for 2011 – 2020 to achieve further
success in the sixth term of office. I also wish to appeal to all
members of the central committee, all levels of the management, staff,
volunteers and youths of the Cambodian Red Cross to further strengthen
and extend your responsibilities, especially the development of
organization and resource, to ensure the stability of the organization’s
operation and financial resource for the cause of continued rescue of
life and people from hardship, vulnerability and poverty in an effective
and efficient manner to move toward a prosperous community in the
interest of the nation and the people.
In
this spirit, I strongly hope and believe that all levels of the
management of the Cambodian Red Cross will be committed to leading and
managing the organization with a great sense of responsibility, good
governance and solidarity, unity, cooperation and mutual assistance to
contribute to mission to rescue human lives, response to challenges, and
promotion of the values and dignity of humanity living up to its name
as the leading humanitarian organization in the country.
Taking
this auspicious opportunity, on behalf of the Royal Government of
Cambodia and myself, I would like to express my most profound gratitude
to the most revered Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath
Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, for His Majesty’s participation in
the opening of the General Assembly of the Sixth-Term Cambodian Red
Cross in yesterday’s afternoon of August 06, 2014. This noble gesture
demonstrates His Majesty’s highest attention to and full support for the
humanitarian mission of the Cambodian Red Cross and His Majesty’s four
virtues of Brahma (Prum Vihear Thor) are closely linked to the
well-being of the people – children, grand children and great grand
children – especially the vulnerable throughout the country. These have
indeed helped promote and enhance the name and reputation of the
Cambodian Red Cross in both the national and international arena.
Achievements
and progress of the Cambodian Red Cross of the previous term
highlighted in the stocktaking report by Samdech Kittipritbundit,
president of the Cambodian Red Cross, reflect the leadership, unwavering
commitment, good governance, strong sense of responsibility,
transparency and accountability of all branch and sub-branch offices all
over the 25 capital/provinces, particularly the mobilization of
Cambodian Red Cross youth volunteers, who are our indispensable
resources and worthy successors for the future, to take part in the
implementation of the organization’s strategies, i.e. the four core
priorities. In this sense, we can reaffirm that the Cambodian Red Cross
has worked hard and overcome all challenges with high commitment, bold
spirit and courage in the cause of timely rescue of victims at all
places and under all circumstances regardless of nationality, race,
religion or political tendency in accordance with the motto “Where There
Is Suffering, There Is the Red Cross.”
Overall,
the Cambodian Red Cross Strategy 2011-2020 is in line with the
long-term vision of the Royal Government of Cambodia which adheres to
the principle of mobilizing forces throughout the country to jointly
build and protect the Cambodian motherland in pursuit of prosperity,
equitable distribution of growth, poverty reduction, and harmonic and
happy life of the people.
In
fact, the success of the humanitarian mission of the Cambodian Red
Cross in the fifth term of office cannot be separated from contribution
from relevant ministries-institutions and all stakeholders under the
forms of cooperation, experience exchange and dialogue in a constructive
way for promoting the activities of the Cambodian Red Cross as well as
recommendations for implementing the activities outlined in the
strategy. This General Assembly clearly demonstrates contribution from
relevant ministries-institutions, and as a result, the amendment of the
organization’s statute, rules of procedures and financial regulations,
which are the basic rules and regulations, have been reviewed and
unanimously adopted. This shows our flexibility to accommodate the
changing environment and in-depth reform programs of the Royal
Government of the fifth legislature of the National Assembly. In this
spirit, we hope these amendments will further contribute to enhancing
the capacity and transparency of this organization so it can
successfully and effectively carry out its mission in accordance with
humanitarian values of the Cambodian Red Cross.
Meanwhile,
the work plan for the sixth term approved by the general assembly
attests to institutional thinking and inspires members at the central
level as well as in branch and sub-branch offices to further consider
priority issues within their respective territories and enhance
capacities and work efficiency to address various challenges,
particularly further strengthen and expand institutional development and
resource capacity as the real core of the institution. The launch of
the Strategy for 2011-2020 as well as work and resource frameworks help
strengthen and expand the Cambodian Red Cross to carry out its
humanitarian mission successfully and garner trust from all stakeholders
and the public.
In
sum, the Strategy for 2011-2020 shows the high attention of the
Cambodian Red Cross at the central level and branch/sub-branch level on
its preparedness and prevention of disasters in each locality by setting
up information channel, disaster monitoring and data management and
post-disaster restoration with ownership. Furthermore, the Cambodian Red
Cross will further implement its program to promote traffic safety in
Cambodia, a country with high risk of traffic accidents which have
resulted in the loss of lives and properties, disability, orphans,
widows and vagrants; all these pose a heavy burden on their families and
the whole society.
At
the same time, the Cambodian Red Cross has paid attention to the
elimination of some drawbacks such as domestic violence and human
trafficking, the promotion of the rights of children viz. orphans,
children with disabilities and children from poor families, through the
provision of education and vocational training, rehabilitation service,
prevention of child exploitation etc. as well as expanded education and
vocational training for youth and volunteers, and promotion of social
morality and women’s values to strengthen and expand the youth force as
the core of rescue mission and promote their dignity. In this spirit, I
would like to encourage the Cambodian Red Cross to step up its youth
program, including the expansion of health and hygiene education in
communities, and timely participate in rescue missions at all places,
under all circumstances.
Taking
this opportunity, I would like to appeal to all
ministries-institutions, cooperation partners, private sector, and local
authorities to maintain and strengthen solidarity, unity and good
cooperation to support daily operation of the Cambodian Red Cross to
contribute to the successful implementation of the Strategy for
2011-2020, especially to increase the opportunity for branch and
sub-branch offices to exchange experience and come up with good
recommendations for constructing and developing each locality with
ownership.
The
achievement and success of the fifth-term Cambodia Red Cross cannot be
separated from the royal humanitarian activities of and contribution
from Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni,
King of Cambodia, and Her Majesty Queen Mother of Cambodia, Honorary
President of Cambodia Red Cross, especially His Majesty, The Great
Heroic King, King Father of Cambodia, Preah Borom Ratanakkaud, who have
paid high attention to the welfare of the people – their children, grand
children and great grandchildren by regularly donating their personal
wealth to the Cambodian Red Cross in order to assist disaster victims
throughout the country. I would like to take this solemn opportunity to
wish Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni,
King of Cambodia and Her Majesty Queen Mother of Cambodia, Honorary
Chairwoman of Cambodian Red Cross good health and longevity of more than
hundred years old to remain as the symbol of humanitarian force and the
great shade for all Cambodian people and I would like to pray to the
soul of the most revered Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the
Great Heroic King, King Father of Cambodia, Preah Borom Ratanakkaud to
wish all the Cambodian people peace and prosperity.
In
addition, I would like to express my deep thanks to Excellencies,
Oknha, ladies and gentlemen, both national and international donors, for
your charitable gesture and for providing mental, material and
financial support to the Cambodian Red Cross in the cause of assisting
victims and the vulnerable in the humanitarian framework.
In
fact, this charitable support represents not only the great force of
solidarity and culture of sharing that have been carved in the heart of
each Khmer long time ago, but also a great contribution to lessening
people’s hardship and material shortage, especially life rescue during
natural and other disasters in order to maintain the dignity and enhance
the livelihoods of the people.
At
the same time, I would like to appeal to all relevant
ministries-institutions as well as local authorities and all types of
armed forces to step up their attention on providing cooperation and
support as well as trust building in order to ensure the improved
efficiency and success of the humanitarian mission of the Cambodian Red
Cross in this mandate. In short, in spite of the progress of the
Cambodian Red Cross, we still need support from all stakeholders since
most of the current issues such as climate change, road accidents, UXO
accidents etc. require joint effort from all stakeholders. Meanwhile, we
must also pay attention to studying in advance the vulnerability, areas
and people vulnerable to disasters in each locality and set up a
clear-cut prevention database to facilitate monitoring and prevention as
well as response measures in case of natural disasters.
Before
ending, I would like to express my support for the continued
cooperation and partnership between the International Committee of Red
Cross and the Cambodian Red Cross for the next 30 years while both
parties have worked together and achieved great success during the last
30 years.
Finally,
along with the declaration of the closing of the General Assembly of
the Cambodia Red Cross of the Sixth Mandate, I would like to wish
Samdech, Excellencies, Okhna, national and international guests, youth
volunteers and all participants the four gems of Buddhist blessing:
Longevity, Nobility, Healthiness, and Strength.