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Address at the Closing of the 5th General Assembly of the Cambodian Red Cross
Phnom Penh, August 5th, 2010
- Excellencies, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
- National and International Guests,
- Dear Participants!
Today I am extremely delighted and honored to participate in the closing of the “ 5th General Assembly of the Cambodian Red Cross ” which
has been held for the last two days. This General Assembly, has indeed provided
us with the opportunity to take stock on the achievements made during the 4th Term of Office of the Central Committee, and allowed us to review the progress
and challenges faced by the core areas of the Cambodian Red Cross such as
Promotion of the Fundamental Principles and Humanitarian Values, Disasters
Management, Health and Care in the Community as well as Organizational
Development and Resource Development, which are the key foundations for defining
new directions and strategies for carrying out continued activities more
effectively and greater success in the upcoming term of office. In this spirit,
I strongly believe that this General Assembly has reviewed and thoroughly
discussed about the work that has been implemented so far and diagnosed the root
of various problems as the base for improving our action plans and identifying a
clear direction for this 5th Term of Office of the Central Committee (The
Governing Board) for the cause of accelerating poverty reduction, protecting
human dignity and the humanitarian values the vulnerable people.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to highly appreciate all levels
of management, officials, staffs, volunteers, and youth of the Cambodian Red
Cross for putting their utmost efforts and making sacrifices in creating
favorable conditions for the establishment of the Strategy 2011-2020 based on
strengths, weaknesses, and past experiences withdrawn from the implementation of
the Strategy 2003-2010. This work showed the consistency and unity between the
Royal Government of Cambodia and the Cambodian Red Cross on humanitarian
activities and poverty reduction. At the same time, I would like to praise all
levels of management, officials, staff, volunteers, youth of the Cambodian Red
Cross, and all donors for providing firm support and close cooperation in
implementing humanitarian activity under the framework of various Cambodian Red
Cross’s strategic plan in its historical mission for serving our nation and
people until achieving tremendous outcomes as witness today.
For instance, the stocktaking report of Lok Chumteav the President
of Cambodian Red Cross has highlighted major achievements and progress of
the Cambodian Red Cross which give good reflection of the leadership, and firm
determination for good governance with high responsibility, transparency, and
accountability step by step until having established its structure from the
national, sub-national, and local levels. At the same time, the Cambodian Red
Cross has many volunteers and youth as the human resource who are capable of
getting together in the society to mobilize and attract forces from all walks of
life to participate in the humanitarian activity.
In this sense, we can clearly highlight that the Cambodian Red Cross
has overcome many challenges with firm determination in promoting the value of
“culture of sharing” for the common cause of saving victims at all
places, in all circumstances, without discrimination, as once said in the saying
that “ where there is suffering, there is the Red Cross ”. Indeed, these
meanings are in line with the RGC’s long-term vision of constantly mobilizing
the whole national strength, solidarity to defend our motherland and develop the
country toward prosperity and ensure equitable distribution of the fruits of
growth and poverty reduction so that every citizen can live in peace and
harmony.
Meanwhile, on behalf of the RGC, I would like to highly appreciate the
deed of our respectful His Majesty Preah Korona Preah Bat Samdeh Preah
Boromoneath NORODOM SIHAMONI, King of the Cambodia, for his royal
patronage yesterday at the opening of the 5th General Assembly of the Cambodian
Red Cross. This profound action revealed the caring heart and full support for
the humanitarian activity of the Cambodian Red Cross and His Majesty' s kind
intention in sharing pain and suffering of the people and vulnerable across the
country. All of these actions have indeed helped to strongly promote the
reputation and prestige of the Cambodian Red Cross in the national and
international arena.
The success of the Cambodian Red Cross’s humanitarian mission during
its 4th term of office, indeed, cannot be separated from the valuable
contribution of related ministries/institutions through exchange of dialogues
and honest constructive discussion on the work of Cambodian Red Cross and
various recommendations for the implementation of Cambodian Red Cross action
plans. This General Assembly indeed highlights contribution from related
ministries/institutions and we all have unanimously approved the amendment to
the Statute and the Rules of Procedure which are the principal legal document of
the National Society. In general, the above amendment reflects the flexibility
and actual circumstances of the Cambodian Red Cross, and complies with
Cambodia’s public administrative reform. In this sense, we hope that the
amendment will further strengthen and expand the association’s force in order to
realize the spirit of Fundamental Principles and Humanitarian Value as stated in
the vision and mission of the Cambodian Red Cross.
Along with this, the newly adopted strategy reflects the institution’s
commitment as a whole and triggered its branches and sub-branches to assess
priority issues occurring within their respective administrative territories, to
continue improve their capacity and ability for addressing vulnerabilities, and
continue institution and resource development to strengthen its force in each
locality. Through this, we can see that the Cambodian Red Cross’s strategic
framework, implementation framework and resource framework have been
strengthened and expanded continuously to accommodate the institution’s motto
that goes “doing more, doing better, reaching " .
Also, the new strategy indicates that the Cambodian Red Cross continue
to draw attention from its braches and sub-branches to focus on disaster
management by establishing early warning mechanism, vulnerability database
management, the post disasters' recovery and the building up of community
resilience. Moreover, the Cambodian Red Cross is determined to continue to
improve traffic safety which is one of the man-made disasters as the rate of
traffic accident still remain high, cost time, money and lives, and leave the
society with disable people, orphans, widows, elders with caretakers, and other
social issues. Along with this, the Cambodian Red Cross also strives to save
lives and eliminate all kinds of discrimination, eliminate the use of drug and
gambling that result in severe disaster for youth and the society, strengthen
and expand youth force to be a core force for saving missions, and take part in
the promotion of human dignity. In this spirit, I would like to encourage the
Cambodian Red Cross to expand its activities even further including broader
dissemination work, provision of deepened health information, and support timely
life rescue mission everywhere and under all circumstances.
Based on these aspects, we can say the Cambodian Red Cross has been an
active partner of the Royal Government and we have joined force to promote
public awareness on accidents caused by remnants of war, to promote clean water
supply capacity, and provide effective and equitable health services to the
people through the expansion of disease prevention and treatment programs and
maternal and infant support programs.
Moreover, the Cambodian Red Cross has joined the Royal Government in
youth trainings, promotion of social morality, value of women and families,
prevention of domestic violence and trafficking of women, promotion of the basic
rights of children including the protection of vulnerable children such as
orphans, disabled children, children in poor community through more trainings,
rehabilitation and vocational trainings for vulnerable children, prevention of
oppression and trafficking of children, and disaster management. These Cambodian
Red Cross’s initiatives indeed respond to the actual circumstance of our society
and take part in the Royal Government’s effort to accelerate poverty reduction
and promotion of humanitarian value.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to show my utmost support to the
members of the Central Committee newly elected by the 5th General
Assembly as well as the appointed secretary general, deputy secretary general,
and the treasurer. I strongly believe that all members of the Central Committee,
secretary general, deputy secretary general, treasurer, officials, volunteers
and youth of the Cambodian Red Cross will continue your hard work to gain more
achievements on humanitarian work and respond to disasters, especially relieve
the hardship of vulnerable people across the country. Furthermore, the Royal
Government will continue to provide its full support to the Cambodian Red Cross,
in terms of policy, legal and supporting mechanism, material and finance, and
encourage the Cambodian Red Cross to succeed in the implementation of its
2011-2020 Strategy. In the meantime, the government will continue its support in terms of policy,
law, supporting mechanisms as well as equipment and budget to support and
encourage the Cambodian Red Cross to successfully implement its 2011-2012
Strategy in the coming term of office as well as in the future.
At the same time, I would like to appeal to all members of central
committee, board of management, staffs, volunteers and youths of the Cambodian
Red Cross to continue strengthening and expanding responsibility, organizational
development and resource development to secure financial sufficiency and
stability of the Cambodian Red Cross for the cause of freeing our people from
vulnerability, poverty, and strengthening closer relations with community of the
vulnerable across the country and definitely transforming those communities into
the core of the Cambodian Red Cross work.
Particularly, I would like to appeal to all relevant
ministries/institutions, all levels of local authorities and all armed forces to
continue paying more attention to providing reliable and effective cooperation
and support for the implementation of humanitarian mission of the Cambodian Red
Cross including educating, raising awareness on traffic safety, preventing the
spread of HIV/AIDS, providing first aid, providing community healthcare service,
saving disaster victims and so on. Moreover, we make effort to thoroughly
understand beforehand vulnerability, potentially vulnerable areas, and group of
vulnerable people in the territory of jurisdiction and authority, and then
compile a proper data system that facilitate us in planning preventions and
taking measures to compensate impact and loss of the people when the emergency
and disaster situations occur. These will create a favorable condition for the
Cambodian Red Cross to fully and effectively fulfill its obligations and
missions, and live up to it name as a leading national association in
humanitarian work, and to work across sectors to help Cambodian society,
especially to help the vulnerable at local communities.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to appeal to all entities,
private enterprises, civil society, NGOs and relevant communities to strengthen
our solidarity built in the past so that you can participate in achieving the
strategic plan that has been adopted by Cambodian Red Cross. Furthermore, we
must create more opportunities for each community to learn from each other about
their work experience so that they can take up good points and modify them to
fit their territorial priorities in reducing disasters and promoting
humanitarian basic principle and value, especially in succeeding ownership of
each community.
In overall, the power of solidarity and support with active
participation will consolidate into momentum and enable more favorable condition
for the Cambodian Red Cross to further strenghthen capacity and capability for
more comprehensive executing humanitarian mission and rescuing victims
regardless of time and space.
Achievement and success that Cambodian Red Cross has made duirng made
duirng 4th mandate, like those during 55 years ago, could not be decoupled from
participations from Their Majesties Heroic King Father and The Queen Mother of the Khmer Nation, Honorary President of the
Cambodian Red Cross and His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah
Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, the King of of Cambodia for continuous
attention to lives of the people, children, grand children, great grand children
and the vulnerables at everywhere for which Their Majesties always
donate Their own assets to help victims of disaster through Cambodian Red Cross.
Taking this auspicious opportunity, I would like to wish His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, the King of
Cambodia, Their Majesties Heroic King Father and Queen Mother of the Khmer Nation, Honorary President of
the Cambodian Red Cross good health and long lives in order to remain as
symbole of humanitarian power and greatr shelter for all Cambodian people,
children, grand children and great grand children.
At the same time, I would like to express my deep appreciation to kind
attitude and supports from Excellencies, Lok Oknhas, ladies, and gentlemen,
members of great Red Cross family as well as national and international
development partners, and all private sectors for providing spiritual and
material support to Cambodian Red Cross for the cause of humanitarian act.
Indeed, these valuable supports help reduce suffering and hardship and gradually
promote safety, dignity and livelihood of our people. Power of great solidarity
and culture of sharing of our people and the kind-hearted are immortally
priceless.
At the end, along with closing the 5th General Assembly of the
Cambodian Red Cross I would like to wish all attending Excellencies, Lok
Chumteav, Lok Oknha, Ladies and Gentlemen, National and International
Distinguished Guests, the kind-hearted, members, volunteers and youth of
Cambodian Red Cross the four gems of Buddhist blessings: Longevity,
Nobility, Health and Strength.
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