Celebrating the Leader for Women’s Rights and Inclusion

On World Population Day 2026, we recognise Ms. Khun Sophea, an Australia Awards Scholarships alumna whose work supports gender equality, women’s rights, and inclusive development in Cambodia.

 

Ms Sophea is the National Country Programme Coordinator at UN Women Cambodia, where she leads programme implementation, builds partnerships, and provides policy advice to support national development. Her work helps ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment remain part of Cambodia’s development agenda.

 

What she values most is the chance to work with women, young people, community leaders, policymakers, and gender advocates to help create positive change. Through her role, she also helps ensure that women and girls, LGBTQIA+ persons, and other vulnerable communities are included in policy discussions and decision-making.

 

Ms. Sophea obtained her Master of Development Studies (Gender and Development) from the University of Melbourne in 2014 under an Australia Awards Scholarship. She shared that her Australian education strengthened her understanding of gender equality, inclusive development, and policy work, while also building her analytical and research skills.

 

Her message on World Population Day is clear: gender equality, women’s rights, and inclusion must be at the centre of all development efforts.

 

We warmly congratulate Ms. Sophea Khun and thank her for her continued contribution to Cambodia’s development.