Activist Tep Vanny to receive human rights award in Washington D.C

March 20th, 2013
By Erika Pineros
Demotix

Land and human rights activist from Cambodia, Tep Vanny started her journey to Washington D.C where she will receive the Vital Voices Global Leadership in Public Life Award for her untiring work supporting Cambodian human rights causes. File photos.

Vanny is one of the most prominent leaders of the controversial Boeung Kak community, whose members regularly take to the streets of Phnom Penh to protest against forced evictions and to demand real solutions to their problems.

In 2007, the Boeung Kak area was granted for commercial and housing development on a US$79 million, 99-year lease to Shukaku Inc.—headed by a senator of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.

Tep Vanny protests as she finds out fellow activist and friend Yorm Bopha was sentenced to three years in jail. File photo from Dec. 12 2012.

Tep Vanny at home cleaning a poster of Hillary Clinton before a demonstration in Phnom Penh. File photo from Nov 19 2012.

Tep Vanny, at a demonstration in front of the Appeal Court, demands Bopha and Sakmony’s release after over 2 months of their detention. Phnom Penh, Cambodia. File photo from Nov. 07 2012.

Boeung Kak’s prominent leader and land rights activist Tep Vanny says good-bye to fellow demonstrators at Pochentong International airport in Phnom Penh as she leaves for Washington D.C. USA.

Boeung Kak’s prominent leader and land rights activist Tep Vanny at Pochentong International airport in Phnom Penh as she is leaving for Washington D.C.

Boeung Kak community members join Tep Vanny at the airport before her journey to receive The Vital Voices Global Leadership Award in Washington D.C.

Tep Vanny, and supporters of land rights activists Yorn Bopha and Tim Sakmony protest near the Municipal Court in Phnom Penh demanding their immediate release. File photo from Nov 2012.

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