Phnom Penh (FN), Sept. 3 – It was a pride for Cambodia that Youk Chhang, executive director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-CAM), was honored with Asia’s premier prize, 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award for "preserving historical memory for healing and justice," according to Ramon Magsaysay Award 2018 Committee.

2018 marks the 60th anniversary of the award with six total winners, including Youk Chhang, from Cambodia; Maria de Lourdes Martins Cruz, from East Timor; Howard Dee, from the Philippines; Bharat Vatwani, from India; Vo Thi Hoang Yen, from Vietnam; and Sonam Wangchuk, from India.

This year’s Magsaysay Award winners each received a certificate, a medallion bearing the likeness of the late President, and a cash prize. The formal conferment of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards was held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Friday, 31 August 2018.

Cambodia’s Youk Chhang is being recognized for “his great, unstinting labor in preserving the memory of the Cambodian genocide, and his leadership and vision in transforming the memory of horror into a process of attaining and preserving justice in his nation and the world.”

"I am reminded every day by survivors and the people who advocate on their behalf, to not lose hope. I take heart in the relentless strength of survivors and the heroic, kindhearted people who help them. This award is a reminder, on behalf of my mother and all mothers in Cambodia who have survived the genocide, of the kindness of the Filipinos,” said Youk Chhang.

Ramon Magsaysay Award, considered the Noble Peace Prize of Asia, goes to those who are examples of integrity in governance, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.

Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s highest honor. It celebrates the memory and leadership example of the third Philippine president after whom the award is named, and is given every year to individuals or organizations in Asia who manifest the same selfless service and transformative influence that ruled the life of the late and beloved Filipino leader.

Youk Chhang’s citation for the 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award and his CV are available below:
=FRESH NEWS