Cambodge & Parcours : Lieutenant-Colonel Sorm Leangy breaks down barriers

When Lieutenant-Colonel Sorm Leangy donned her military uniform for the first time, skepticism swept through her rural village in Cambodia. “At first, people thought I couldn't do this,” she recalls.

La Lieutenante-Colonelle Sorm Leangy. Photo : ONU Femmes/Lim Sophorn

But as images of her in the field circulated on social networks, pride replaced doubt. They said, "Wow, this is incredible! She represents our community".

At just 33, Leangy is a pioneer in the Cambodian armed forces and a symbol of progress for women in peacekeeping. Since 2018, she has served in five UN missions in Mali and Lebanon. In 2024, she made history as Cambodia's first female unit commander in Lebanon, leading a contingent of 180, including 38 women.

Her rise reflects both the progress and the obstacles facing women in peacekeeping worldwide. According to UN data, women account for just 10% of uniformed peacekeepers, and less than 9% of them hold military positions. Leangy's leadership, however, demonstrates the profound impact women can have in conflict zones.

Inspired by Cambodia's past

Leangy's commitment to peacekeeping is deeply personal. Having grown up in a country marked by decades of war, she was inspired by the arrival of international peacekeeping forces in 1992.

“Our country had been through a long period of war,” she explains. “It helped me understand the value of peacekeeping.”

Determined to serve, Leangy enrolled at the Officer Cadet School in Kampong Speu. Her decision came as a surprise to her family. “My mother was shocked,” she recalls. She told me: ‘If you can't do it, go home’. Her father, Sorm Sean, admits to some initial apprehension: "It's different with a girl. But when we saw her determination, we supported her all the way."

A new generation of leaders

Now an administrative officer at Cambodia's National Center for Peacekeeping Forces, Mine Clearance and Explosive Remnants of War (NPMEC), Leangy is paving the way for future generations. Her courage and resilience have not only made her family and community proud, but have also challenged conventional wisdom about the role of women in the military.

As the world calls for greater gender equality in peacekeeping, Lieutenant-Colonel Sorm Leangy's story is a testament to the transformative power of women's leadership.