Personal Life
Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany (Hun Sen) was born on December 15, 1954, in the village of Rokar Khnor, Kroj Chhmar district, Kompong Cham province, to the family of Mr. Lin Kri, her father, and Mrs Bun Sieng Ly, her mother. In pursuit of education, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany overcame all sorts of difficulties to get to local school that was far and on the other side of the river (Mekong). In 1970, responding to the appeal by Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanaouk, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany volunteered her service in the national liberation movement, where she acquired medical service training. Afterwards she performed the duty of a nurse and then medical officer in the referral hospital of the district of Kroj Chhmar, Kompong Cham province.
Under Pol Pot’s regime, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany suffered the same ill fates as the whole Cambodian people. After getting married with Samdech Techo Hun Sen in 1976, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany gave birth to the first son on November 10, 1976 in the district of Memot, Kompong Cham province. Unfortunately, their first baby son died as the nurse dropped him to the floor. In her five-month old pregnancy of the second child, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany became a prisoner after Samdech Techo Hun Sen set out to lead a resistance forces against the Pol Pot’s regime on June 20, 1977. On October 20, 1977, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany gave birth to their second child. It was because of uprising in the eastern region that Lok Chumteav had to move with her child from the Memot district to the district of Kroj Chhmar in order to find and reunite with her family. She then led her family and child to the jungle in mid of 1978, under fire almost everyday from the Khmer Rouge forces.
Upon the reunion with Samdech Techo Hun Sen after January 7, 1979, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany gathered children orphaned by the Pol Pot’s genocide and other causes for shelter and care in orphanages, and to have schoolings, until most of them finished their studies and are able to make own living.
With sympathy for and understanding of hardships among women and the poor, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany has established five development centers, where appropriate vocational and business training is provided for them so that they can find jobs and go on with decent livings.
Family
As is narrated above, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany and Samdech Techo Hun Sen was separated between June 20, 1977 and 1979 as Samdech Techo left to lead the national movement to liberate the nation from the Pol Pot’s genocide.
After January 7, 1979, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany reunited with Samdech Tech Hun Sen. They both have six children – Hun Kamsot (son), who died in the province of Kompong Cham’s district of Memot, Hun Manet (son), Hun Mana (daughter), Hun Manit (son), Hun Mani (son) and Hun Mali (daughter) and a number of grandchildren.
Education, Works and Positions
Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany finished senior secondary schooling and was trained in medical nursing profession, with which she later practiced as a nurse and then a medical officer.
On April 11, 1994, The Cambodian Red Cross, in its first Congress, elected Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany as Vice President of the National Association of the Cambodian Red Cross.
On April 30, 1998, Having seen achievements and realizations as interest for the nation, the second Congress of the Cambodian Red Cross elected Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany as its President.
In 2002 and 2006, the third and fourth Congress of the Cambodian Red Cross consecutively re-elected Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany as its President. Again, on August 5, 2010, the fifth Congress of the Cambodian Red Cross re-elects Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany to the post of its President.
In addition to these, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany has been elected Honorary President of the Cambodian Women Association and Honorary President of the National Committee for the Uplifting of Women’s Value of Social Morals and Happiness in the Family. Lok Chumteav is a member of the Governing Board of the Medical Association of Cambodia too.
Awards, Medals and Titles
With numerous and invaluable social realizations and achievements on her initiative and leadership, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany has been presented with following awards, medals and titles:
On April 10, 2001, in recognition of outstanding services in the cause of humanity and peace, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany is presented with the medal of Taegeug by the Korean Red Cross.
On October 19, 2001, Samdech Preah Baat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, His Majesty the King of Cambodia presents Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany with the Medal of Samdech Preah Moha Khsatreiyani Preah Sisovath Munivong Kosomak Nearirath.
On December 22, 2001, together with Samdech Tech Hun Sen, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany is presented with the Medal of “Lifting up the World with a Oneness-Heart” by Sri Chinmoy International Peace Centre.
On November 16, 2006, Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS and the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum (APLF) officiate the recognition of Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany as the APLF and National Outstanding Champion on HIV/AIDS, who believe her role would make a difference in further strengthening the response to AIDS.
On October 16, 2008, Phnom Penh, Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany is presented with an Honorary Doctorate in Humanity by the University of Cambodia in recognition of her tireless support for the Cambodian Red Cross, along with the Royal Government of Cambodia, to assist people in emergency and natural disasters in addition to contribution in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
On June 03, 2009, Seoul, the Women University of Seoul bestows an Honorary Doctorate in Economic Science upon Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany in admiration of achievements in her capacity as the President of the Cambodian Red Cross for poverty alleviation, expanding value of humanity, while playing a core role in the movement to combat HIV/AIDS, and supporting family and women dignity and value.
On July 06, 2009, in recognition of her contribution to giving training and jobs to the poor in Cambodia as well as her naturally good feelings and great endeavors in the cause of her countrymen, the Jeon Ju University of South Korea decides to award an Honorary Doctorate in Literature to Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany.
On April 1, 2010, in recognition of her commitment to poverty reduction, women’s education, welfare and freedom, the Silla University in Busan, South Korea, bestows upon Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany an Honorary Doctorate in Education.
On February 21, 2011, on behalf of the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) acknowledges Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany Hun Sen as National Champion for Cambodia’s Commitment to the UNSG’s Action Plan for Women’s and Children’s Health.
On March 30, 2011, in recognition of remarkable and heroic contribution to the Cambodian leadership for progress and searching for peace for the Cambodian citizen, Preah Karuna Preah Bat Sâmdech Preah Bâromneath Norodom Sihamoni Nai Preah Reacheanachakr Kampuchea (His Majesty, King Norodom Sihamoni of the Kingdom of Cambodia) grants Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany Hun Sen the title of Kittiprittbandit (Honorary Senior Doctor) of the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
On 8 May 2013, acknowledging her service to the nation, religion and King; her support to Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen’s leadership ever since the beginning; her beloved and outstanding leadership in making progress to Buddhism; her deep fidelity to the throne and retinue to the Heroic King Father till his passing; and her capacity to rescue people from disasters in a timely manner in the whole Kingdom, HM King Norodom Sihamoni of the Kingdom of Cambodia grants Lok Jumteav Kittiprittbandit (Honorary Senior Doctor) Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Red Cross, the title of “Samdech Kittiprittbandit”.
On 9 January 2017, in recognition of her merits and great contributions in the cause of promoting welfare and enjoyment of Cambodian people, with the approval from the Committee on Academic Degrees of the State Council of People’s Republic of China, the Guangxi University for Nationalities confers upon the President of Cambodian Red Cross, Samdech Kittiprittbandit Bun Rany Hun Sen the “Honorary Doctorate of Literature”.