Cambodia: Lieutenant Colonel Sorm Leangy, a Force for Peace

May 29, 2025 | UN Women Asia and the Pacific
UN Women Asia and the Pacific
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"I was the first woman from my village to become a peacekeeper,” says Lieutenant Colonel Sorm Leangy, her voice steady with pride. “At first, people thought, ‘She can’t do that.’ But when they saw me in uniform, saw the social media posts from our missions, they said, ‘Wow—amazing! She’s representing our community.’”

At just 33, Lieutenant Colonel Leangy is already a seasoned United Nations peacekeeper. Since 2018, she has served in five missions across Mali and Lebanon. In 2024, she made history as Cambodia’s first female unit commander in Lebanon, leading a contingent of 180 personnel, including 38 women.

Her journey reflects the growing, yet still limited, participation of women in peacekeeping. Globally, only 10 per cent of uniformed UN personnel are women, with just 8.8 per cent serving in military roles. Yet Leangy’s story shows the transformative impact of women’s leadership in conflict zones.