Mr. Ou Virak is a leading voice on political and civil rights in Cambodia and the President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), a leading non-aligned, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights – primarily civil and political rights – throughout Cambodia. He is the founder of the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia (AFEC) and the winner of the 2007 Reebok Human Rights Award.
Virak studied Economics at California State University in the United States and worked in both legal and public welfare sectors before returning to Cambodia to lecture on Economics at Pannasastra University, Phnom Penh. He joined CCHR in 2005 as the Advocacy and Public Relations Director, eventually becoming President in 2007.