Sanjaasürengiin Oyuun
Encyclopedia
Sanjaasuren Oyun also transcribed S. Oyun, is a prominent Mongolian politician. She is the leader of the Civil Will Party, and has been a Member of Parliament of Mongolia (State Great Khural) since 1998. She is also a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and is the current head of the Zorig Foundation
. In 2003, Oyun was selected as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF). She has been an active member of the YGL community since.
in 1964. In 1987 she finished her studies in geochemistry
at the Charles University
of Prague
. In 1996 she earned a PhD in geology from the Department of Earth Sciences
at University of Cambridge
. Afterwards, she began working for a multinational mining company called Rio Tinto
.
After the murder of her brother S. Zorig
, a Mongolian pro-democracy leader, in November 1998, she entered politics. She won the by-elections in her brother's constituency in Dornod
, the birthplace of their father Sanjaasuren. In March 2000, she founded the Civil Will Party . The Civil Will Party holds about ten percent of the public's support (as of the 2008 parliamentary elections). She also served as the Vice-Speaker of Parliament (between 2004-2005) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs (between 2007-2008).
Besides Mongolian, Oyun speaks Russian, English, and Czech.
, which is nonprofit organization with activities that have principle objectives that include spreading democratic values, strengthening human rights, and improving the system of transparency and accountability of the state and government to the public. In order to meet these objectives, the Foundation concentrates on three areas: Youth and Education, Good Governance, and Community Building. The Zorig Foundation
has thus far given out over 1000 local scholarships to University students in Mongolia in the past decade.
Oyun is also President of the Mongolian Geological Association and is the Chair of the Downe Syndrome Association of Mongolia.
. Oyun is married with three children.
Oyun's father, Sanjaasuren,served as the Dean of the Philosophy Faculty of the National University of Mongolia and as Deputy Minister of Education.
Zorig Foundation
The Zorig Foundation is a Mongolian non-profit, non-governmental organization which was established in October 1998 by close friends, collaborators and family members of Zorig Sanjaasuren. Zorig Sanjaasuren was a prominent Mongolian pro-democracy politician who in 1998 became the Minister of...
. In 2003, Oyun was selected as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF). She has been an active member of the YGL community since.
Biography
Oyun was born in UlaanbaatarUlaanbaatar
Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. An independent municipality, the city is not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is over one million....
in 1964. In 1987 she finished her studies in geochemistry
Geochemistry
The field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks, water, and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical components in time and space, and...
at the Charles University
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. In 1996 she earned a PhD in geology from the Department of Earth Sciences
University of Cambridge Department of Earth Sciences
The Department of Earth Sciences at Cambridge is the University of Cambridge's Earth Sciences department. The main location of the department is at the Downing Site, Downing St. The Bullard Laboratories, located in West Cambridge on Madingley Rd, and the Godwin Laboratory, in the New Museums Site...
at University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. Afterwards, she began working for a multinational mining company called Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto Group
The Rio Tinto Group is a diversified, British-Australian, multinational mining and resources group with headquarters in London and Melbourne. The company was founded in 1873, when a multinational consortium of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto river, in Huelva, Spain from the...
.
After the murder of her brother S. Zorig
Sanjaasürengiin Zorig
Zorig Sanjaasuren was a prominent Mongolian politician and leader of the country's 1990 democratic revolution. He was called the "Golden Magpie of Democracy". His murder remains unsolved...
, a Mongolian pro-democracy leader, in November 1998, she entered politics. She won the by-elections in her brother's constituency in Dornod
Dornod Province
Dornod is the easternmost of the 21 aimags of Mongolia. Its capital is Choibalsan.- Population :Halh are the ethnic majority of the Dornod aimag, but Buryat ethnic group is 22.8% of population total concentrated in the north-eastern sums of Dashbalbar, Tsagaan-Ovoo, Bayan-Uul, Bayandun and...
, the birthplace of their father Sanjaasuren. In March 2000, she founded the Civil Will Party . The Civil Will Party holds about ten percent of the public's support (as of the 2008 parliamentary elections). She also served as the Vice-Speaker of Parliament (between 2004-2005) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs (between 2007-2008).
Besides Mongolian, Oyun speaks Russian, English, and Czech.
Other Positions
Oyun is head of the Zorig FoundationZorig Foundation
The Zorig Foundation is a Mongolian non-profit, non-governmental organization which was established in October 1998 by close friends, collaborators and family members of Zorig Sanjaasuren. Zorig Sanjaasuren was a prominent Mongolian pro-democracy politician who in 1998 became the Minister of...
, which is nonprofit organization with activities that have principle objectives that include spreading democratic values, strengthening human rights, and improving the system of transparency and accountability of the state and government to the public. In order to meet these objectives, the Foundation concentrates on three areas: Youth and Education, Good Governance, and Community Building. The Zorig Foundation
Zorig Foundation
The Zorig Foundation is a Mongolian non-profit, non-governmental organization which was established in October 1998 by close friends, collaborators and family members of Zorig Sanjaasuren. Zorig Sanjaasuren was a prominent Mongolian pro-democracy politician who in 1998 became the Minister of...
has thus far given out over 1000 local scholarships to University students in Mongolia in the past decade.
Oyun is also President of the Mongolian Geological Association and is the Chair of the Downe Syndrome Association of Mongolia.
Family background
Oyun's mother, Dorjpalam, is famous for her role as a doctor in a well-known Mongolian movie "Serelt". Dorjpalam's father was the Russian geographer and scientist Simukov, who fell victim to Mongolia's political purges of the 1930sStalinist purges in Mongolia
The Stalinist repressions in Mongolia had their climax between 1937 and 1939 , under the leadership of Khorloogiin Choibalsan. The purges affected the whole country, although the main focus was on upper party and government ranks, the army, and especially the Buddhist clergy. One very common...
. Oyun is married with three children.
Oyun's father, Sanjaasuren,served as the Dean of the Philosophy Faculty of the National University of Mongolia and as Deputy Minister of Education.