Cameroonian veteran journalist Henriette Ekwe, Publisher of Bebela, and the first female vice president of the first union of Cameroonian journalists elected in July 12, 2008 during the fifth ordinary general assembly in Yaounde, has been selected to receive an Award for International Women of Courage from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on March 8 in Washington, D.C.
Ekwe, editor of Bebela, a daily newspaper published in Cameroon, is one of ten women around the world who has been selected by the U.S. Department of State to receive this award in 2011. She will represent the whole Africa continent at that event and this for the first time since 2007.
Started in 2007 by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary’s International Women of Courage awards have honored women each year from around the world who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in advocating for human rights, social justice, and women’s equality and advancement.
And Cameroon is leading the way this year with Henriette Ekwe.
" Henriette was selected because of her sustained and exceptional courage, commitment, and leadership in promoting democracy, transparency, human rights, and the rule of law in Cameroon. She is a living testimony of the courage of women around the world who are fighting for social justice and political freedom. Cameroon should be proud of her, and we hope this award will inspire Cameroonians to participate actively in the continued development of democracy in Cameroon. In the late-1980s and early 1990s, Henriette was forced into hiding, was the victim of physical abuse, and was imprisoned for opposing the one-party system. Since then she has continued to promote democracy and good governance in Cameroon in the face of continued threats and harassment. We hope Henriette’s life-long commitment to democracy will inspire Cameroonians to register to vote and to participate fully in Cameroon’s upcoming presidential and legislative elections.” according to Robert P. Jackson, the US ambassador in Cameroon and also that "Ms. Ekwe was selected because of the important role she has played in advancing freedom of the press and in organizations such as Transparency International, the Cameroon Union of Journalists, and the Coalition for Transparency."
On Monday, March 7, Secretary Clinton will deliver remarks at the launch of the 100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges, spearheaded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, at the Department of State.
The Department of State and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day on March 8 with a series of events this week.
On Tuesday, March 8, Secretary Clinton will host the 2011 International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony with special guest First Lady Michelle Obama, at the Department of State. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer and other U.S. and foreign dignitaries will also participate.
This will be another opportunity for the journalist and human rights activist to explain to the world what it is going exactly in Cameroon and how Biya administration is continuing to arrest and detain unlawfully journalists while just trying to do their job.
And also an opportunity as well to show the world that women in Cameroon are still struggling to have their rights respected and also still have to fight to have their voice being heard by others. Its will be a great and huge challenge for her to highlight the real image of Biya authoritarian reign in Cameroon. This will be another big blow for the corrupted Biya regime.
Ekwe, editor of Bebela, a daily newspaper published in Cameroon, is one of ten women around the world who has been selected by the U.S. Department of State to receive this award in 2011. She will represent the whole Africa continent at that event and this for the first time since 2007.
And Cameroon is leading the way this year with Henriette Ekwe.
" Henriette was selected because of her sustained and exceptional courage, commitment, and leadership in promoting democracy, transparency, human rights, and the rule of law in Cameroon. She is a living testimony of the courage of women around the world who are fighting for social justice and political freedom. Cameroon should be proud of her, and we hope this award will inspire Cameroonians to participate actively in the continued development of democracy in Cameroon. In the late-1980s and early 1990s, Henriette was forced into hiding, was the victim of physical abuse, and was imprisoned for opposing the one-party system. Since then she has continued to promote democracy and good governance in Cameroon in the face of continued threats and harassment. We hope Henriette’s life-long commitment to democracy will inspire Cameroonians to register to vote and to participate fully in Cameroon’s upcoming presidential and legislative elections.” according to Robert P. Jackson, the US ambassador in Cameroon and also that "Ms. Ekwe was selected because of the important role she has played in advancing freedom of the press and in organizations such as Transparency International, the Cameroon Union of Journalists, and the Coalition for Transparency."
On Monday, March 7, Secretary Clinton will deliver remarks at the launch of the 100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges, spearheaded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, at the Department of State.
The Department of State and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day on March 8 with a series of events this week.
On Tuesday, March 8, Secretary Clinton will host the 2011 International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony with special guest First Lady Michelle Obama, at the Department of State. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer and other U.S. and foreign dignitaries will also participate.
This will be another opportunity for the journalist and human rights activist to explain to the world what it is going exactly in Cameroon and how Biya administration is continuing to arrest and detain unlawfully journalists while just trying to do their job.
And also an opportunity as well to show the world that women in Cameroon are still struggling to have their rights respected and also still have to fight to have their voice being heard by others. Its will be a great and huge challenge for her to highlight the real image of Biya authoritarian reign in Cameroon. This will be another big blow for the corrupted Biya regime.
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