US Ambassador to Tanzania Mark Childress yesterday commended Vicky Ntetema, the executive director of Under the Same Sun Tanzania, upon her receipt Tuesday in Washington of the Department of State’s 2016 International Women of Courage Award.
“We at the US Mission in Tanzania were incredibly proud to see Ntetema stand with the thirteen other women from around the world who received the award, and especially to see them honored by Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden,” the US envoy said.
He added: “I have long been aware of Ntetema’s advocacy and when I met her last week I was struck by her conviction as she described the challenges faced by people with albinism. I’m impressed by her achievements.”
The ambassador further said: “From her work as an undercover journalist exposing the horrific trade in body parts of Tanzanians with albinism, to her brave advocacy for the human rights of people with albinism in Tanzania and around the world, Ntetema serves as an example to us all of how to stand with courage in the face of injustice.”
“We are proud to work together with Ntetema, with our committed partners in the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, and with the people of Tanzania to ensure all its citizens, regardless of the colour of their skin, enjoy the traditions of peace and security for which Tanzania is known throughout the world,” he added.
In his remarks on Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said: “Vicky Ntetema has spent years undercover meeting with Tanzanian witchdoctors to gather evidence on the growing practice of murdering people with albinism and selling their body parts.”
“This gruesome crime was based on a superstition propagated by those same witchdoctors , that purchases would have good luck. Vicky’s reporting for the BBC exposed the truth. It saved lives and it sparked strong statements of condemnation by Tanzanian officials,” he said.
“Ntetema now leads the international NGO Under the Same Sun, which advocates for people with albinism. Vicky Ntetema, for bringing people with albinism out of the shadows and advocating for their fundamental rights, we honour you as a woman of courage,” he declared.
On Tuesday, the United States issued awards to 14 lawyers, activists, humanitarians and reformers said to represent “International Women of Courage.”
“Fourteen leaders, fourteen role models, fourteen women of courage, one crystal clear message,” said Secretary of State John Kerry.
“Don't accept the unacceptable or wait for someone else to step up. Act in the name of justice. Act in the name of tolerance. Act on behalf of truth.”
Ntetema was among the 14 honourees who attended the ceremony in Washington, an annual event that began in 2007 to encourage women's empowerment.
Others include Bangladeshi barrister Sara Hossain who helped draft her country's laws on violence against women and has argued landmark rights cases before the Supreme Court.
Debra Baptist-Estrada is commander of the immigration department at Belize's main airport and has worked with US officials against corruption and trafficking.
Ni Yulan, a disabled Chinese property rights lawyer, was the only honouree not to receive her award in person, having been forbidden from traveling by her government.
France's Latifa Ibn Ziaten became an activist promoting interfaith dialogue in 2012 after her soldier son was slain by Islamist extremist Mohamed Merah.
Attorney General Thelma Aldana of Guatemala began her career as a courtroom janitor and has now brought corruption charges against the highest in the land.
Nagham Nawzat Hasan is an Iraqi gynaecologist and a member of the country's persecuted Yazidi minority. She works with girls kidnapped and raped by Islamist militants.
Transgender rights advocate Nisha Ayub continues to work for justice despite being sexually abused after being sentenced to a men's prison for wearing women's clothing.
Mauritania's first female attorney Fatimata M'baye was honored as co-founder and president of the Mauritanian Association for Human Rights and fights slavery. Russian journalist Zhanna Nemtsova has braved death threats to campaign for justice for her father, former deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov, assassinated last year.
Zuzana Stevulova, director of the Human Rights League of Slovakia, is the foremost champion of the rights of refugees flowing into Europe from war in the Middle East. Awadeya Mahmoud, founder of the Women's Food and Tea Sellers' Cooperative in Sudan has championed the rights of small businesswomen against the authoritarian government.
Thai bookseller Rodjaraeg Wattanapanit has twice been sent to re-education camps by her country's military junta but still provides a space for political free expression.
Nihal Naj Ali Al-Awlaqi, Yemen's minister of Legal Affairs, helped put women's rights in a draft constitution and is involved in talks to end her country's civil war.
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