Zimbabwe Peace Project director Jestina Mukoko was among nine women human rights defenders who were last week awarded the US Secretary of States 2010 International Women of Courage Award. (Pictured: Jestina Mukoko)
The award given to outstanding women leaders worldwide recognises the courage and leadership shown by recipients in the struggle for social justice and human rights.
Speaking during the award ceremony Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: We are honoring women from around the world who have endured isolation and intimidation, violence and imprisonment.
Many have even risked their lives to advance justice, freedom, and equal rights for everyone. Their stories remind us of how much work there is left to do before the rights and dignity of all people, no matter who you are or where you live, are respected and protected by the world’s governments.?
Mukoko, a former state broadcaster turned human rights campaigner, was among a group of rights defenders and activists from then opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirais MDC party abducted by state security agents in late 2008 and allegedly tortured for weeks in a bid to force them to admit plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe.
The Supreme Court last year upheld an application by Mukoko for permanent stay of prosecution on the treason charges ruling that police and other state agents had violated the activists rights when they abducted and tortured her.
This years other winners of the US award are anti corruption fighter Ann Njogu of Kenya; anti traffic activist Androula Henriques from Cyprus; womens rights activist Shadi Sadr from Iran; human rights advocate Sonia Pierre of the Dominican Republic; Shukria Asil of Afghanistan, Sister Marie Claude of Syria; Jansila Majeed & Colonel Shafiqa Quraishi from Sri Lanka and Dr. Lee Ae-ran of North Korea.
Post published in: Politics