YOUWIN2018

Cameroon - USA : Henriette Ekwe to receive Award for International Women of Courage from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

The United States Embassy in Cameroon is pleased to announce that Cameroonian veteran journalist Henriette Ekwe, Publisher of Bebela, 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 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 was nominated by the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde and will be honored at a high profile awards ceremony hosted by Secretary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama in Washington, D.C. on International Women’s Day (March 8).

In announcing the award, U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon, Robert P. Jackson, stated:

“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.”

This is the first time a Cameroonian nominee has been selected for this prestigious award.  Mrs. Ekwe is also the only honoree in 2011 from the African continent.  The other award winners are from China, Belarus, Hungary, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, and Cuba.
In addition to her struggle for democracy, 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.  The Embassy noted that in recent years, Ms. Ekwe has publicly advocated good governance and vigorously spoken out against corruption.  “Henriette continues to be a beacon of light for freedom of expression and transparency in Cameroon,” said Ambassador Jackson.  “All of Cameroon should be proud of her.  All countries, including my own, need women of courage like Henriette in order to ensure that governments are accountable and that societies continue the quest for freedom, justice, peace, and equality.”

For more information, please contact the United States Embassy in Yaounde, Press section Tel. 22 20 15 00, ext. 4162 or 4273.