US Ambassador to Tanzania Mark Childress
“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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