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- Country of residence: Palestine
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Ramallah 12-14-2022 Wafa - Palestinian human rights defender Sama Aweida was awarded, on Wednesday, the French-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
Oueida received the award from the French Consul General in Jerusalem, René Trocaz, and the Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to Palestine, Olivier Ovcha, at a ceremony held at the residence of the German representative in Jerusalem.
Since 2016, the award has been given annually to 15 people from all over the world who have demonstrated special commitment and courage in working for human rights and the rule of law in their countries . For decades, Aweida has been leading campaigns to ensure respect for women's rights in Palestinian society.
Sama Aweida, a mother of four children, is considered a pioneer in the concept of “gender scrutiny” in Palestine, and she contributed very significantly to introducing this concept to Palestinian institutions.
Aweida is currently considered one of the most important voices in Palestinian society, leading campaigns demanding the enactment of legal legislation to protect women against gender-based violence .
Ovca said during the ceremony, "There are human rights violations in different ways and in many countries, whether through physical violence or hidden censorship."
He added, "The struggle for women's rights in Palestinian society is beset by many difficulties, and from here we are honored to award the French-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law to Ms. Aweida, who set a model for other human rights defenders in Palestine throughout her long professional career, which encouraged many to speak and express their concerns." The soul, as well as the struggle to obtain rights .”
For his part, Trokaz said, “The commitment to achieving gender equality is a priority for our governments as part of joint feminist diplomacy, and within the framework of working to empower women around the world by combating gender-based violence, as well as by striving to defend women’s rights and ensure girls’ education.” ".
He added: “By presenting the award to Mrs. Aweida, we pay tribute to her courageous work for the rights of Palestinian women. Mrs. Aweida stands at the forefront of those seeking to promote equality, whether through introducing legal amendments or through social and economic integration. As one of the leading Palestinian voices in these issues, she contributed “ In bringing these critical issues to the forefront of public debate .”
It is noteworthy that Aweida was born in Jerusalem in 1959. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Birzeit University and a master’s degree from the University of London in England. She holds the position of General Director of the Center for Women’s Studies in Palestine, based in Jerusalem. She is a founding member of the National Democratic Rally, and was a former member of the Central Committee. For the Democratic Front, she worked as general coordinator of the Arab Women’s Forum (Aisha) between 1994 and 2004. She also participated in establishing the Union of Palestinian Women’s Action Committees in 1978.
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