PRESS STATEMENT ON AWARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WORK

DITSHWANELO’s Director, Ms Alice Mogwe will receive a Leadership Award in Johannesburg on 11th October 2010

DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights is pleased to announce that its Director, Ms Alice Mogwe is to receive the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership in Africa Award. The award will be presented at the University for a Night in Africa ceremony which will be held on Monday 11 October 2010 in Johannesburg. At this event the Synergos Africa Board honours extraordinary African leaders who have built bridges across traditional boundaries to reduce poverty and increase equity.

Ms Mogwe will be presented with this award by Peggy Dulany, the Synergos global chairperson, for her work as a prominent civil society member from the region. Mr Barry Smith of Synergos states “In recognition of your lifelong contribution to human rights, gender justice, and social inclusion, bringing people together across the boundaries of race and class to build a more just and equitable society, we would like to honour you with a David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership in Africa Award.”

At the ceremony, awards will also be presented to the Right Honourable Nahas Angula, Prime Minister of Namibia, and Wendy and Ray Ackerman, founders of Pick n Pay. Prime Minister Angula will be in recognised for his contribution to development, democracy and reconciliation in Namibia, as well his work to advance public health and nutrition through multi-sector collaboration, innovation and leadership development. Mr and Mrs Ackerman will be honoured for their contribution to building a prosperous, democratic and non-racial society in South Africa, as well their work to advance community development and philanthropy.

Synergos is a civil society organisation which was founded in 1986 and has its headquarters in New York. It works in more than 30 countries and addresses global poverty and social injustice by working collaboratively to change the systems that keep people in poverty. The organisation brings together government, business, and civil society to create sustainable systems of change.

DITSHWANELO, through its Director, has received a number of international awards for its Human Rights work, recognising the work of the organisation as a whole and the enormous contribution of the Director, Alice Mogwe. These awards include the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite from the Republic of France (2005), the Vanguard Women’s Leader of Botswana from the US State Department (2005), the Felipa De Souza Award from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, USA (2000) and the Mellemfolkelight Samvirke Award from the Danish Volunteer Service (1997).

6 th October 2010
Gaborone

For more information, please contact DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights. Tel:00267 3906998, Fax:00267 3907778, Email: admin.ditshwanelo@info.bw, Website: www.ditshwanelo.org.bw.