The leader of the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Virisila Buadromo, has been awarded the prestigious Women Have Wings Courage Award.
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| Virisila Buadromo, from Fiji Women’s Rights Movement. |
The leader of the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Virisila Buadromo, has been awarded the prestigious Women Have Wings Courage Award.
As head of FWRM, one of Oxfam’s key partners, Virisila has campaigned tirelessly for women in Fiji. She is a symbol of hope and bravery for many women suffering discrimination, injustice and violence. This global accolade recognises her courage and strength in speaking out for the dispossessed and her commitment to fighting inequality.
Buadromo was nominated as one of the three recipients of the award by a current Women have Wings Council Advisor Kavita Ramdas, who is also the former chief executive and President of the Global Fund for Women – a publicly supported, nonprofit grant-making foundation that advances women’s human rights by funding women-led organisations worldwide, including FWRM.
“As the former President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, I was so honoured to be able to put forward Buadromo’s name to the Women Have Wings Courage Award.” said Ramdas.
In thanking the Council for the award, a humbled Buadromo said: “I am honoured to be a recipient of this prestigious award, alongside Rwanda’s Aloisea Inyumba and Cameroon’s Chi Yvonne Leina. I hope to live up to all your expectations!”
With the award comes an honorarium of $10,000 to support FWRM’s work in Fiji and a stipend for Buadromo to travel to speak at an event or conference.
“The honorarium will be used by FWRM to create awareness for the improved and effective participation of girls, young women and women in Fiji’s proposed democratisation process,” said Buadromo.
In congratulating her, FWRM Board Chair Gina Houng Lee thanked Buadromo for her steadfast commitment to removing gender inequalities in Fiji.
“Virisila’s dedication and passion for women’s human rights continues to inspire all of us. In the last decade the Movement has undergone many positive transformations under her leadership. I would also like to thank the Global Fund for Women for nominating Virisila for this award. It is very much deserved,” she said.
Women of Courage Awards 2008
Virisila Buadromo also won the 2008 International Women of Courage Award for her grassroots advocacy work for women’s rights in Fiji.
The prestigious award noted that Virisila continued to advocate for equality, legal and political reform and democracy, despite the challenges and threats resulting from Fiji’s 2006 military coup.
Despite the political climate, Virisila and her team continue to help women and children access justice and defend their rights.
