2020 Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Award Winners
2020 Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Fellows (left to right): Romina Caldera, Tambudzai Glenda Muzenda, Safiya Ibn Garba.
Women’s police stations, uncomfortable conversations, and gender-inclusive reconciliation. Three brave and inspiring women conferred the prestigious 2020 Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Fellowship.
Global Reconciliation is pleased to announce the award of the 2020 Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Fellowships for work in the field of gender reconciliation. Three awardees have been selected from an impressive range of global nominations from both men and women. The award has been made to Romina Caldera (Argentina), Safiya Ibn Garba (Nigeria/Jordan), and Tambudzai Glenda Muzenda (South Africa).
Executive Director and Founder of Global Reconciliation Prof. Paul Komesaroff said: “The process of gender reconciliation, learning to live respectfully and appreciatively together in equality while cultivating gender differences, has proven to be a long and difficult one. Our awardees undertake their work bravely and tirelessly from out of their own experiences, resources and communities as inspiring leaders and role models. We are honoured to be able to support them in this work and to introduce it to wider appreciation and implementation.”
The 2020 Desmond Tutu Reconciliation award brings invaluable attention to the work of these three women and others like them, and to the issue of gender reconciliation. The 2020 award winners are:
Romina Caldera is the Commander of Police for Women and Families of Berriso Women’s Police Station (Comisaria de la Mujer) in La Plata, Argentina. The network of Women’s Police Stations, operating within the traditional police system, provide safe spaces for addressing violence within families through caring and educational programs and strategies and are able to prevent many femicides and instances of gender violence. Romina undertakes her work in one of the most challenging neighbourhoods of La Plata. Romina has provided a model which has spread across the country and further.
Tambudzai Glenda Muzenda is the Board Chair of Ceredev and Sustainability Lead at Symphonia, South Africa, and is particularly notable for her focus on Uncomfortable Conversations which bring men into conversation with women and each other to address difficult issues. This method of conversational learning has brought different population groups to meet at eye level to deepen understanding of gender relations and demystify myths and misconceptions. Tambu is an inspirational presence who actively leads on the basis of personal conviction, connecting local gender related experience to institutional policy development.
Safiya Ibn Garba is Founder and Program Director of Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative (EWEI) in Kaduna, Nigeria, and recently recognised by Union Bank Nigeria as one of the twelve CSOs making an impact in Nigeria in the category of Gender Equality. She leads, mentors and mobilises volunteers and facilitators and lobbies governments for support and policy changes.
“The Fellowship will offer enormous support to and consolidation of my work”, believes Safiya.
The award committee warmly congratulates these women, and indeed all the nominees, for their work at both grassroots and international levels. We look forward to supporting them and working with them both individually and together into the future.
You can watch the entire ceremony and their acceptance speeches here.
Global Reconciliation is an Australian initiative that promotes dialogue and practical engagement across cultural, political, racial, religious, national and other differences.
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Media Contact: Prof Paul Komesaroff AM 0417 552 659