As a member of the NED's Board of Directors
and the chair of the Africa Subcommittee in the House,
I'm especially pleased to be with you to virtually
present NED's Democracy Award
to The Nuba Women for Education
and Development Association (NuWEDA).
Since 2002, the NuWEDA has devoted its work
to promoting the active political participation
of women and girls helping them to gain access
to education, healthcare, and job skills.
Women were at the forefront of the December revolution
which brought forward Sudan's democratic transition,
bringing attention to the importance
of women's rights and human rights
in advancing democracy.
With NED's support, the NuWEDA trained hundreds of
marginalized women from communities
in the Nuba Mountains on leadership and activism
to empower them to participate
in peace talks, advocate for women's rights, and address
pressing social and political problems
in their communities.
These women have been and will continue to be
important local and national voices
for enshrining women and human
rights in democratic Sudan.
Throughout the December revolution, the women
of NuWEDA led protests and were
at the forefront of identifying and formulating
democratic demands
including ensuring full respect for human rights,
NuWEDA continues this important work.
It is working to promote the national women's
agenda, advocating for legal reforms
to protect women's rights, and training women
to take leadership roles in
national and state level parliaments.
I want you to know that Congress was excited and
inspired by the protest movement in Sudan
but even more so by the fact that there were so
many women leading the way
toward a more democratic Sudan.
It is my honor to present the 2020 Democracy Award
to NuWEDA.
Congratulations on this great achievement.
