Sourced From: http://www.businesslive.co.za/africa/africa_generalnews/2011/08/02/women-s-human-rights-award-for-alec-muchadehama
Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) recently announced Alec Muchadehama to be the runner-up of the Women’s human rights award. Mr. Alec Muchadehama, the famous human rights lawyer of Zimbabwe, became the first male lawyer in the country to be honoured with an award for his work for protecting and promoting the rights of women. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda was adjudged the first prize winner of the award. The third runner up was Mary Ndhlovu, a consultant with rich experience in the areas of education, policy and research law in Zimbabwe, Zambia, London and Malawi.
Muchadehama received US$500 and a certificate under the ZWLA Women’s Human Rights Defenders Awards for 2011.
ZWLA launched the Women’s Human Rights Defenders Awards in 2007 in order to recognize and appreciate the efforts made by lawyers towards the promotion and progressive realisation of women and children’s human rights. The award targets lawyers who have done significant work in addressing the law and policy gaps that have subordinated women’s status since independence.
ZWLA said that Muchadehama who was a practicing lawyer who had been in private practice since 1991 had been the key defender for the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). Muchadehama has represented members of WOZA, a local women activist’s organization, on the several times that they had been arrested for their peaceful demonstrations against women’s human rights violations.
“Alec Muchadehama’s nomination was significant as it was a clear case of a male lawyer who has championed for women’s peace and security rights and ZWLA recognises this valuable contribution,” said ZWLA.
Accepting the award, Muchadehama said that women had always been his heroes or sheroes and that the world was full of unsung sheroes. He added that the research he had conducted revealed that he was the first male recipient of such an award by a female lawyers’ organisation.
ZWLA was granted observer status at the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. The member states of the African Commission adopted the resolution to grant observer status to ZWLA at their 49th ordinary session. This would enable ZWLA to participate in the Commission’s public sessions.
