"Through the National Endowment for Democracy, we support and acknowledge those who harness the energy and will of all people to be free -- and use that energy to change the world for the better."
``Respect for democracy, human rights, free media and the rule of law -- these rights must be guaranteed throughout the Muslim world and all parts of the world,'' Mrs. Bush said.
The ceremony was held on July 9th in Washington to honor the four women. In a press statement, National Endowment for Democracy Chairman Vin Weber said, "It is a critical time to emphasize to Western audiences the existence and commitment of democratic voices in all parts of the Muslim world, and the need to respond to them."
"In choosing this year's award recipients, the NED Board of Directors seeks to recognize the courageous and innovative work being done by Muslim women throughout the world on behalf of democracy and human rights," Weber said.
National Endowment for Democracy President Carl Gershman added, "By selecting women from different parts of the Muslim world, the Endowment hopes to provide international recognition that will reinforce the efforts of these women and their colleagues."
"The Endowment's own work during the past two decades has revealed that it is often women who take the lead in pushing for greater democracy and respect for human rights, and that this is especially true in the Muslim world," Gershman said.
The National Endowment for Democracy is a private, nonprofit, grant-making organization created in 1983 to strengthen democratic institutions around the world. It is active in more than 90 countries, supporting grassroots democratic initiatives.
2002 Democracy Award Recipients
Nadjet Bouda, at the age of 23, is already a well-known human rights activist. She is currently working with SOS Disparus, an organization that advocates on behalf of the hundreds of Algerians who have "disappeared" as a result of Algeria's ongoing civil war. When she was 16, Ms. Bouda joined Rally for Youth Action, an NGO that develops and implements civic education and human rights awareness programs with and for Algerian youth; by the age of 20 she was acting as the organization's President and spokeswoman. Her activism reflects the importance of youth in the effort to spread democratic values throughout the Muslim world.
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