2008 Press Releases

March 10, 2008

International Women's Day:  International Women of Courage Award 

U.S. Ambassador Dr. Roy L. Austin and Dr. Rhoda Reddock

U.S. Ambassador Dr. Roy L. Austin honored Dr. Rhoda Reddock of UWI’s Centre for Gender and Development on March 10, presenting her a U.S. Department of State "International Women of Courage Award."  The ceremony was held by the U.S. Embassy to commemorate International Women's Day.  Dr. Reddock was honored for her important contributions to gender studies, activism, teaching, and research.

The "International Women of Courage Award" recognizes women who are working to promote political and economic opportunity, human dignity, and human rights in their own nations and beyond.  This prestigious annual award is granted to no more than one woman per country.  A ceremony in Washington on March 10 recognized the work of all these impressive women, including eight special award winners.  As U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice noted at that event, the work of such women plays an important role in creating a more democratic, peaceful, and prosperous world.

In commenting on Dr. Reddock’s work, one of her colleagues has said, “Her commitment to document the history of Caribbean women’s political struggles in a region where women have been part of the labor force since the beginnings of plantation slavery some 400 years ago has been matched by her commitment to engage in organizing a Caribbean-wide women’s movement, one that encompasses both Latina Caribbean and African Caribbean women.”

Dr. Reddock was a Fulbright New Century Scholar in the 2004-5 program “Toward Equality: The Global Empowerment of Women” sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is the author of three books, the most recent of which is Interrogating Caribbean Masculinities, and has extensively published on race, gender, class and theory.

Statement by Secretary Condoleezza Rice:
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2008/03/102072.htm