TIGA 2011 awards
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Government HELD the third Technology in Government in Africa (TIGA) Awards in Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa .
These awards recognize African Governments’ effective use of ICTs for public service delivery as part of fulfilling ECA’s African Information Society Initiative (AISI) and the Government of Finland’s Development Cooperation Strategy on ICTs for development in Africa. The Awards go to African Governments and institutions based on the continent that are engaged in initiating, developing, and implementing ICTs for public service contributing to the development of the Information Society in Africa. The aims are to:
- Create greater awareness on the role of ICTs in the public services and the development process within the framework of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI);
- Encourage African Governments and institutions to use ICTs for development in general and improved public/citizen’s services in particular; and
- Motivate other African stakeholders in effective utilization of ICTs for citizens’ services.
Started in 2007, this pioneering African programme will publicly recognize the innovation, excellence, and leadership in Africa’s public sector e-government development and its deployment. It is recognized as an honor to be nominated for the TIGA Awards, and a significant career achievement for the team members to be selected as an Award Winner.
The first TIGA Awards recognized twelve innovative projects from nine countries, and the second, which was organized in 2009 considered innovative projects from ten countries in recognition of achievements that led to changes in the use of ICTs in Government service delivery.
The TIGA Award is a biennial event.
ADDIS ABABA THIS MORNING
The Human Rights Council's Special Session on Syria
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham ClintonSecretary of State
Washington, DC
April 29, 2011
Today the UN Human Rights Council took urgent action to shine a light on the deteriorating human rights situation in Syria and condemn the continued human rights abuses by the Syrian government. Today’s resolution - passed with an overwhelming majority by members from all regions of the globe - unequivocally indicates that the use of force by the Syrian government to quell peaceful political demonstrators is unacceptable. The international community has spoken and expressed its outrage at the violence used by the Syrian government to deny its population their universal human rights, including the freedoms of expression and assembly.
The Council’s forceful statement, coupled with its decision to establish an urgent investigation led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, ensures that the international community will remain actively engaged in the human rights crisis in Syria.
The Council also called upon the Syrian government to immediately release all prisoners of conscience and arbitrarily detained persons, including those who were detained before the recent events, and to immediately cease any intimidation, persecution and arbitrary arrests of individuals, including lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists.
The findings of this Special Session further reinforce the crucial need for Council members to reject Syria’s hypocritical candidacy for membership on the Human Rights Council. No country engaged in such horrific and ongoing human rights abuses should be considered for membership on this important body.
Department of State and Fortune Most Powerful Women Host Sixth International Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership Program
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 29, 2011
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit and Vital Voices Global Partnership, have joined together for the sixth Fortune/State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership, taking place May 2 – May 22, 2011. This innovative public-private partnership connects more than 30 of America’s senior women executives from more than 25 companies with emerging women leaders from around the world. The program has more than doubled in size since its inception in 2006. This year, 26 women from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, will be mentored by participants of the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit.
Among this year’s mentors are: Stephanie George, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Time Inc.; Susan Chambers, Executive Vice President in the Global People Division at Wal-Mart Stores; Molly Ashby, Chairman and CEO of Solera Capital; and Marissa Mayer, Vice President of Search Products and User Experience at Google Inc.
The program will open with a three-day orientation session in Washington, D.C., where participants will meet with senior women in government, academia, and business, including Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs María Otero, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock, and Coordinator for International Information Programs Dawn McCall.
The second phase of the program pairs each of the international participants with one or more of Fortune's Most Powerful Women leaders. For three weeks, American and international participants work together in mentoring relationships to share the skills and experiences necessary for strengthening women’s leadership. The program will conclude with a two-day debriefing in New York City where participants will attend workshops on media and communications strategies and meet with senior executives from New York-based companies.Fortune's Most Powerful Women Leaders share their time, talent and expertise in business and leadership with the next generation of international women leaders. The professional and personal ties that grow out of the mentoring relationships last well beyond the program and enable the international participants to bring positive change to their companies and communities. For more information, please see the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ web page on the Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women's Mentoring Partnership.
