On Tuesday, November 16, 2021, the Foundation brought together over 400 participants for the 6th Women’s Awards Ceremony – Special 15th Anniversary Edition – held at the Théâtre du Trianon in Paris. This event honored associations that have played a significant role in the Foundation’s history, while showcasing its four key areas of action and commitment to advancing women’s rights in France and worldwide. The ceremony featured artistic performances by Danielle Gabou and the Compagnie Sans Sommeil, as well as by Les Affranchies from the Atelier des Artistes en Exil.
“In 2006, few of us had made the decision to take action and focus exclusively on women’s rights as the purpose of a foundation […] Today, as in 2006, women continue to face discrimination and violence regardless of their age, nationality, or religion.” recalled Danièle Marcovici, President and Founder of the Foundation, at the opening of the ceremony.
COMBATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS
The roundtable on combating violence against women brought together:
From left to right: Elé ASU, Françoise BRIÉ, Maire-Pierre RIXAIN, and Ghada HATEM
Stéphanie Benamozig, Treasurer of the BATIK International association and recipient of a RAJA Foundation Women’s Award in 2018, subsequently presented the “Combating Violence Against Women and Girls” Prize to the National GAMS Federation for its project “Excision, Let’s Talk About It!”
WOMEN’S EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP
The roundtable on women’s education and leadership brought together:
From left to right: Adrien CASCARINO, Ele ASU, Marine FOURIÉ
Adrien Cascarino, Co-director of the association ATIA, laureate of a RAJA Foundation Women’s Award in 2014, subsequently presented the “Women’s Education and Leadership” Prize to the association Futur au Présent for the project “House of Education”.
PROFESSIONAL INTEGRATION AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS OF WOMEN
The roundtable on women’s education and leadership included:
Speech by Annaïck MORVAN and Pierre-Yves GINET
François Bataillard, Director of the association Fleur de Cocagne (now Le Chemin des Fleurs), laureate of a RAJA Foundation Women’s Award in 2016, subsequently presented the “Professional Integration and Economic Rights of Women” Prize to the association El Camino for the project “ECLA: A New Breath to Grow and Progress”.
WOMEN’S ACTIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
The final roundtable on women’s actions for the environment brought together:
Cyrille Varet, Director of the association Dessine l’Espoir, laureate of a RAJA Foundation Women’s Award in 2020, subsequently presented the “Women’s Actions for the Environment” Prize to the association SOL for the project “Biofermes Internationales”.
PRESENTATION OF THE AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Sophie Pouget, Executive Director of the Foundation, presented the Audience Choice Award. Created in 2016, the Public Prize aims to engage the entire Foundation ecosystem around actions carried out for women’s rights. This year, nearly 5,000 people voted during the Public Prize voting campaign, which took place from October 22 to November 8, 2021.
The association ANAFE won the Public Prize for the project “Strengthening the Defense and Access to the Rights of Foreign Women Held in Waiting Zones”.
Presentation of the Audience Choice Award by Sophie Pouget
PRESENTATION OF THE RAJA HEART’S CHOICE AWARD
The 15th Anniversary Ceremony of the Foundation marked the creation of a new Prize: the RAJA Heart’s Choice Award, which mobilizes the entire RAJA Group around the Foundation’s activities.
Danièle Marcovici, President of the RAJA Group, presented award on behalf of all the Group’s clients, suppliers, female and male employees to the association ANAK for the project “Giving vulnerable young girls the opportunity to build their life projects”.
Presentation of the RAJA Heart’s Choice Award by Danièle Marcovici
CLOSURE OF THE CEREMONY
Following a performance of the “Women’s Anthem” by Les Affranchies (Atelier des Artistes en Exil), Danièle Marcovici closed the Ceremony by announcing exciting developments on the Foundation’s 15th anniversary:
“I continue to dream […] of a world where every girl can live her life according to her merit, abilities, desires, and work, and no longer according to her gender and the prejudices associated with it. […] I am deeply convinced that making the world a better place for women will make a better world for everyone.” concluded Danièle Marcovici.
