Mendes Bota wrote several books, two of which are poetry, and throughout his life he had a strong connection to music. But the main reason for being awarded, this Saturday, with the Maria Veleda Regional Award, awarded by the Regional Directorate of Culture of the Algarve, was her political and civic activity in favor of women's rights.
The former mayor of Loulé, elected by the PSD, who was also a deputy to the Assembly of the Republic and an MEP, among many other political positions, received the award yesterday, December 16, at a ceremony that took place at the Cine-Teatro Louletano, in the center of US City.
“It was a surprise for me. I am working and living abroad and my visits to Portugal and the Algarve are rare. That's why I was totally surprised by the awarding of the prize and, even, with the application, which was made without me knowing. But of course I'm satisfied», confessed Mendes Bota, in a conversation with the Sul Informação and Rádio Universitária do Algarve, on the sidelines of the session.
O guilty by appointment he was Nuno Vaz Correia, a confessed admirer of Mendes Bota and his work. «I thought it was time for people to know a little more about Mendes Bota's path, its causes and, especially, the work he developed in recent years, which are a real milestone in the history of thousands and thousands of women around the world», summarized the candidate of the candidacy.
Yesterday's session served not only to hand over the prize, but also to introduce a man who, despite being widely known for his political activity – at a regional level, but also nationally and internationally – has always proved to be much more than that. .
Suffice it to say that Mendes Bota, in addition to being the author of 15 books, founded his own publishing house, helping other Algarve writers to get published. Music was also an ever-present passion.
Passion, but also perseverance in defending causes, is, moreover, one of the traits that, according to the many eclectic testimonies heard at the session, characterize the winner of the 2017 edition of the Maria Veleda award. And one of his many battles, and probably the one that gave him the most visibility, was the one he fought in the European Parliament for equality between men and women and against gender violence.
«More than the public recognition, which I appreciate, the important thing is the symbolism of a man who has dedicated himself to these causes to win this award. Because this gives visibility to the causes: gender equality, violence against women, the issue of human trafficking and the prostitution associated with it,” said Mendes Bota.
The former Portuguese MEP is one of the great workers of the so-called Istanbul Convention, already ratified by the different Member States of the European Union, which can be seen as a guide to good practices in the promotion of equality between men and women and in the fight against domestic violence and trafficking in women.
“I've been in this cause since 2005, although I have a background in the cause for gender equality [in 1997, before the law required it, I presented a list to the City of Loulé with the same percentage of men and women]. We are not yet on equality, there is still a long fight to fight, but we are on this path», he considered.
Mendes Bota's life path was what led the jury for this award, which brings together personalities from different areas, including the writer Lídia Jorge and the former dean of the University of Algarve António Branco, to choose Mendes Bota as the winner.
Even because the Algarve Maria Veleda was, above all, an activist for the equal rights of women in the post-implementation of the Republic, becoming an icon of the Portuguese feminist movement.
“This award is not limited to the issue of gender equality, opportunities and the fight against violence or social exclusion. But Mendes Bota's candidacy was the strongest in these criteria, which are also included in the Maria Veleda award», illustrated Algarve Regional Director of Culture Alexandra Gonçalves.
The other aspect of this award is cultural development, “to which Mendes Bota also has a connection, as has been well proven here”.
In 2017, the first four-year Maria Veleda cycle ended. During this period, in addition to the man who received the award yesterday, they were awarded this award Daisy Tengarrinha e José Louro.
This does not mean that the prize will run out. Alexandra Gonçalves even stated that "there will be a new edition in 2018".
«The prize continues and will be renewed. We will have to take stock of what these four years have been like, as we can always improve. And check the jury again, because the current members have already accomplished their mission. We want to continue to award this award of recognized merit to Algarve personalities», said Alexandra Gonçalves.
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