On the 8th of March, the International Women's Day, the Albufeira Town Council distinguished 10 women who «stand out for the relevance of their professional or personal career and for their contribution to the development» of the municipality.
This was the third consecutive year that the Municipality of Albufeira marked the date in this way.
This year, 10 women from Albufeires were honored, aged between 37 and 75, from various professional areas and representing the four parishes of the municipality.
In total, there are already 27 local women distinguished by the Albufeira City Council, as part of the International Women's Day.
They received the distinction “Albufeira Mulher 2021” Ana Sofia Brito, for the courage and success of their performative path in the country and abroad (Street Animation); Carla Martins, in recognition of her performance, leadership and success in managing two of the largest commercial centers in the municipality (Economy); Celestina Prata, for her dedication and uninterrupted performance in vaccinating the local community, highlighting her participation in vaccination against Covid-19 (Community Health); Cláudia Vieira, for her entrepreneurial vision and the relevance of her performance in the promotion of animal health (Veterinary Medicine); Clotilde Teodósio, for the relevance of her business performance and promotion of the Albufeira brand at regional and national level, as well as for her contribution to supporting sport and social aspects (Restaurant and Patronage); Maria Espírito Santo, for the recognition of her work in promoting and continuing the popular tradition and typicality of the village of Paderne (Popular Tradition).
Maria Graça Faísca also received the award for her performance in the cultural and popular promotion of Olhos de Água, highlighting the foundation of the Olhos de Água Folklore Ranch and the creation of the Local Cultural and Recreational Association (Associativismo); Maria José Leote, for her long and successful career in training and educating young people from Albufeira and for her commitment to associations, specifically for the relevance of her intervention in the direction of local and regional Scouting (Teaching and Associativism); Margarida Feteira, for her performance in the direction and coordination of the Albufeira Health Centre, especially for her participation in the fight against Covid-19 (Family Medicine) and finally, Sónia Pinto, for the relevance of her performance in the area of volunteering, with emphasis for the coordination of the Albufeira Delegation of the Support Center for the Homeless.
This year, due to the pandemic, «a simpler, faster and less participated format was adopted», stressed José Carlos Rolo, mayor of Albufeira, and the ceremony, which took place at the Salão Nobre dos Paços do Concelho, said only with the presence of the honored, members of the executive, president of the Municipal Assembly and presidents of the Parish Councils of the municipality.
The mayor underlined that although this year the ceremony "is not so glamorous", nor can it bring together the families of the honorees "it continues to be an event of enormous significance for me in particular and for the municipality that I represent".
"Although we are in the 30st century, this year alone XNUMX women were murdered in Portugal in cases of domestic violence, a worrying situation, which must count on the contribution of everyone, so that this unacceptable reality changes", he recalled .
The Parity Law, with the imposition of quotas, brought an approximation with regard to women's rights in the professional and political area, she stressed, "but only when this happens naturally can we consider that we have a more just and egalitarian society ».
José Carlos Rolo was keen to point out that the ceremony held on March 8, 2021 would remain in everyone's memory «not only for the recognition by the Municipality of these 10 women that we greatly admire, due to their social intervention and their work and dedication to individual and collective level for the benefit of our council, but also due to the difficult period we are going through, in which, to protect ourselves, we cannot let our affections go: we have to wear a mask and we cannot greet each other with a kiss, a hug or a handshake. But all this will pass and the most important thing is that we continue to strive to recognize the importance of women in society,” he concluded.
The president of the Municipal Assembly corroborated the words of José Carlos Rolo, having begun precisely by stating that «today we are not celebrating Women's Day. Today we are recognizing the role of women in society!».
Paulo Freitas highlighted that "the 8th of March represents the culmination of a struggle, for the recognition of equal rights, which, unfortunately, continue to be disrespected even today."
The president of the Municipal Assembly also considered that the honorees are examples of life, duly demonstrated through the curriculum presented, which the Municipality publicly recognizes.
«You are warriors, you are fighters like all women and represent the recognition of the Municipality in what is not visible, but what we want to be! Each one of you represents another thousand, and in each of those thousand another ten, who represent all the women who fought for the right to vote in the past and who continue to fight for their rights today. When we recognize women for what they are, regardless of their differences, color, religion or club choice, we are recognizing the woman as a human being, which is the principle of everything because she gives us life. Thank you for who you are and for inspiring us», she concluded.
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