Member of the European Parliament Samira Rafaela holding the “Harper’s Bazaar” award during Wednesday’s ceremony in Amsterdam. (Photo by Ilsoo van Dijk)
AMSTERDAM--D66 Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Samira Rafaela of Dutch Caribbean descent on Wednesday won the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year International Award.
The ceremony of the annual Women of the Year award of the well-known lifestyle magazine Harper’s Bazaar, initially delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic measures, was held with a select group of invitees at the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam, on December 16.
The nominees included economist Barbara Boomsma, TV presenter Fidan Ekiz, United States Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rafaela. In motivating its vote for Rafaela, the jury stated that 2020 had turned out to be an important first year in Rafaela’s term as an MEP for the Dutch Democratic Party D66.
Standing up for injustice in matters such as security, peace, international cooperation and social equality mattered more than ever this year and Rafaela’s role did not go unnoticed. “This versatile, progressive, female Member of the European Parliament has an Islamic-Jewish, Caribbean, Dutch and West-African background. She is therefore someone who understands the need for a polyphonic political discourse, including the Caribbean part of our kingdom. The jury has high hopes for her future endeavours, for example, at the United Nations, to connect people at an international level,” the jury stated in its report.
Rafaela has been using her influence to make sure that the interests of minorities are not overlooked during the legislation process at European level. She has also been advocating for a larger role for women in top positions in the European Union (EU). Rafaela has received several other nominations, including Politico’s 20 Members of the European Parliament, to watch.
Rafaela said she was “deeply honoured” by the award. “It feels like recognition for the work I have done so far in the European Parliament for everyone in the kingdom and for everyone in Europe. As a politician it is not always easy to do it well and this great appreciation gives me a lot of energy and conviction. I am very grateful to all the people who support me and everyone who voted for me, including from the Caribbean part of the kingdom. We are one kingdom!”
Advocating for greater recognition of young people’s talents, Rafaela wore a dress by Karim Adduchi to Wednesday’s award ceremony. Adduchi was born in Morocco and studied fashion at the Amsterdam Gerrit Rietveld Academy.
