A criminologist and political scientist by training, the Belgian of Congolese origin is one of the 8 laureates selected from around the world this year.
The other winners this year are Chantal Hemerijckx (Belgium), Thao Kilbee (Vietnam, Belgium), Monique Ouassa Kouaro (Benin), Rita Ricketts (New Zealand, United Kingdom), Jamila Sedqi (Morocco) and Svetlana Spaic (Yugoslavia, Serbia, Paris).
The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, March 2 at the Representation of the State of Hesse to the EU in Brussels and the prizes will be presented by the Vice President of the European Parliament, German MEP Nicola Beer.
The European Women’s Leadership Award, it is explained, honors women who, at some point in their lives, have decided to follow their dream, to break with the traditional obligations that surround them, to challenge male-dominated fields, to act in a respectful manner in order to set an example for all women who do not (yet) dare to make their voices heard and develop their potential.
Contributing to the security sector in the DRC
Born on December 30, 1975, Marie-Dolorès Mabuila holds a Master’s degree in Criminology and Political Science from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). She spent more than 20 years in the police force in Brussels and now wishes to put her experience at the service of her country of origin, the DRC. It is after having spent more than 15 years in the police force, and while continuing her work, that Marie-Dolorès Mabuila registered at the Université Libre de Bruxelles to study criminology and political science, informs the media La Libre.be. “I must admit that it took a lot of organization to try to combine work, studies and responsibility as a mother,” said Marie-Dolores Mabuila, mother of a teenager. “I needed to prove something to myself and I wanted to add a theoretical background to my practical knowledge so that I would have a strong enough background to try a new adventure in the country of my ancestors. I do not and will never deny Belgium, but I think that I must help my country where the needs are enormous”.
Marie-Dolorès Mabuila arrived in Belgium as a child, at the end of the 70’s, with her mother to join her father who was finishing his higher studies. She also has two sisters and a brother. The whole family was immersed in both Congolese and Belgian culture.
Since then, Marie-Dolorès Mabuila has only returned to the DRC twice. “I have only returned to the country twice since I was born. I owe everything to my parents and to Belgium. But the more time passes, the more I want to put what I have acquired here at the service of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The situation in the country seems so complicated that I must be able to bring my small stone to its reconstruction,” said Marie-Dolorès Mabuila to lalibre.be.
The award ceremony will be broadcast online on the YouTube channel “Hessen in Berlin und Europa”.
