Machel, who currently heads one of the country's most prominent NGOs, the Community Development Foundation (FDC), was speaking at a Thursday press conference, shortly before receiving the "Visionary 2007" prize, awarded by the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS).
The ACSS is part of the Washington-based National Defence University, which is a specialist agency of the US Department of Defence.
Machel argued that Mozambique cannot be satisfied with an overall positive growth rate if that does not improve the lives of all Mozambicans.
"The situation of children in Mozambique is not at all good", she pointed out. "The country achieves overall economic growth, but we have to know what impact this growth has on specific groups, on children and on women".
The prize was granted to Machel because of what the ACSS called her "exceptional" contributions towards solving the current challenges in the domain of security, strategic vision and leadership in reform, as well as her role in promoting "good governance and transparency" in Africa.
Machel said she regarded the prize as recognition of her humanitarian work, particularly for women and children affected by armed conflicts.
The prize brought with it further responsibility, she added, given that, at the very moment when people speak of preserving the fundamental rights of citizens, particularly of the most vulnerable strata of society, the world continues to watch those rights being violated with impunity.
"This prize is the recognition, not of the person, but of the causes with which I have been involved for more than ten years", said Machel. "I'm just one more voice, no more than that".
She argued that the best way of protecting women and children is by preventing conflicts through the peaceful settlement of differences.
Machel recognised that the international community proves unable to prevent conflicts because the instruments used for conflict prevention are not sufficiently strong to discourage the resort to force of arms.
In addition, she said, the international arms trade is "out of control", and people find it very easy to ignore international humanitarian law. What is lacking is the obligation and the capacity to punish and cause harm to those who violate the rights of vulnerable groups".
The deputy director of the ACSS, Arnold Fields, said that the "Visionary" prize is attributed every year to figures who have made a notable contribution to the cause of "good governance, defence and security", as well as to "justice, peace and the defence of human rights".
Last year the prize went to former Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare, who is the current chair of the African Union Commission.
SOURCE: AIM
