U.S. President Barack Obama has given an award to a leading women’s rights activist in Zimbabwe, labeling Robert Mugabe a “dictator” in the process. Obama presented Magodonga Mahlangu and her organization Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) with the 2009 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award in a White House ceremony. “Each time they see Magodonga beaten back, beaten black and blue during one protest, only to get right back up and lead another, singing freedom songs at the top of her lungs in full view of security forces, the threat of a policeman’s baton loses some of its power,” he said. WOZA has united tens of thousands of Zimbabwean women in a campaign of non-violent struggle against rapes and other rights violations under Mugabe’s regime, enduring brutal repression and repeated arrests. “By her example, Magodonga has shown the women of WOZA and the people of Zimbabwe that they can undermine their oppressors’ power with their own power, that they can sap a dictator’s strength with their own,” Obama said. Founded in December 2002, WOZA has organized more than 100 demonstrations in favor of democracy and women’s rights in Zimbabwe, according to the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. Both the European Union and the United States maintain a travel ban and asset freeze on Mugabe, his wife and inner circle in protest at disputed elections and alleged human rights abuses by his government. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s warm embrace of Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday comes at a time when the U.S. and others are trying to isolate Tehran and ratchet up pressure on the regime over its nuclear activities. Welcoming Ahmadinejad with a hug and prolonged handshake on the first visit by an Iranian leader to Brazil since the Islamic revolution, da Silva reaffirmed Iran’s right to a civilian nuclear program. He also voiced opposition to further sanctions against Tehran, saying Iran should “continue engaging interested countries to seek a just and balanced solution” to the nuclear dispute. Although Ahmadinejad has visited Latin American before – raising concerns in the U.S. and Israel about growing Iranian influence in the hemisphere – analysts see this visit in a different light, given Brazil’s increasing stature. “Brazil’s growing influence on the global stage means that leaders with whom the president of Brazil chooses to meet gain greater credibility and, indeed, legitimacy through those meetings,” Council of the Americas vice-president Eric Farnsworth said ahead of the visit. Noting that the trip was occurring while other countries sought to isolate Iran over the nuclear issue and its sponsorship of terrorism, Farnsworth said he hoped the Brazilians would deliver a strong message, covering nuclear non-proliferation and respect for human rights. “These are two sovereign countries – they are able to meet with whomever they want,” he said. “But with growing profile and growing influence also comes greater responsibility.” Reps. Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and others spoke out Monday against the arrest of Jiang Tianyong, a Chinese human rights lawyer who was arrested after requesting to meet with President Obama at the American Embassy in Beijing during his trip to China. Multiple requests by Tianyong and other human rights lawyers to meet with the U.S. President were turned down. After Obama left China, Tianyong’s wife was allegedly beaten and he was taken away by Chinese officials. Upon his release, Tianyong testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) about various human rights abuses associated with China’s one-child policy. The policy limits married Chinese couples to one child, with a birth permit. If they choose to have a second child, couples must have both a pregnancy permit and a birth permit. Smith explained that Monday’s news conference was held as a means of raising awareness about Tianyong’s arrest and to help him avoid potential future incarceration. “That’s why we’re asking the President to pick up the phone, and call Hu Jintao and to raise the issue of the lawyers, especially Jiang, and others, but certainly his case, because he specifically asked to meet with the President and was turned down,” said Smith.