US State Department award presented to women who proved their prominence for women's rights
The International Women of Courage Award , also referred to as the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award , is an American award presented annually by the United States Department of State to women around the world who have shown leadership, courage, resourcefulness, and willingness to sacrifice for others, especially in promoting women's rights .
History
The award was established in 2007 by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice [1] on or near the International Women's Day , an annual celebration observed each March 8 in many countries worldwide.[2] Each U.S. embassy has the right to recommend one woman as a candidate.[citation needed ] As of 2021, the award has been given to over 155 recipients from about 75 different countries.[2]
Award recipients by year
2007
2008
2009
2010
Alice Mabota was given the award but she is not in the official list.[9] [10]
2011
2012
2012 International Women of Courage Awards, March 8, 2012.Back row, from left: Melanne Verveer (guest), Leymah Gbowee (guest), Shad Begum , Aneesa Ahmed , Hawa Abdallah Mohammed Salih , Samar Badawi , Tawakel Karman (guest). Front row, from left: Maryam Durani , Pricilla de Oliveira Azevedo , Zin Mar Aung , Michelle Obama , Hillary Clinton , Jineth Bedoya Lima , Hana Elhebshi , Şafak Pavey
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2017 awards were awarded to:[29]
Sharmin Akter , activist on early/forced marriage, Bangladesh
Malebogo Molefhe , human rights activist, Botswana
Natalia Ponce de Leon , president of the Natalia Ponce de Leon Foundation, Colombia
Rebecca Kabugho , political and social activist, Democratic Republic of Congo
Jannat Al Ghezi , deputy director of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq
Major Aichatou Ousmane Issaka , deputy director of social work at the Military Hospital of Niamey, Niger
Veronica Simogun , founder and director of the Family for Change Association, Papua New Guinea
Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista , lawyer and icon of Not One Woman Less , Peru
Sandya Eknelygoda , human rights activist, Sri Lanka
Sister Carolin Tahhan Fachakh , nun and member of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (F.M.A.), Syria
Saadet Ozkan , educator and gender activist, Turkey
Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh (Mother Mushroom), blogger and environmental activist, Vietnam
Fadia Najeeb Thabet , human rights activist, Yemen
2018
(nine of the ten) 2018 International Women of Courage Awardees. 1.Julissa Villanueva 2.Sirikan Charoensiri 3.Godelive Mukasarasi , 4. Aliyah Khalaf Saleh , 5. Feride Rushiti , 6. L’Malouma Said , 7. Aiman Umarova , 8 Roya Sadat , 9.Maria Elena Berini 2018 awards were awarded to:[30]
2019
2019 International Women of Courage Awardees.
2019 awards were awarded to:[31]
Note: According to Foreign Policy magazine, an intended award for Jessikka Aro (Finland), announced in January 2019, was withdrawn shortly before the ceremony in March 2019.[34]
2020
In the back row. left to right. 1. Zarifa Ghafari, 2. Lucy Kocharyan, 3. Kelley Eckels Currie, 4. Melania Trump, 5. Mike Pompeo, 6. Marie Royce,7. Shahla Humbatova, 8.Ximena Galarza, 9. Claire Ouedraogo of Burkina Faso. In the front row: 1. Sayragul Sauytbay, 2. Susanna Liew, 3. Amaya Coppens, 4. Jalilah Haider, 5. Amina Khoulani, 6. Yasmin al Qadhi, 7.Rita Nyampinga. 2020 awards were awarded to:[35]
2021
2021 awards were awarded to:[36]
2022
The 2022 (virtual) International Women of Courage hosted by Jill Biden
2022 awards were awarded to:[37]
2023
17th annual International Women of Courage Award Ceremony in the East Room of the White House, March 2023 The 2023 awards were given to:[38]
Additional Honorary Group
A sign with the slogan on it in Central and Northern Kurdish as well as English An additional Honorary Group Award was given to the "women and girl protestors of Iran" in response to the death of Mahsa Amini and the ongoing protests against the government.[39]
2024
Awardees: (Back row) Ajna Jusić ,Rina Gonoi, Fatou Baldeh ,Rabha El Haymar, Benafsha Yaqoobi, Fawzia Karim Firoze, Volha Harbunova, Agather Atuhaire. Front row: Fariba Balouch, Fátima Corozo, Benafsha Yaqoobi The 2024 awards were given to:[40]