WASHINGTON
The State Department honored 10 women from all over the world on Friday for their advocacy of women’s rights in their countries.
The International Women of Courage Award, established in 2007, pays tribute to emerging women leaders, and is given particularly to those who risk their lives as they fight to protect others.
"This award is not only for us, this award for all of you, from East to West, North to South, to those women who are struggling," said award recipient Nadia Sharmeen, a Bangladesh journalist who was targeted by fundamentalist organizations whose platform included a call for revoking the country’s women’s development policy. "This award is just the beginning.”
In spite of the criticism and threats, women’s rights must be established, she said. If we give up, those who follow us will give up, too, and we can't let them demoralize. We would like to promise that we continue our battle against every injustice in cost of our lives," she said.
Syrian women’s rights advocate Majd Chourbaji also received an award. Chourbaji was arrested in 2012 for protesting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Chourbaji, whose husband was also detained and died after being tortured by the Assad regime, fled to Lebanon after her release where she has been committed to helping other women refugees.
“This award is an opportunity for us to highlight the accomplishments who are leaders and agents of change in their communities." said State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf.
Other recipients included Afghan air force pilot Niloofar Rahmani; Rosa Julieta Montano Salvatierra from Bolivia; Beatrice Epaye of the Central African Republic; Sayaka Osaka from Japan, Tabassum Adnan from Pakistan and Guinean emergency room nurse Marie Claire Tchecola, who contracted the Ebola virus but has since recovred.
