Meridian honored to host 2021 International Women of Courage Awardees

Now in its 15th year, the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award (IWOC) annually recognizes women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice.  On Monday, March 8th, during a ceremony organized by the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) and hosted by the Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, the 2021 IWOC Awardees were recognized for their remarkable accomplishments virtually.

Meridian International Center is proud to partner with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to design and implement an 8-week virtual International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) itinerary for the Awardees. As part of the Washington program, Meridian will help orient the Awardees to their upcoming virtual exchange program and the cities that will be hosting them. The women spoke publicly about their work during a panel discussion at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs - 15th Anniversary: A conversation with the International Women of Courage.

The Awardees will then participate in tailored virtual exchange programs arranged in coordination with Global Ties U.S. member organizations in Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Jackson, MS; Kansas City, MO; Little Rock, AR; Minneapolis, MA; New York, NY; Salt Lake City, UT; San Diego, CA; and St. Louis, MO. They will meet a diversity of Americans and enjoy virtual professional meetings designed around their areas of expertise.

To close the project, the group will reunite for a special virtual event, hosted by the American Women for International Understanding.

This year's 13 Awardees included: 

  • Phyoe Phyoe Aung of Burma 
  • Maximilienne C. Ngo Mbe of Cameroon 
  • Wang Yu of China 
  • Mayerlis Angaria of Colombia
  • Julienne Lusenge of Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Judge Erika Aifan of Guatemala
  • Shohreh Bayat of Iran
  • Muskan Khatun of Nepal 
  • Zahra Mohamed Ahmad of Somalia
  • Sister Alica Vaca Moro of Spain 
  • Ranitha Gnanarajah of Sri Lanka
  • Canan Gullu of Turkey
  • Ana Rosario Contreras of Venezuela

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Sponsors and Partners

Project summary

Meridian honored to host 2021 International Women of Courage Awardees
Number of Visitors: 13
Regions: Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, Near East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, Western Hemisphere
Countries: Burma, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Iran, Guatemala, Nepal, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Impact Areas: Empowering Women and Girls, Human and Civil Rights
Program Areas: Global Leadership
Partners: NGOs, Private Sector, Public Sector
  See Program Page