State Department honors eight at International Women of Courage awards

The U.S. Department of State hosted the 19th annual International Women of Courage Awards in the Benjamin Franklin Room, honoring eight women from around the world for work on human rights, conservation, journalism and anti‑trafficking. Senior Bureau Official Kat Fotovat of the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues introduced the ceremony and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump addressed the audience.

The award recognizes women who the State Department says have demonstrated “exceptional courage, strength, and leadership.” Fotovat said the award “is a testament to the importance of this award and the work it represents” and introduced the eight honorees by name and country. The honorees the department named at the ceremony were Amit Susana (Israel); Henriette Da (Burkina Faso); Major Valina Higa (Papua New Guinea); Angelique Sonko (Philippines); Georgiana Pescu (Romania); Zabib Musa Laura Baqid (South Sudan); Namini Vijay Dasu (Sri Lanka); and Ahmad Al Salam Abdullah Abdul Al Hajj (Yemen).

The event combined brief presentations about each honoree with short speeches. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted the award’s history and linked it to U.S. foreign‑policy efforts, saying, “President Trump made women's economic opportunity an imperative.” Rubio recalled that the award dates to 2007 and said the State Department and other agencies have recognized more than 200 women since its inception. First Lady Melania Trump framed courage as “a strength that is based in love,” describing the honorees’ work as motivated by care for family and community.

Several honorees’ stories drew specific attention. Amit Susana, who spoke after receiving her award, described being taken hostage on Oct. 7, held for 55 days and the lasting impact of that captivity: “I was taken hostage by Hamas and held captive for 55 days.” She said she accepts the award on behalf of other hostages and called on the world to act to bring them home. The department also highlighted Ahmad Al Salam Abdullah Abdul Al Hajj’s work documenting forced disappearances in Yemen; at the ceremony the State Department said his organization has documented more than 9,500 abductions and helped secure the release of about 950 people.

Other honorees drew notice for long‑running work: Georgiana Pescu was described as a longtime advocate for people with disabilities who has repeatedly entered care facilities to document abuse; Major Valina Higa was recognized for efforts to combat trafficking and violence against women in Papua New Guinea; Angelique Sonko was credited with enforcing maritime protections for a reef; and Namini Vijay Dasu was noted for investigative reporting on corruption and accountability in Sri Lanka. The ceremony included a separate Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award presented to student women protesters of Bangladesh.

The State Department framed the awards as part of broader initiatives. Fotovat and Rubio referenced the Office of Global Women’s Issues and the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative; the ceremony materials cited the Women, Peace, and Security Act as a policy milestone the department supports. A reception followed the program in the Jefferson Room.

The ceremony was a recognition event rather than a policymaking session: no votes or formal board actions were taken. Organizers said the awards are intended to amplify the recipients’ work and to connect them with U.S. diplomatic and development partners.

Speakers at the event included State Department staff and cabinet members in attendance; the department credited its Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs and the Office of Global Women’s Issues with program support. Fotovat closed by thanking department staff and partners and inviting guests to the reception.