The United States has selected the 23-year-old Delhi gangrape victim 'Nirbhaya' for the International Women of Courage Award.The awards are to be given to 10 women from across the world.The award will be presented posthumously by the First Lady Michelle Obama and the Secretary of State John Kerry, on March 8th in Washington .An official announcement said,for millions of Indian women, Nirbhaya's personal ordeal, perseverance to fight for justice, and her family's continued bravery is helping to lift the stigma and vulnerability that drive violence against women.The Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award annually recognises women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk.Since inception of the award in 2007, the Department of State has honoured 67 women from 45 countries.
The paramedical student 'Nirbhaya' was gangraped, beaten and thrown out of a moving bus along with a male friend in Delhi last December.The incident generated widespread protests and was condemned by various groups, both in India and abroad.
The other awardees for this year are Malalai Bahaduri,First Sergeant Afghan National Interdiction Unit
(Afghanistan); Samira Ibrahim, Coordinator Know Your Rights (Egypt); Julieta Castellanos, Rector National Autonomous University of Honduras (Honduras); Dr Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin, President Campaign for Democracy (Nigeria); Elena Milashina journalist, human rights activist (Russia) and Fartuun Adan, Executive Director, Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre (Somalia).
