Since 2007, the State Department has recognized more than 200 women from over 90 countries.
First Lady Melania Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio celebrated the women’s group selected for the 19th International Courage of Courage (IWOC) Award at a ceremony Tuesday at Washington’s State Department.
The annual awards recognize women of courage from around the world who have risen to leaders and advocates of peace, justice and human rights. Since its establishment in 2007, the State Department has recognized more than 200 women from over 90 countries.
Rubio said the award recognizes that it not only does its job as the winners, but also “often at extraordinary risks to themselves, their families and loved ones.”
Trump then recognized eight award winners, including Israeli citizens who were detained by the terrorist group Hamas for almost two months after the Hamas-led attack in October 2023.
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Courage is “love-based strength,” Trump said, adding that this has been demonstrated in the lives of the recipients. She also said of her life: “I used the power of love as a source of power in challenging times. Love has embraced me with tolerance, cultivated empathy, and demonstrated courage in the face of unexpected obstacles.”
She focused some of her speech on Georgiana Pasque, one of the Romanian recipients. Pascu works to advocate for the rights of individuals institutionalized due to psychosocial and intellectual disabilities.
The 2025 winners were Henriet Da in Burkina Faso, Amit Susana in Israel, Major Berenaiga in Papua New Guinea, Angel Ksonko in the Philippines, Georgia AnaPasco in Romania, Zabib Msalorovakit in South Sudan, and Amataramam Ahadassaisaiemen in Amatana Island Ahadasana in Namini.
The Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award was presented to “Bangladeshi Female Student Protest Leader”.
Melania Trump (L) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio pose with the Philippines’ International Women’s Award winner Angelique Sonko at the Ben Franklin Room at Harry S. Truman headquarters in Washington on April 1, 2025. ChipSomodevilla/Getty Images
Amit Susana (second L), the hostage of the Hamasterolist attack on October 7th in Israel, received the Georgian Award, who was awarded the official Katrina “Cat” Fotovat of the Senior Bureau of Global Women’s Affairs after Susana, Burkina Faso (C) of human rights defender Henriettda, and the Mad Frenzy Award, where Romania’s mental health received courage. Ben Franklin Room at Harry S. Truman Headquarters in Washington on April 1, 2025. ChipSomodevilla/Getty Images
