Two Latin Americans, a Brazilian prosecutor, Simone Sibilio do Nascimento, and a human and environmental rights defender from Colombia, Josefina Klinger Zúñiga, received Monday the 2022 international prize “Women of Courage”, awarded by the United States to recognize exceptional female leadership.
Both were honored along with 10 other women from four continents in a ceremony attended by the first lady, Jill Biden, and the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, which was held virtually for the second year in a row due to the covid-19 pandemic.
“For 16 years, these awards have raised the voices of women around the world,” said the US First Lady, noting that her husband, President Joe Biden, “knows that the United States must lead a global community dedicated to stopping the corruption, injustice and brutality that silences women.”
“The United States stands with these heroines. They are not alone,” he emphasized.
Blinken recalled that one of the “Women of Courage” 2014, the Ukrainian singer and political activist Ruslana Lyzhychko, is today among the millions of Ukrainian women facing Russia's offensive against that country.
“Like Ruslana, this year's 'Women of Courage' are making our world more peaceful, fairer,” she said.
In celebrating this year's winners, Blinken highlighted Sibilio do Nascimento's fight against corruption and smuggling and its prosecution of high-profile cases of gender-based violence and attacks on activists. And he praised Klinger Zúñiga's work to empower Afro-Colombians and marginalized indigenous communities.
- Fight against organized crime -
Sibilio do Nascimento, a prosecutor in Rio de Janeiro for 18 years, was the first woman to lead the unit against organized crime in that state. She was formerly a delegate of the civilian police and captain of the military police.
She is known for promoting the investigation into the murder of Marielle Franco, the councillor of Rio de Janeiro from a favela, black and lesbian, who was riddled with bullets in March 2018 with her driver, Anderson Gomes.
Klinger Zúñiga, social leader of Chocó, an isolated rural area in western Colombia with a predominantly black and indigenous population and where drug trafficking gangs and illegal armed groups operate, founded the NGO Mano Cambiada in 2006 to promote sustainable ecotourism and help develop the local community.
In addition to these two, 2022 “Women of Courage” include Rizwana Hansan (Bangladesh), Ei Thinzar Maung (Burma), Tarif Sami Mohammed (Iraq), Facia Boyenoh Harris (Liberia), Najila Mangoush (Libya), Donia Gherman (Moldova), Bhumika Shrestha (Nepal), Carmen Gheorgh He (Romania), Roegchanda Pascoe (South Africa), and Pham Doan Trang (Vietnam), the latter in prison for their work in defense of human rights.
Launched in 2007, the “Annual International Women of Courage Award” (IWOC) annually recognizes women who globally have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in defending peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women's empowerment, often at great risk personnel and sacrifice, according to the State Department.
The winners are chosen from among those nominated by US embassies around the world.
Although the awards ceremony was again not face-to-face this year, the State Department spokesman said it is hoped that the winners will be able to travel to the United States to participate in activities specially planned for them in the Leadership Program for International Visitors (IVLP).
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