The annual International Women of Courage Awards, organized by the U.S. Department of State, were held online on March 8. The award ceremony honored 21 international women who have made a difference, and Chinese lawyer Wang Yu was honored.
Of the 21 women honored, seven Afghan women leaders and human rights defenders have been assassinated. 14 living recipients are from Belarus, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Venezuela. Wang Yu, a female human rights lawyer from China, was arrested and imprisoned during the “709 incident” in which the Chinese Communist authorities persecuted lawyers and human rights activists.
According to the U.S. Department of State, since she began handling human rights violations in 2011, she has “handled politically sensitive cases for activists, scholars, Falun Gong practitioners, farmers, and petitioners on a variety of issues, including women’s and children’s rights, religious rights, and freedom of speech, assembly, and association. “
On July 9, 2015, Communist authorities launched a nationwide crackdown on hundreds of defense lawyers and human rights activists, arresting, interrogating and charging them with politically motivated crimes in what became known as the “709 incident,” according to the information. Wang Yu was disbarred during this crackdown. To date, she remains under an exit ban and has been harassed, intimidated, searched and physically assaulted by police.
The award ceremony was hosted by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. During the ceremony, he said, “The women we honor, who have endured violence, death threats, imprisonment and harassment, some displaced, some forced to flee their countries because of their careers, deserve our support and recognition.”
U.S. First Lady Jill (Jill Biden) also spoke at the awards ceremony. She said that these women have made “extraordinary choices” in their ordinary lives. They have persevered and fought for justice despite the obstacles and fears they have faced. She praised them for their “sheer determination. “We salute the women around the world who have made extraordinary choices for a great cause,” Gill said. “We will stand with you to build a brighter future for all of us.”
“The International Women of Courage Award, established in March 2007, recognizes courageous women who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world. 155 recipients from 75 countries have been honored.
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