Fariba Baloch, winner of the 2024 International Women of Courage Award
Fariba Baloch was announced as one of the winners of the 2024 International Women of Courage Award.
The International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award, which has been selected annually by senior officials at the U.S. Department of State since 2007, recognizes women who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls, has been presented to more than 190 women activists from 90 countries.
In March of last year, the Madeleine Albright Honorary Award was presented to Iranian protesting women and girls at the 2023 International Women of Courage Award ceremony. Now, Fariba Baloch, a women's rights activist in Sistan and Baluchistan, has been named the winner of the 2024 International Women of Courage Award by the United States Department of State.
The US State Department yesterday, Friday, March 1, while noting that Fariba Baloch is among the 13 winners of the International Women of Courage Award, announced in a statement: "Ms. Fariba Baloch speaks out about women's rights and the human rights crisis in Sistan and Baluchistan, which has been severely affected by regime violence, executions, and systematic discrimination."
The US State Department emphasized the previous pressure exerted by security agencies on Ms. Fariba Baloch, adding: "However, Ms. Baloch believes that the only way forward is resistance, and she insists on her activism."
Other winners of this award include Ms. Bonafesh Yaqoubi from Afghanistan, Vala Harbonova from Belarus, and Minzu Win from Myanmar.
The International Women of Courage Award will be presented to the winners on Monday, March 4, at a ceremony at the White House attended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and First Lady Jill Biden.
