Şafak Pavey, Deputy of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) was rewarded with one of the annual International Women of Courage awards. The awards are being given to women's rights activists all over the world for their efforts related to the rights of defenceless communities, refugees and disabled people.
A total of ten women were rewarded in the prize giving ceremony that was hosted by America's First Lady Michelle Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The ceremony was held at the Hall of Honour of the US State Department on International Women's Day on 8 March. Michelle Obama emphasized that despite Pavey's physical disability, she travelled many countries in order to gain support for the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Obama said that the women rewarded as women of courage continued their way in spite of the risks and difficulties they encountered because they were struggling for the rights and freedoms of many people.
When Obama gave Pavey her award, she said, "She is living according to a simple motto of life: What she experienced is an example to others". Hillary Clinton congratulated Pavey on her courage to go into politics.
The awards are being given to "exceptional women leaders who advocate at the expense of great risk for women's rights and their empowerment".
This year's recipients include
Maryam Durani, provincial council member, Afghanistan;
Major Pricilla de Oliveira Azevedo, police major, Brazilia;
Zin Mar Aung, political activist and NGO founder, Burma;
Jineth Bedoya Lima, investigative journalist, Columbia;
Hana Elhebshi, architect and activist, Libya;
Aneesa Ahmed, activist against domestic violence, Maldives;
Shad Begum, human rights activist, advocator for women's rights, Pakistan;
Samar Badawi, activist, Saudi Arabia;
Hawa Abdallah Mohammed Salih, human rights activist, Sudan. (IC/VK)
