By Darlene Superville | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Jill Biden on Wednesday praised a gaggle of ladies from around the globe, together with those that have been protesting in opposition to Iran’s leaders, for exhibiting braveness whereas preventing for his or her rights and known as on males to “be partners” with girls and assist them of their trigger.
“As much as we need women who are willing to speak up, we need more men who are willing to listen and act,” the primary girl stated.
“We need more men to hold each other accountable when their sisters are being hurt or left behind,” she stated at a White House ceremony for the 2023 recipients of the International Women of Courage Awards. “We want extra males who nurture households, who feed and educate and mentor, who construct safer communities. We want extra males who know that caring, collaboration and kindness are indicators of power, not weak point.
“Men, we need you to support the women who are fighting for their rights and to lift up those who have been silenced,” she continued. “Be partners, be partners with women. Become the ‘men of courage’ we need. Only then will we be able to build a world where men and women are equal and all people are free.”
At the ceremony, held on International Women’s Day, Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered awards to 11 recipients from Afghanistan, Argentina, Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Poland and Ukraine.
The group contains the primary feminine normal to serve within the Mongolian armed forces, together with advocates for shielding indigenous lands in Costa Rica and ending discrimination in opposition to folks with disabilities in Malaysia and in opposition to LGBTQ folks in Argentina.
Among them was Yuliia Paievska, a Ukrainian medic who final yr recorded reams of harrowing bodycam footage exhibiting her staff’s efforts to avoid wasting those that had been wounded throughout Russia’s bombardment of town of Mariupol. Paievska gave the footage to Associated Press journalists, who had been the final worldwide staff within the metropolis, on a tiny knowledge card.
The journalists fled Mariupol with the info card and shared the photographs with the world. Paievska was detained quickly after by pro-Russia forces and held for 3 months.
A brand new group award, named for Madeleine Albright, who died final March after making historical past in 1997 by turning into the primary feminine U.S. secretary of state, was given to the ladies and ladies of Iran, who’ve been protesting in opposition to their authorities since final September.
Nationwide protests erupted in Iran after the Sept. 16 loss of life of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini whereas within the custody of Iran’s morality police. Amini was accused of violating Iran’s strict gown code for girls by carrying her scarf improperly.
The International Women of Courage Award, created in 2007 by then-U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, acknowledges girls who present distinctive braveness, power and management whereas advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender fairness and equality, and the empowerment of ladies and ladies. More than 180 girls from 80-plus nations have obtained the award since its inception.
Biden moved Wednesday’s ceremony from its conventional dwelling on the State Department as a result of she “wanted to bring the stories of these incredible women to the biggest stage we could, and that is, of course, the White House,” stated Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, who additionally spoke on the ceremony.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”