Secretary of State Rubio to Honor 2025 International Women of Courage Awardees

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump will honor a group of extraordinary women selected for the 19th annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award Ceremony on Tuesday, April 1, at 1:00 p.m. EDT at the Department of State.

The Secretary of State’s annual IWOC Award recognizes women from around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, and the empowerment of women and girls – often at great personal risk and sacrifice. Since 2007, the Department of State has recognized more than 200 women from over 90 countries.

Following the IWOC ceremony, the awardees will participate in an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the U.S. government’s foundational professional exchange program, to engage with American counterparts on ways to further their work to empower women and girls around the globe.

Media interested in covering the event must register no later than 12:00 p.m. EDT on March 31. Arrival instructions and call times will be sent to registered media prior to the event. For questions on this event, please contact the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues at StateGWI@state.gov.