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International Women of Courage Event

Images depict a formal event featuring handshakes and interactions among women leaders, highlighting themes of empowerment and unity in a warm, decorated setting.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman meets with Australian Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kathryn Campbell at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on September 17, 2021.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton shakes hands with Honoree Colonel Shafiqa Quraishi of Afghanistan at the 2010 International Women of Courage at the U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. March 10, 2010.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton shakes hands with Honoree Ann Njogue of Kenya at the 2010 International Women of Courage at the U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. March 10, 2010.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden co-host a luncheon in honor of Mexican President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa and Mrs. Margarita Zavala in the Franklin Room at the U.S. Department of State, May 19, 2010.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is greeted by participants of the Women's Entrepreneurship Network during the Pathways to Prosperity Conference in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on October 5, 2011.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman meets with Australian Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kathryn Campbell at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on September 17, 2021.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson receives a gift -- a traditional Colombian woven handbag from Colombian Vice Foreign Minister Patti Londo�o, before his departure from Bogota, Colombia on February 7, 2018.

With Jonathan Jacobson looking on, Ambassador Roberta Jacobson smiles as she hugs Mexican Deputy Chief of Mission to the U.S. Daniel Hern�ndez Joseph after being sworn in as the new U.S. Ambassador to Mexico by Vice President Joe Biden during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 2016.

Margot Friedländer (Holocaust survivor) and Friede Springer at the awarding of honorary citizenship to Friede Springer in the Rotes Rathaus, Berlin, 26 February 2025

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, center left; poses for a photo with the World Food Programs 2011 George McGovern Leadership Awardees Bill Gates, left; and Howard Buffett, center right; and World Food Program Executive Director Josette Sheeran, right; at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on October 24, 2011.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with members of Uzbek civil society organizations in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on October 23, 2011.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton shakes hands with Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong during the U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange delegation, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 2011.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton honors Anne Gallagher of Australia, a 2012 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report Hero, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on June 19, 2012.

Madrid, 06/08/2022. XIII Abc bullfighting prize To Morante de la Puebla, Carlos Val-Carreres and maximum García Padrós. In the Image, Ana Peña, Carmen Lomana and Muriel Feiner. Photo: Ernesto Agudo. Archdc.

With Senator Dianne Feinstein looking on, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller greets Senator Lisa Murkowski at a reception and dinner for female Senators hosted by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 13, 2014.

First Lady Melania Trump presents the 2017 International Women of Courage Award to Natalia Ponce de Leon of Colombia during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 29, 2017.

Morris Udall Foundation Chair Terrence Bracy, far left, and, to his right, Colorado Congressman Mark Udall, Foundation Vice Chair Anne Udall, former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall, current Secretary Gale Norton, New Mexico Congressman Tom Udall, Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, Arizona Senator John McCain, at Interior events honoring the former Secretary and Morris Udall

Madrid, 10/31/2018. Council of State. Inauguration of its new member Victoria Camps, in an event chaired by the vice president Carmen Calvo and María Teresa Fernández de la Vega. Photo: Jaime García ARCHDC.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is greeted by employees at the Taj Coromandel with a traditional greeting in Chennai, India, on July 20, 2011.

University of Denver Chancellor Emeritus Daniel Ritchie, Nancy Anschutz of the Anschutz Family Foundation, National Park Foundation President Vin Cipolla, businessman Philip Anschutz, and Secretary Gale Norton, left to right, at National Park Foundation event at Phipps Mansion, Denver, Colorado

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry poses for a photo with Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and her team before her farewell ceremony at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on September 21, 2015.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton walks into the room to speak with Embassy Athens staff and families in Athens, Greece, on July 18, 2011.

Carol Perez, Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources delivers remarks at her swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 15, 2019.

Department staff greeting President George W. Bush, from behind rope line, during his visit to Main Interior

Office of the Secretary - Secretary Carlos Gutierrez with Vera Hartman

Office of the Secretary - Secretary Elaine Chao and President George W Bush at the Women's Conference on Small Business

Office of the Secretary - Secretary Elaine Chao and President George W Bush at the Women's Conference on Small Business

First Lady Michelle Obama waits backstage with Chief of Staff Tina Tchen and Traveling Aide Kristen Jarvis, right, during the Partnership for a Healthier America Summit in Washington, D.C., Feb. 26, 2015.

Department staff greeting President George W. Bush, from behind rope line, during his visit to Main Interior

First Lady Michelle Obama and Deputy Secretary Higginbottom pose for a photo with 2014 International Women of Courage Awardee Dr. Nasrin Oryakhil, Director of Malalai Maternity Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, delivers remarks at the 2014 Secretary of State�s International Women of Courage Award Ceremony at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2014.

Office of the Secretary - Secretary Carlos Gutierrez with Vera Hartman

President Bush welcomes Chinese President Hu Jintao

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul walk with Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko at the Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 29, 2012.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the new Bruno Schulz display, Wall Painting under Coercion, in the Holocaust Art Museum, guided by Director of the Museums Division Yehudit Inbar and Senior Art Curator Yehudit Shendar and accompanied by Chief Rabbi Lau, Yad Vashem Council Chairman, and Middle East Special Envoy Senator George Mitchell in Jerusalem March 3, 2009

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence host a State Luncheon in honor of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Mrs. Morrison, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on September 20, 2019.

Department staff greeting President George W. Bush, from behind rope line, during his visit to Main Interior

Madrid, 02/04/2019. Congress of Deputies. Education Commission with Minister Isabel Celaa. Photo: Jaime García ARCHDC.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry poses for a photo with the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors recipients, singer-songwriter Carole King, filmmaker George Lucas, actress and singer Rita Moreno, conductor Seiji Ozawa, and actress and Broadway star Cicely Tyson, as well as Mrs. Teresa Heinz Kerry, and Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2015.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Former Salvadoran First Lady Elizabeth de Calderon Sol pose in front of a 1988 in San Salvador, El Salvador June 1, 2009.. More than 30 historical pictures are part of a U.S. Embassy San Salvador photo exhibit entitled The United States and El Salvador, An Enduring Relationship”. The exhibit shows more than 30 photos dating from 1928 to date of different visits of U.S. leaders to El Salvador.

The White House Project hosts Chilean President Michelle Bachelet

First Lady Michelle Obama and Deputy Secretary Heather Higginbottom pose for a photo with 2014 Secretary of State�s International Women of Courage Award Winner Ruslana Lyzhychko, a EuroMaidan volunteer and People�s Artist of Ukraine, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2014.

Swearing-in ceremony, reception for Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, with President George W. Bush, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Interior officials, Kempthorne family and friends on hand

First Lady of the United States Melania Trump presents the 2018 International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award to Sister Maria Elena Berini of Italy (nominated by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See) during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on March 23, 2018.

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo poses for a photo with distinguished guests before delivering remarks at the National Museum of American Diplomacy in Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, at the Department of State, in Washington, DC, on November 5, 2019.

Event honoring the Washington National Opera in the Benjamin Franklin Room, with appearances by Secretary Condoleezza Rice and other Department officials

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo delivers remarks at the Annual Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) Dinner at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 2019

U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Jennifer Psaki -- sporting a shapka, or fur hat with ear flaps, given to her by Russian counterpart Maria Zakharova -- stands with Zakharova between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Paris, France, on January 13, 2014.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 18, 2013.

Madrid, 11/05/2013. Tribute to the winners of the Mariano de Cavia, Luca de Tena and Mingote awards at the Casa de ABC. In the image, Her Majesty Queen Sofía with the editor-in-chief of ABC, Catalina Luca de Tena, and, from left to right, Antonio Burgos, Jorge Edwards, David Pinto and Carlos López (Pinto & Chinto), Mariano de Cavia awards , Luca de Tena and Mingote, respectively; and Enrique de Ybarra, president of Vocento.

University of Denver Chancellor Emeritus Daniel Ritchie, Nancy Anschutz of the Anschutz Family Foundation, National Park Foundation President Vin Cipolla, businessman Philip Anschutz, and Secretary Gale Norton, left to right, at National Park Foundation event at Phipps Mansion, Denver, Colorado

Office of the Secretary - Secretary Carlos Gutierrez with Vera Hartman

Office of the Secretary - Secretary Elaine Chao Addresses the Unsung Heroines at Award Luncheon

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton provides remarks with visiting Egyptian democracy activists at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC May 28, 2009.

Naledi Pandor, Foreign Minister of South Africa, Annalena Baerbock (Buendnis 90 Die Gruenen), Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Batmunkh Battsetseg, Foreign Minister of Mongolia, Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Catherine Colonna, Foreign Minister of France, and Dominique Hasler, Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein. Ulan Bator, 29.06.2023., Ula, Annalena Baerbock (Buendnis 90 Die Gruenen), German Foreign Minister, attends the Female Foreign Ministers Meeting in Ulan Bator. (L-R)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks with U.S. Embassy Kyiv staff and family members in Kyiv, Ukraine July 2, 2010.

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, First Lady of the United States Melania Trump, and awardee Zarifa Ghafari of Afghanistan pose for a photo, at the Department of State on March 4, 2020.

Madrid, 01/28/2015. H.H. Mm. the Kings at the inauguration of Fitur. Photo: Ernesto Agudo. Archdc.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, front row center right; and First Lady Michelle Obama, front row center left; pose for a photo with the 2012 International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award Winners at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 8, 2012.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy pays a courtesy call on Japan�s new Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yuko Obuchi in Tokyo, Japan, on October 14, 2014.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speaks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at a dinner hosted by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in honor of the Afghan President and Afghan CEO Abdullah Abdullah at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2015.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Mrs. Teresa Heinz Kerry pose for a photo with the 2013 Kennedy Center honorees -- Shirley MacLain, Martina Arroyo, Billy Joel, Carlos Santana, and Herbie Hancock at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on December 7, 2013.

McCain Family

Office of the Administrator (Lisa P. Jackson) - Senator Barbara Boxer , Environmental Protection Agency

Valencia, 01/02/2012. Inauguration of Paula Sánchez de León as the new Government Delegate in the Valencian Community. Photo: Mikel Ponce. ARCHDC.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Embassy Valletta staff and families in Valletta, Malta, on October 18, 2011.

Annalena Baerbock (Buendnis 90 Die Gruenen), Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Jennifer Morgan, State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Policy at the Federal Foreign Office, recorded during talks with Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment, in Brasilia, 05 June 2023., Brasilia, Brazil, South America

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton participates in a dinner for women leaders hosted by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa (center) and attended by Mexican First Lady Margarita Zavala.(right),Mexico City, March 25, 2009.

Reception at Harry S. Truman Building for actress Angelina Jolie, greeted by Department officials and staff including Secretary Colin Powell, Under Secretary for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, and Secretary's Open Forum Chairman William Keppler. Jolie participated in Open Forum panel discussion of the documentary film that she narrated, "Trading Women," an investigation of Southeast Asian sex trafficking.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman meets with Canadian Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 2021.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton poses for a photo with International Visitor Leadership Program participants celebrating the National Council for International Visitors 50th Anniversary and the International Visitor Leadership Programs 70th Anniversary in the Franklin Room at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on February 17, 2011.

Office of the Secretary - Secretary Elaine Chao at Retirement of June Robinson

(L-R) Annalena Baerbock, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Manuela Schwesig, Minister-President of the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Klara Geywitz, Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Construction, recorded during a greeting at the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Wismar, 01 June 2023., Wismar, Germany, Europe

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right; and First Lady Michelle Obama, left; pose for a photo with 2012 International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award Winner Aneesa Ahmed of Maldives, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 8, 2012.

Anefo photo collection. Queen Juliana receives Mrs. Coretta King with her company at Soestdijk Palace. Queen Juliana and Mrs. C. King. 11 February 1970

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, joined by Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, presents a certificate to 2019 'TIP Report Hero' Agnes De Coll of Hungary. Agnes De Coll is one of eight individuals from around the world who was recognized for her efforts to fight against human trafficking, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC on June 20, 2019.

First Lady Melania Trump and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas A. Shannon pose for a photo with the 2017 Secretary of State�s International Women of Courage Awardees before a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 29, 2017. The 2017 awardees are Sharmin Akter, Activist Against Early/ Forced Marriage, Bangladesh; Malebogo Molefhe, Human Rights Activist, Botswana; Natalia Ponce de Leon, President, Natalia Ponce de Leon Foundation, Colombia; Rebecca Kabugho, Political and Social Activist, Democratic Republic of Congo; Jannat Al Ghezi, Deputy Director of The Organization of Women�s Freedom in Iraq, Iraq; Major Aichatou Ousmane Issaka, Deputy Director of Social Work at the Military Hospital of Niamey, Niger; Veronica Simogun, Director and Founder, Family for Change Association, Papua New Guinea; Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista, Lawyer and Founder of Not One Woman Less, Peru; Sandya Eknelygoda, Human Rights Activist, Sri Lanka; Sister Caro

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman meets with Venezuelan Interim Foreign Affairs Commissioner Julio Borges, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on June 24, 2021.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump pose for a photo with 2017 TIP Hero Allison Lee of Taiwan, whose tireless efforts have made a lasting impact on the fight against modern slavery, at the 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report Launch Ceremony, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on June 27, 2017.

Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel presents the inaugural Emerging Young Leaders Award to Asha Hassan of Kenya during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on April 20, 2016.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, shows Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Australian Defense Minister David Johnston a copy of the Declaration of Independence in the John Quincy Adams State Drawing Room at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on November 19, 2013.

First Lady Melania Trump presents the 2017 International Women of Courage Award to Sandya Eknelygoda of Sri Lanka during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 29, 2017.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman meets with Colombian Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Luc�a Ram�rez on the margins of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 76) in New York, New York, on September 22, 2021.

Reception at Harry S. Truman Building for actress Angelina Jolie, greeted by Department officials and staff including Secretary Colin Powell, Under Secretary for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, and Secretary's Open Forum Chairman William Keppler. Jolie participated in Open Forum panel discussion of the documentary film that she narrated, "Trading Women," an investigation of Southeast Asian sex trafficking.

Madrid, 12-9-2002 presentation of the Abc centenary book, the newspaper of the century by Catalina Luca de Tena photo Jaime García.

Program, in Benjamin Franklin Room, offering "Salute to Abolitionists Working to End Modern Slavery." Among officials delivering remarks were: Secretary Condoleezza Rice; Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, Paula Dobriansky; Ambassador at Large and Director of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, John Miller; Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf; and New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, center right, and First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, center left, pose for a photo with the honorees of the 2011 International Women of Courage Awards at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on March 8, 2011.

Office of the Secretary - Secretary Elaine Chao Addresses the Unsung Heroines at Award Luncheon

Secretary Gale Norton, left, and Virginia Governor Mark Warner, center, among the dignitaries at events marking debut of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial traveling exhibit, Corps of Discovery II, at Monticello, Virginia

04 / 10 / 2007; The Sitges-International Film Festival 07 presents the film "El Orfanato". BELEN RUEDA. JUAN ANTONIO BAYONA. FERNANDO CAYO. MABEL RIVERA.

Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney hosts an award and farewell ceremony honoring the departing DOD Inspector General Susan Crawford. Base: Pentagon State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

11-13-1987 President Reagan during a photo opportunity with Frank Carlucci, Colin Powell, and the National Security Council NSC staff Florence Gantt, Kay Zerwick, Dona Proctor, Victoria Lara and Karen Steid in the Oval Office.

Annalena Baerbock, Bundesaussenministerin, und Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Generaldirektorin der Welthandelsorganisation, im Rahmen der Eroeffnung der Konferenz der Leiterinnen und Leiter der deutschen Auslandsvertretungen. Berlin, 04.09.2023

Luciana Savignano, Valentina Cortese

The White House Project hosts Chilean President Michelle Bachelet

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson poses for a photo with the 2017 Kennedy Center Honorees -- James Todd Smith "LLCoolJ", Lionel Ritchie, Carmen de Lavallade, Norman Lear and Gloria Estefan at the Kennedy Center Honors Dinner at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on December 2, 2017.

Former President George H.W. Bush, with former First Lady Barbara Bush to his left and Secretary Gale Norton to his right, at ceremony at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Washington, D.C., featuring unveiling of dedication panel for statue of Roosevelt in wheelchair

02/19/2010. Ifema. Madrid Fashion Week. Parade of Victorio and Lucchino. The Duchess of Alba, Fran Rivera and Cecilia. Photo: of Saint Bernard and Angel of Antonio. Archdc.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman meets with Portugal Minister of Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 21, 2021.

Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki poses for a photo with Voice of America (VOA) TV anchor and reporter Myroslava Gongadze during U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 5, 2015.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 8, 2017.

First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden delivers remarks at the 2021 International Women of Courage Awards virtual ceremony, from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on March 8, 2021.

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