First Lady of the United States Jill Bidenawarded this Wednesday by eleven “brave” women from around the world, including Argentina Alba Rueda and Costa Rican Doris Rios.

The First Lady also congratulated on this International Women’s Day the women who demonstrated in Iran after the death of a young woman last September. Mahsa Amini, arrested for improperly wearing a veil.

“Today we’re here to tell girls all over the world what they need to hear: you matter, you can get changes!” Jill Biden said.

annual gala concert “Brave Women”Created by the State Department in 2007, it was first held at the White House as a symbol of the importance the Joe Biden administration places on the leadership women around the world show every day.

During the ceremony, First Lady, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and other executive officials presented the awards to the women while sharing their stories.

Argentinean Alba Rueda was very excited Special Representative for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina and which is considered the benchmark of the LGBTI+ movement.

“Alba Rueda is a transgender woman. one who was kicked out of class, one who was not allowed to take exams, one who was not hired, and who endured violence and rejection from her family, but who, in the face of these problems, acted to the end discrimination against the LGBTI + community, ” read by the host.

Jill Biden presents ‘International Women of Courage Award’ to biological man #International Women’s Day at the White House pic.twitter.com/5fudW9wICM

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 8, 2023

When he told his story, the audience burst into applause. Rueda smiled and held his prize (transparent figurine) next to Biden and Blinken.

A similar reception was received by Costa Rican Doris Rios, leader of the indigenous Chinese community of kicha and whom Washington recognized for devoting her life to fighting for the rights of indigenous women and their land despite violence and threats.

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Among the winners was Yulia Paevskaya, Ukrainian doctor who managed to document atrocities committed by Russian troops on video in the city of Mariupol, which Russia occupied last April, and which was detained while trying to evacuate women and children from there.

She was detained for three monthsBut she was eventually released and has been defending Ukraine’s democracy and independence ever since, the State Department said in a statement.

Also awarded were Afghan Zakira Hekmat, who founded her own refugee organization in Turkey in 2014 and helped Afghan women and girlsand former President of the Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic, Danielle Darlan, who has been recognized for defending the independence of her country’s judiciary.

In addition, among the laureates were human rights activists Hadil Abdel Aziz from Jordan and Bakhytzhan Toregozhina from Kazakhstan, Ethiopian journalist Meaza Mohammed, Polish reporter Bianka Zalewska, Malaysian Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi and Mongolian Brigadier General Bolor Ganbold.

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Finally, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield presented another type of award, created in honor of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. (1997-2001), women who took part in the demonstration in Iran after the death of Amini.

Today, the recipients of the Women of Courage International Award have arrived at the White House to tell girls everywhere the truth they need to hear:

Yes, you matter. Yes, you can make a difference. pic.twitter.com/VscEHkPyw0

— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) March 8, 2023

None of the Iranian recipients was at the White House to collect the award, but Thomas Greenfield featured a woman with hair in the wind in front of a sea of ​​protesters.

“To all women and girls in Iran, we We will continue to support him in his fight for life and freedom.promised Thomas-Greenfield, whose words were accompanied by thunderous applause.

Since the inception of the Women of Courage Gala in 2007, the United States has recognized more than 180 women from 80 countries. (EFE)