International Women of Courage 2021 Opening Ceremony

International Women of Courage 2021 Opening Ceremony

2021 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award. This award honors women who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in acting to improve the lives of others, from families to communities to countries. Next, the IWOC honorees will participate in International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Virtual exchanges to connect with American communities, universities, businesses, non-profit organizations, and others. Now in its fifteenth year and conferred by five Secretaries of State since the inception of IWOC, the U.S. Department of State has honored more than 155 International Women of Courage from over 75 countries.

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YES participant Yara
YES Story: Yara
Yara discusses her experience as an exchange student in Alaska.
YES participant Nicole
YES Story: Nicole
Nicole discusses her experience being hosted in Texas.
YES participant Yasmin
YES Story: Yasmin
Yasmin discusses her experience being hosted in Massachusetts.
Sports Envoy: Shaquille O'Neal in Cuba
Shaquille O'Neal chats briefly about his trip to Cuba as part of the Sports Envoy program.
African woman holding a tablet while delivering a lecture
International Women of Courage Jestina Mukoko
In March 2010 Jestina Mukoko was one of ten human rights defenders honored in the U.S. State Department's International Women of Courage Awards, she returned as an alumni in 2016.
Sports United: Boxing Diplomacy
Sports Diplomacy: Kazakhstan Boxing
A delegation of 12 Kazakhstani boxers and trainers traveled to the United States to visit community boxing programs and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.