Melania Trump Honors Global Women of Courage

Melania Trump Honors Global Women of Courage \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ First Lady Melania Trump presented the International Women of Courage Awards on Tuesday, honoring eight remarkable women for their bravery, including an Israeli hostage survivor. She described courage as being born from love and praised the honorees for transforming adversity into advocacy. The awards spotlight global women fighting for justice, human rights, and dignity.

International Women of Courage 2025: Quick Looks

• Melania Trump calls courage “a strength based in love”
• Eight women honored for bravery and advocacy work
• Honoree Amit Soussana was held captive by Hamas for 55 days
• Georgiana Pascu praised for rescuing institutionalized disabled people in Romania
• Other honorees represent Burkina Faso, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Yemen
• A group award went to student protestors in Bangladesh
• Awards highlight human rights, women’s empowerment, and justice reform
• Over 200 women from 90+ countries recognized since 2007
• Ceremony held at the U.S. State Department
• Award named a recipient after Madeleine Albright for the first time

Deep Look

In an emotionally charged ceremony at the U.S. State Department on Tuesday, First Lady Melania Trump honored eight extraordinary women from around the world as recipients of the International Women of Courage Award, a prestigious recognition for those who have shown exceptional bravery and leadership in the face of adversity. As she presented the awards, Trump offered a heartfelt message on the nature of courage: that “true courage is born from love.”

“These extraordinary women illuminate the transformative power of love in shaping our world,” the first lady said, as she stood before a room of dignitaries, activists, and diplomats. “Their journeys remind us that love fuels the call for justice.” She described courage not as a fleeting act of heroism but as a deliberate choice to stand for others, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

One of the most moving moments of the event came with the recognition of Israeli lawyer Amit Soussana, who was held captive for 55 days by Hamas following the October 2023 attack on Israel. Soussana has courageously shared her experience of sexual violence and captivity, turning her trauma into advocacy for the hostages who remain in Gaza. “My friends remain in the dark, still suffering, still waiting, still hoping,” she said in her speech. “I call on the world to act, to bring them home—now. Not tomorrow. Now.”

The International Women of Courage Award, now in its 19th year, was established by the State Department in 2007 and has honored more than 200 women from over 90 countries. This year’s recipients reflect a diverse range of struggles, from fighting human trafficking and institutional abuse to protecting environmental heritage and exposing corruption.

Among them is Georgiana Pascu of Romania, a human rights activist dedicated to defending the rights of institutionalized children and adults with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities. The first lady described her as someone who exemplifies “love in action,” lauding her unannounced visits to so-called care facilities to rescue those held in inhumane conditions. Thanks to her work, dozens of perpetrators have been prosecuted for human trafficking, exploitation, and organized crime.

The 2025 honorees also include:

• Henriette Da (Burkina Faso) – a human rights advocate working under extreme conditions to protect marginalized communities.
• Major Velena Iga (Papua New Guinea) – a military officer and champion for survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking.
• Angelique Songco (Philippines) – known as “Mama Ranger,” she leads conservation efforts to protect Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park from illegal poaching.
• Zabib Musa Loro Bakhit (South Sudan) – a women’s rights activist focusing on equality and justice in conflict-affected regions.
• Namini Wijedasa (Sri Lanka) – an award-winning investigative journalist who has exposed political corruption and human rights abuses.
• Amat Al-Salam Al-Hajj (Yemen) – a leading voice for families of the abducted and forcibly detained in war-torn Yemen.

This year’s ceremony also introduced a group award, named in honor of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, recognizing female student leaders in Bangladesh who organized mass protests in July and August 2024 against government repression and violence.

The first lady also shared her personal reflections on courage, saying that love has been her own source of strength during difficult periods. “Love has inspired me to embrace forgiveness, nurture empathy, and exhibit bravery in the face of unforeseen obstacles,” she said.

The annual awards serve as a powerful reminder of the global struggle for women’s rights, often carried out far from the spotlight and at great personal risk. Many recipients have faced threats, imprisonment, harassment, or violence as a result of their advocacy—but remain undeterred.

U.S. officials say the program aims not just to recognize bravery but also to elevate voices from underrepresented regions and create global networks of female leaders driving change. In a world where women continue to confront oppression, conflict, inequality, and injustice, the honorees embody resilience, vision, and the enduring power of love-driven leadership.

As First Lady Trump concluded the ceremony, she urged everyone in attendance to amplify the stories of these women and stand in solidarity with their causes. “Let us be inspired by their example. Let us carry their message forward—of love, of justice, of unrelenting courage.”

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