Peruvian Arlette Contreras was granted the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award for her exceptional courage in advocating for justice and women's rights.
Footage showed Arlette being brutally beaten by her former boyfriend at a hotel in her hometown of Ayacucho back in July 2015. Images spread nationwide.
A victim of gender-violence herself, she led the anti-femicide Not One Less campaign throughout last year in the Andean country.
U.S. Ambassador Brian A. Nichols recently praised Arlette and wished her well in her first visit to the United States. The young lawyer is the first Peruvian woman to be conferred with such an important honor.
"Receiving this award is very encouraging and makes me think people do recognize my message to women," Contreras was quoted as saying.
The prize was presented by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas A. Shannon today at 11:00 AM (local time) at the U.S. Department of State.
The Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award annually recognizes women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women's empowerment, often at great personal risk.
Since the inception of this award in 2007, the State Department has honored over 100 women from more than 60 different countries.
Program
On April 1, honorees will travel to cities across the United States to engage with the American people through an International Visitor Leadership Program.
They will visit Atlanta, Denver, Des Moines, Minneapolis, New York, Pensacola, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Diego, and Tampa on their individual programs.
The women will reconvene in Los Angeles to reflect on their visit and discuss ways to work together to improve the lives of women and girls around the world.
(END) NDP/RMB/MVB