Melania Trump, Marco Rubio Honor Global Women of Courage

Since 2007, the State Department has recognized more than 200 women from over 90 countries.

U.S. first lady Melania Trump (L) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio pose with International Women of Courage Award recipient Georgiana Pascu of Romania during a ceremony in the Ben Franklin Room at the State Department's Harry S. Truman headquarters in Washington on April 1, 2025. Pascu is an advocate for institutionalized children and adults with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities in Romania. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

First Lady Melania Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio honored a group of women chosen for the 19th annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award at a ceremony on Tuesday at the Department of State in Washington.

The annual award recognizes women of courage worldwide who have stood up as leaders and proponents of peace, justice, and human rights. Since the award was established in 2007, the State Department has recognized more than 200 women from over 90 countries.