On March 29, 2018, American Women for International Understanding (AWIU) will host the 11th International Women of Courage Celebration in Los Angeles in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State and the International Visitors Council Los Angeles.
The annual Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award was established in 2007 by the U.S. Department of State, under the leadership of Secretary Condoleezza Rice, to honor women who have exemplified exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights, women’s equality and social progress around the globe. Honorees travel to the U.S. for an award ceremony at the State Department in Washington, DC on March 21, 2018 and have an opportunity for cultural exchange through the International Visitors Leadership Program. The honorees will end their stay in the United States in Los Angeles for the International Women of Courage Celebration. AWIU provides each honoree with a grant to continue her vital work in her home country.
The International Women of Courage Celebration will be held In downtown Los Angeles on March 29, 2018 at 6 pm. Onma Lwin, event Chair and AWIU member, looks forward to the 11th IWOC Celebration, the third consecutive event held in Los Angeles, “AWIU is thrilled to host these inspiring and courageous global female leaders in Southern California. We’ve had tremendous support from the Los Angeles community from corporations to academia, all supporting women’s global issues and citizen diplomacy. It will be an inspiring and uplifting event for all.
The Presenting Sponsor of the International Women of Courage Celebration in its 8th year in a leadership role is Deloitte. A leader on the global stage, Deloitte is committed to what the International Women of Courage represent: exceptional achievement, women in leadership, selfless philanthropy, and a culture of diversity and inclusion.
5 of this year’s 10 honorees from Honduras, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Khazikstan and Thailand
Terri Cooper, Chief Inclusion Officer, Deloitte commented, “We are thrilled to sponsor the International Women of Courage Celebration for our eighth consecutive year. At Deloitte, we work to foster a culture of courage and inclusion, and these extraordinary women and their powerful stories serve as an inspiration to us all.”
Additional sponsors include: Nestle; The Walt Disney Company; Wells Fargo; Ariel Investments; CBRE; UCLA Anderson School of Management; and US News & World Report.