U.S. Embassy to Recognize Women of Courage

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea:The U.S. Embassy is encouraging people in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu to nominate exceptional women for U.S. Secretary of State’s International Woman of Courage Award. This award honors women who are making history in their countries and communities. The U.S. Embassy encourages nominations of awesome women who have worked to better their societies, fight discrimination or strife, resolve conflicts, as well as those who have taken risks to run for office or break down barriers in order to promote positive change. “We want to celebrate the contributions 

of some of the amazing women who are standing up for our future. A woman of courage might be 

an educator, a health practitioner, a lawyer, or a human rights defender. She might be a religious 

leader, in business, a healer, a political activist, or a peace builder,” said U.S. Ambassador Walter 

North. 

Women working in the political, human rights, economic, social, judicial, health, educational, 

press/media, peace and national reconciliation, and scientific and technological arenas are eligible. 

The U.S. Embassy will consider women who have taken unusual risks, surmounted difficult 

obstacles, or challenged harmful cultural practices or discrimination in their efforts to promote 

progress for women and girls, and for their society as a whole. Nominations are due by November 

14 to the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby. 

Each year, the U.S. Secretary of State presents one exceptional woman with this prestigious award. 

Since the award’s inception in 2007, the United States has honored women who have risked their 

lives and well-being to stop human trafficking, gender-based violence, child marriage, and 

corruption. The award has honored women who have been imprisoned, tortured, and threatened with 

death for standing up for justice, human rights, constitutional reform, and the rule of law. 

One nominee per country (one each for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu) will be 

chosen and their names will be sent to Washington, DC for consideration for Secretary’s 

International Woman of Courage Award. One top finalist from each geographic region around the 

world is selected to participate in a high-profile ceremony and program of events in Washington, 

D.C., in commemoration of International Women’s Day in March. As part of that trip to 

Washington, D.C., the top finalists also participate in a two-week program to network with American 

counterparts in additional cities in the United States and meet leaders working to advance women’s empowerment in the United States. Since its inception, the Secretary’s Award has been conferred 

upon 65 remarkable women from more than 40 countries.

Nomination forms and instructions are available by email upon request or in hard copy at the U.S. 

Embassy on Douglas Street (across from Deloitte Tower) in Port Moresby, For more information, 

please contact Gender Issues Assistant Agatha Pio by email at PDPortMoresby@state.gov, by phone 

on +675-321-1455, x2211 or +675-7091-5851, or by fax at +675-321-1593.