Courageous women inspire a better world.

GCIV will virtually host 1 of 14 U.S. Secretary of State International Women of Courage Awardees, Muskan Khatun.

The U.S. Secretary of State’s annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards recognizes extraordinary women from around the world for demonstrating exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice. Individuals are nominated by U.S. Embassies abroad and awardees participate in a 10-day International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The 14 Awardees met with both the U.S. Secretary of State and the First Lady virtually, then virtually visit with other communities in the U.S. to connect with their professional American counterparts.

Muskan Khatun has been instrumental in bringing about new legislation criminalizing acid attacks and imposing strong penalties against perpetrators in Nepal. When Muskan was 15, she was critically injured in an acid attack after she rejected a boy’s romantic propositions. With the help of a social worker, Muskan lobbied for stronger legal action against the perpetrators of acid attacks under duress of threats and the strong social stigma associated with acid attack victims. She went before a parliamentary committee, wrote a letter to Nepal’s Prime Minister, and eventually met with him in person, to request a stronger law. Within a year of her attack, Nepal’s President issued an ordinance with harsh penalties for acid attacks and regulations on the sale of acids, a testament to Muskan’s significant advocacy.

Click here to learn more about the 15th annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP): https://www.state.gov/2021-international-women-of-courage-award-recipients-announced.