Bangladeshi Sharmin Akter is among a group of extraordinary women from around the world to receive Women of Courage Award from First Lady Melania Trump today, US embassy in Dhaka announced.
The 2017 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award distribution programme at the U.S. Department of State will also be graced by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas A. Shannon.
Sharmin is being recognised for her courageous role against early and forced marriage in Bangladesh.
At the age of only 15, Sharmin Akter courageously resisted her mother’s attempts to marry her off and secured the precious right to continue her education, setting an example for teenage girls across South Asia facing similar pressures.
She demonstrated exceptional courage and self-possession by refusing to be coerced into marrying a man who is decades older than her. She dared to break the silence expected of women and girls and advocated for her rights, eventually bringing her mother and prospective husband to justice.
Celebrated for her bravery, Sharmin today is a student at Rajapur Pilot Girls High School where she dreams of becoming a lawyer to campaign against the harmful tradition of early and forced marriage.
“Bangladesh has one of the world’s highest rates of child marriage, a trend that threatens the health, safety, and education of millions of girls and undermines the country’s progress,” said a release of the US embassy.
Women of Courage Award
The award annually recognises 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 Department of State has honored over 100 women from more than 60 different countries.
The 2017 awardees
• Sharmin Akter, Activist Against Early/ Forced Marriage, Bangladesh
• Malebogo Malefhe, Gender-Based Violence Survivor and Advocate, Botswana
• Natalia Ponce de León, Human Rights Defender and Acid Attack Survivor, Colombia
• Rebecca Kabugho, Political Rights Activist, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Jannat Al Ghezi, Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Activist, Iraq
• Major Aïchatou Issaka Ousmane, Peace Building Activist, Niger
• Veronica Simogun, Activist Against Gender-Based Violence, Papua New Guinea
• Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista, Domestic Violence Survivor and Advocate, Peru
• Sandya Eknelygoda, Peace and Reconciliation Activist, Sri Lanka
• Sister Carolin Tahhan Fachakh, Interfaith Activist, Syria
• Saadet Özkan, Anti-Child Abuse Activist, Turkey
• MNguyen Ngoc NhuQuynh, Blogger and Environmental Activist, Vietnam
• Fadia Najib Thabet, Children’s Rights Advocate, Yemen.
