Marini de Livera among honourees at IWOC Awards

Former Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), Marini de Livera has been selected as an award winner at the Annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) 
Awards 2019.   

A statement issued by the US Department of State said Secretary of State Pompeo would host IWOC Awards at the US Department of State to honour 10 extraordinary women from around the world. 

First Lady of the United States Melania Trump will deliver special remarks at the ceremony. 

“Now in its 13th year, the Secretary of State’s IWOC Awards 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 and sacrifice,” it said. 

The award winners are Marini de Livera of Sri Lanka, Razia Sultana of Bangladesh, Naw K’nyaw Paw of Burma, Moumina Houssein Darar of Djibouti, Mama Maggie of Egypt, Colonel Khalida Khalaf Hanna al-Twal of Jordan, Sister Orla Treacy of Ireland, Olivera Laki of Montenegro, Flor de María Vega Zapata of Peru and Anna Aloys Henga of Tanzania. 
Following the official awards ceremony and meetings or interviews with government officials, NGOs, media and others in Washington,  D.C., the honourees will travel to individual US cities on the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP). 

American organisations and businesses will host IWOC awardees and collaborate with them on strategies and ideas to empower women both in the United  States and abroad. The awardees will reconvene in Los Angeles for a closing ceremony before returning to their home countries.