Israeli citizen Amit Soussana has been named as one of the eight recipients of the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award. Soussana, an attorney, was abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza and held hostage for 55 days. After her release, she publicly shared her experiences, detailing the sexual violence she suffered during captivity. Her testimony has been instrumental in raising global awareness about sexual violence as a weapon of war and has inspired other survivors to come forward with their stories.
The International Women of Courage Award, now in its 19th year, honors women worldwide who have shown remarkable courage and leadership in the quest for peace, justice, human rights, and the empowerment of women and girls. This recognition often involves considerable personal risk and sacrifice. Since its inception in 2007, the award has celebrated more than 200 women from over 90 countries.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump will host a ceremony to honor the awardees on April 1, 2025, at the U.S. Department of State. After the ceremony, Soussana, along with the other honorees, will take part in the International Visitor Leadership Program. This initiative is a key professional exchange program of the U.S. government, aiming to connect international leaders with their American counterparts to further the agenda of empowering women and girls internationally.
For more information about the International Women of Courage Award and to watch the event livestream, interested parties can visit the official State Department website.