News Center- Dr. Zakira Hekmat, an Afghan residing in Turkiye, has been announced one of the 2023 International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award Recipients on March 8. According to a statement issued by the United States Department of State today, Secretary of State Anthony J.Blinken and First Lady Jill Biden will host the annual ceremony.

The statement said, “The  IWOC Award ceremony will honour a group of 11 extraordinary women from around the world who are working to build a brighter future for all.”

According to the statement, Dr. Zakira Hekmat has worked tirelessly to advocate for the rights of all refugees and women. “Thanks to Dr. Hekmat’s efforts, many Afghans, especially women, girls, and minorities, have received access to refugee protection and asylum.”

 Who is Dr. Zakira Hekmat?

 Born an internally displaced person in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, Zakira Hekmat completed high school secretly under the Taliban’s first period of control.  After winning a scholarship to study in Türkiye, she eventually qualified as a medical doctor in 2018.  Throughout her medical studies, Dr. Hekmat volunteered with refugee assistance organizations where she recognized a need to advocate for marginalized refugee groups’ rights and access to services.  From a one-room office, she founded the Afghan Refugee Solidarity Association in Türkiye in 2014, where she has since worked tirelessly to advocate for the rights of all refugees and women.  As one of the few female leaders of a refugee-led community organization in Türkiye, she called on the Turkish government and public not to forget and assist those fleeing conflict and persecution, especially after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in the summer of 2021.

 Other recipients include Alba Rueda from Argentina, Professor Danièle Darlan from Central African Republic, Doris Ríos from Costa Rica, Meaza Mohammed from Ethiopia, Hadeel Abdel Aziz from Jordan, Bakhytzhan Toregozhina from Kazakhstan, Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi from Malaysia, Brigadier General Bolor Ganbold from Mongolia, Bianka Zalewska from Poland and Yuliia Paievska from Ukraine.

 Since 2007, the International Women of Courage Award is presented annually by the United States Department of State to women around the world who have shown leadership, courage, resourcefulness, and willingness to sacrifice for others, especially in promoting women's rights.