Secretary Clinton to Host the 2011 International Women of Courage Awards With Special Guest First Lady Michelle Obama on March 8

Notice to the Press

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

March 4, 2011

---

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will host the 2011 International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony with special guest First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday, March 8. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer and other U.S. and foreign dignitaries also will participate. The event will be held at approximately 11:00 a.m. in the Dean Acheson Auditorium of the U.S. Department of State.

The prestigious Secretary of State’s Award for International Women of Courage annually recognizes women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk.

The International Women of Courage Award Ceremony will be open to credentialed members of the media and live streamed at www.state.gov.

Pre-set time for cameras: 5:00 a.m. from the 23rd Street Lobby.

Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 8:15 a.m. from the 23rd Street Lobby.

Following the ceremony, Ambassador Melanne Verveer will brief the press on-camera in the press briefing room at the Department of State.

Since the inception of this award in 2007, the Department of State has honored 38 women from 27 different countries. This is the only Department of State award that pays tribute to women activists worldwide.

The names of this year’s honorees follow and full biographies and headshots are attached.