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As the White House hosts this year’s International Women of Courage Awards
ceremony Wednesday for those who have shown bravery in the face of great
challenges, one group is conspicuously absent: The Iranian women and girls who took
to the streets to stand up for their rights.
VOA’s Anita Powell brings us this report.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script US – Women of Courage Awards
HEADLINE: White House Hosts International Women of Courage Awards
TEASER: Women worldwide honored for championing justice, peace and freedom of
expression, often at great cost
PUBLISHED AT: 3/8/23 at 9:15 p.m.
BYLINE: Anita Powell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: the White House
VIDEOGRAPHER: AP, AFP, Zoom
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Bowman
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, ZOOM (WITH LICENSE)
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:47
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: EDITOR NOTES: NOTE RESTRICTIONS ON IRAN PROTEST
FOOTAGE, NO ACCESS VOA PERSIAN FOR SOME OF IT; look for that note.))
((INTRO))
As the White House hosts this year’s International Women of Courage Awards
ceremony Wednesday for those who have shown bravery in the face of great
challenges, one group is conspicuously absent: The Iranian women and girls who took
to the streets to stand up for their rights. VOA’s Anita Powell brings us this report.
((NARRATOR))
One of these women had to attend high school in secret, in defiance of her country’s
hardline rulers. She became a doctor, working with refugees.
Another flew over her military’s top hurdle, becoming the first woman general.
Yet another broke barriers as a transgender official tasked with advocating for the rights
of all citizens.
The others — journalists, activists, educators, lawyers — have been fired, threatened,
arrested and tortured while seeking justice and equality, and for that, First Lady Jill
Biden brought them to the White House Wednesday to honor their courage and impact.
But absent from this impressive gathering are the many girls and women of Iran, who
are recognized with an honorary award.
((NO ACCESS VOA PERSIAN Iran protests wrap: AFP-V000_32ZT6MG))
((PERSIAN, maybe you can use this footage of protests in support around the
world: Supporters in Paris, AFP-V000_336P78Q
London AFP-V000_336P7H2))
They led protests across the nation’s 31 provinces after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died
in police custody in September. Her crime? Not properly wearing her headscarf.
Biden said their voices matter.
((Jill Biden, First Lady))
“Girls everywhere need to know that there are women fighting for them and winning.
Opening doors, transforming schools and communities and governments, building a
better world for all of us. And, we’re also here to say to their brothers and fathers and
husbands and friends: As much as we need women who are willing to speak up, we
need more men who are willing to listen and act.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the award is hugely meaningful.
((Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary)))
“We’re doing it right here at the White House, which we think is incredibly important for
women around the world, but also women here and young girls here, to hear the stories
of these incredible individuals. Girls everywhere need to know that there are women
who are fighting for them."
((Show iran leadersNO ACCESS VOA PERSIAN for al Khamenei, AFP-
V000_33AM3PE; Iran president AFP-V000_33AJ6NP))
Iran’s hardline leaders are likely to blame others for the protests led by the country's
women, analysts say.
((Radio: Marti Flacks focuses on human rights at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies. She spoke to VOA on Zoom.))
((Marti Flacks, Center for Strategic and International Studies)) ((Zoom))
“They will find any opportunity to blame the United States or the West for their own
challenges and governing their country. I think it's quite clear from anyone following the
situation in Iran that this is a homegrown movement. // So I don't think that efforts by the
regime to pin this on the United States are going to have much of an audience.”
((NO ACCESS VOA PERSIAN for all: Iran revolution anniversary gathering, AFP-
V000_338Z7EY))
And, she said, the recognition helps the Biden administration hold Tehran to the same
standard as the rest of the world.
((Marti Flacks, Center for Strategic and International Studies))
“We're three weeks away from the Summit for Democracy, where the administration is
calling on countries around the world to reaffirm their support for democratic
governance and support for civil society that's pushing for democracy in authoritarian
contexts.”
((NARRATOR))
If the first lady made one thing clear by bringing this event to the biggest stage in America on International Women’s Day, it’s this: There can be no freedom, no
democracy, no justice, without girls and women.
((Anita Powell, VOA News, the White House)
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
the White House
Embargo DateMarch 8, 2023 20:32 EST
Byline
((Anita Powell, VOA News, the White House))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
