The Secretary of State, the First Lady of the United States of America, awards the International Woman of Courage Prize to Moroccan Rabha El Haymar

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and First Lady Jill Biden chaired the 18th IWOC (International Woman of Courage) Awards ceremony at the White House on Monday, during which 12 women with exceptional profiles from around the world were honored. Since 2007, the IWOC Award, presented by the Secretary of State of the United States of America, has recognized more than 190 women from more than 90 countries who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength and leadership in promoting peace, justice, human rights, gender equity and equality, and the empowerment of women and girls, in all their diversity – often at great personal risk and sacrifice. In Morocco, the IWOC 2024 laureate is Rabha El Haymar, a courageous Moroccan who managed to navigate the judicial system and fought to obtain, thanks to a remedy provided for by the reform of the Moroccan Family Code of 2004, the recognition of her traditional marriage, thus sparing her daughter the status of illegitimate child and social marginalization. More than a personal triumph, Rabha’s journey is highlighted when she meets British filmmaker Deborah Perkin, and agrees to have her story told in a documentary film called Bastards. Broadcast on Moroccan national television and screened at international film festivals, Bastards raises public awareness of the journey of mothers of undocumented children, and of Moroccan family laws that allow women in Rabha’s situation to seek justice. Commenting on this consecration, Ambassador Puneet Talwar said: « Rabha is an extraordinary woman of unparalleled determination and courage. Her distinction is well deserved. Her story is a source of inspiration for so many people, as Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, succeeds in guaranteeing greater justice and equality for Moroccans, women and children included. » From the White House, upon receiving the IWOC Award from First Lady Jill Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Rabha El Haymar told the press: “I am honored to be recognized by the United States, among these wonderful women from diverse backgrounds that I have had the chance to meet here in Washington. By sharing our stories and learning from our experiences, we have discovered that the common thread in our respective journeys is indeed courage, associated with resilience.”

source: ma.usembassy.gov