December 16 Delhi gang rape victim, Nirbhaya (the "Fearless") has been honoured with a US "woman of courage" award posthumously for "inspiring people to work together to end violence against women in India and around the world." This award is given to her alongwith eight other women on the day of International Women’s day.
US first lady Michelle Obama presented this award.
The family of Nirbhaya has expressed great honour on her slain daughter who has also got Rani Laxmi Bai Award (posthumously).
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee honoured Nirbhaya with this bravery award at New Delhi on International Women's day.
"I am proud for the award honouring my daughter. But there is a huge void in my life, which cannot be filled with any reward. I wish she was present here to receive her own award," the 53-year-old father of the gang-rape victim.
Michelle joined Secretary of State John Kerry as he praised the determination and courage of "a woman known simply as Nirbhaya - brave heart, fearless" at the State Department presentation ceremony Friday on International Women's Day.
"Her bravery inspired millions of women and men to come together with a simple message: No more. No more looking the other way when gender-based violence happens. No more stigma against victims or survivors," said Kerry.
"Nirbhaya's fight survives her," he said announcing the award "for inspiring people to work together to end violence against women in India and around the world by displaying immense courage in demanding justice."
The audience stood up and observed a moment of silence after he read out the citation.
Kerry also read part of a statement from Nirbhaya's mother and father saying, "We never imagined that the girl we thought was our daughter would one day be the daughter of the entire world. She was meant to be the daughter of the world. This is a huge achievement in itself."
"Today, our message to the world is: do not tolerate any attack on your dignity and honor; do not silently bear ill treatment," they wrote.
"Earlier, women would keep silent and hide away when they were subjected to sexual misconduct," Nirbhaya's parents said.
Now "Women, both in India and in the rest of the world, refuse to be stigmatized and will not keep silent anymore," they said. "This incident has opened their minds and empowered them. They are no longer scared of what anyone will say."
Besides Nirbhaya, eight other women were give the annual award recognizing 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 23-year-old woman, named Nirbhaya by the media, was brutally gang-raped and physically assaulted by six men in a moving bus in Delhi Dec 16. She died Dec 29.
--With IANS Inputs--
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