Azerbaijani defense lawyer wins International Women of Courage Award

Azerbaijani defense lawyer Shahla Humbatova was announced as one of the twelve recipients of the 14th annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award, the US State Department said on Tuesday.

Since 2007, the U.S. Secretary of State’s IWOC Award has recognized women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice.

This year's IWOC Award will be presented today in Washington, D.C. to Humbatova and 11 other women from around the world. The ceremony will be hosted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, with First Lady Melania Trump scheduled to deliver special remarks, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

According to the State Department, Ms. Humbatova has worked as a defense lawyer since 2013, and is "one of a handful of legal advocates who have been consistently willing to defend individuals facing punishment for exercising their fundamental freedoms."

"She has bravely defended human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers, youth activists, members of the political opposition, and others. Her example has inspired other lawyers to better advocate for their clients in politically sensitive cases, and her courage in representing LGBT clients in a conservative culture has pushed civil society further down the path to tolerance."

Humbatova is "one of only two female lawyers to take these cases on in a difficult environment in which human rights lawyers have regularly been harassed and threatened in social media, suspended from practicing law, and disbarred," reads the DoS statement.

Since the inception, the State Department has recognized more than 134 women from 73 countries. This year will bring the total to 146 awardees from 77 countries.

US diplomatic missions overseas nominate one woman of courage from their respective host countries. The finalists are selected and approved by senior State Department officials.

Today's ceremony which will take place at 10:00 a.m. Washington time, will be live streamed on www.state.gov.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.