US honours Nirbhaya

Given Woman of Courage Award Washington (IANS): Nirbhaya, the Delhi gang rape victim, 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 by displaying immense courage in demanding justice." None of Nirbhaya's family members was present; Indian Ambassador Nirupama Roy received the award on their behalf. US First Lady Michelle Obama 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 on Friday, the 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. 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." "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."