Nomination for the International Women of Courage Award

09.03.2022

At the US Embassy in Warsaw on March 8, 2022, the nomination for the International Women of Courage Award was presented. This year, Marina Hulia, a Ukrainian-born teacher and social activist who has been living and working in Poland for 28 years, has been selected to receive this award. The nomination was presented by the US Ambassador to Poland, Mark Brzezinski, who invited 100 women to the ceremony, including Halina Szymańska, President of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture.

Marina Hulia deals with, among others caring for refugees, seniors and people in crisis of homelessness. She also works with children from foreign countries. She has been awarded many times for her activities, including the award of Sergio Vieira de Mello (2007), Irena Sendlerowa (2013) and the Father Józef Tischner (2020).

The International Women of Courage Award (IWOC) was established in 2007 by Condoleeza Rice, then Secretary of State in the administration of President Geogre W. Bush. Since then, it has been awarded annually by the US Department of State and this is the 16th. editon. Candidates for the award are nominated by the American embassies and the winners are invited to Washington to receive awards from the First Lady and the Secretary of State at the ceremony that takes place around International Women's Day. So far, this distinction has been awarded to over 155 women from 75 countries.