Ukrainian pop star Ruslana, who has spent months singing for protestors in Kiev, was Tuesday among 10 women honoured for their bravery at a US ceremony. First Lady Michelle Obama paid tribute to the 10 chosen for the 2014 International Women of Courage award, saying the winners should be an inspiration to women around the world.
"When we see these women raise their voices, and move their feet and empower others to create change, we need to realize that each of us has that same power, and that same obligation," Obama said at the State Department ceremony. Women everywhere should seek to "summon a fraction of their bravery in our own lives and communities, whether that means ending wage discrimination in the work place, or fighting sexual violence on college campuses, or confronting any of the small injustices that we see every day."
The event, which Secretary of State John Kerry had to skip to pay a lightning trip to Ukraine amid threats from former Soviet master Russia, comes ahead of International Women's Day on Saturday. Ruslana Lyzychko, who won the 2004 Eurovision song contest, was honoured for joining the pro-democracy demonstrations in Kiev.
"Every evening, in face of pending police attacks and death threats she performed the Ukrainian national anthem for the other demonstrators to reinforce the promise of a diverse and unified Ukraine," said Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom.
Comments
Comments are closed.