Indianapolis to Host International Women of Courage Award Recipient from Bolivia
(INDIANAPOLIS – March 6, 2015) — The International Center has announced that Rosa Julieta Montaño Salvatierra, Founder and Director of Oficina Juridica para la Mujer in Bolivia, is visiting Indianapolis through Wednesday, March 11 to meet with local government and nonprofit leaders who share her passion for advocating for the rights of women, particularly advocacy for victims of rape, sexual assault and domestic abuse.
Ms. Montaño is one of ten women worldwide who received an International Women of Courage distinction from Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom and First Lady Michelle Obama and who are traveling to nine U.S. cities, including Indianapolis, to engage with their American counterparts through the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
While in Indianapolis, the honoree will attend a roundtable convened by the Indiana Commission for Women and a Women’s Empowerment Luncheon hosted by The International Center. She is also scheduled to meet with Attorney General Greg Zoeller and Deputy Attorney General Abigail Kuzma, in addition to holding meetings with Judge Jane Magnus Stinson, leaders from The Julian Center and representatives from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law Program in International Human Rights Law.
The prestigious Secretary of State’s Award for International Women of Courage annually recognizes women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for and advancing women’s rights and empowerment in their countries, even at great personal risk. Since the award’s inception in 2007, the Department of State has honored more than 70 women from over 40 different countries. The date for the International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony was selected to coincide with International Women’s Day which will be officially observed on Sunday, March 8. This year marks the fourth consecutive year that The International Center and Indianapolis have been selected to host one of the award recipients.
Full biographies and photos of all honorees, including Rosa Julieta Montaño Salvatierra, are available here.
About the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program
The International Visitor Leadership Program is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program, connecting current and emerging foreign leaders with their American counterparts through short-term programs to build mutual understanding on foreign policy issues. Nearly 200,000 distinguished individuals have participated in the program, including 330 current and former Chiefs of State and Heads of Government, and thousands of leaders from the public and private sectors.
About The International Center
The International Center is a catalyst to inform, convene and connect public private and civic global objectives in Indiana. For more than 40 years, The International Center has served as a guide to the world’s cultural landscape, and a catalyst for the state’s international growth. Working in collaboration with businesses, organizations, government agencies, educational institutions and individual citizens, The Center expands Indiana’s global interest through a variety of programs and services and through convening diverse interests who share common international goals. The International Center is a member of Global Ties, U.S. For more information visit The Center’s website at https://internationalcenter.org
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