Amit Sossana, Global Honorees Recognized at 2025 Women of Courage Awards

At the 19th annual International Women of Courage Awards, First Lady Melania Trump honored eight women for their exceptional courage and advocacy for human rights, including Israeli former hostage Amit Sossana. Sossana, who endured 55 days in captivity by Hamas, spoke about the importance of sharing her story to raise awareness about the sexual violence she experienced, expressing pride in receiving the award and highlighting the need for recognition of other hostages. Trump praised the honorees for their love-driven activism, stating that their efforts inspire progress for humanity. Other recipients included Romanian children's rights advocate Georgiana Pascu and Major Velena Iga from Papua New Guinea, known for fighting human trafficking. The awards celebrate women's leadership in overcoming challenges and advocating for justice, often at great personal risk. This year's ceremony marked Trump's fifth participation, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for women's empowerment globally.