Melania Trump advocates for female empowerment at 'Women of Courage' Awards

First lady Melania Trump declared that now is "the time for empowering women around the world" during her special remarks at the International Women of Courage Awards on Wednesday.

An annual State Department event, the awards ceremony celebrates courageous efforts advocating for women's equality, social progress and human rights -- often in the face of immense personal risk. As this year's "special guest," President Trump's wife gave brief remarks and presented each honoree with their award.

Melania Trump spoke of the award recipients, saying they are "remarkable and inspiring women who have given so much for so many, regardless of the unimaginable threat to their own personal safety."

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"Each one of these heroic women has an extraordinary story of courage which must inspire each of us to also achieve more than we had ever imagined possible," said the first lady. "Their lives remind us of the boundless capacity of the human spirit, when guided by moral clarity and desire to do good."

A total 13 women received the recognition of courage this year, all but one of whom were present at Wednesday's event.

Two women honored during the ceremony -- human rights activist Fadia Najib Thabet of Yemen and Sister Carolin Tahhan Fachakh of Syria -- are from countries temporarily banned under President Trump's second executive order restricting travel from six Muslim-majority nations to the U.S.

Here's the full list of honorees:

- Sharmin Akter, Activist Against Early/ Forced Marriage, Bangladesh
- Malebogo Molefhe, Human Rights Activist, Botswana
- Natalia Ponce de Leon, President, Natalia Ponce de Leon Foundation, Colombia
- Rebecca Kabugho, Political and Social Activist, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Jannat Al Ghezi, Deputy Director of The Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq, Iraq
- Major Aichatou Ousmane Issaka, Deputy Director of Social Work at the Military Hospital of Niamey, Niger
- Veronica Simogun, Director and Founder, Family for Change Association, Papua New Guinea
- Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista, Lawyer and Founder of Not One Woman Less, Peru
- Sandya Eknelygoda, Human Rights Activist, Sri Lanka
- Sister Carolin Tahhan Fachakh, Member, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (F.M.A.), Syria
- Saadet Ozkan, Educator and Gender Activist, Turkey
- Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, Blogger and Environmental Activist, Vietnam
- Fadia Najib Thabet, Human Rights Activist, Yemen

Melania Trump hosted a White House luncheon earlier this month on International Women's Day, and spearheaded the reopening of White House tours as part of her platform as first lady.

The former model-turned-first lady has kept a relatively low profile since her husband took his oath of office as president. Melania and son, Barron, continue to maintain their permanent residence at their Manhattan penthouse in New York, although reports continue to confirm the pair will move into the White House this summer after Barron finishes school this year.

Melania Trump has also been seen spending weekends with the president at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

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