Global Leadership Awards
The Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards are annual awards that honor international women leaders in the fields of human rights, economic empowerment, or political reform. They are given by the American organization Vital Voices Global Partnership.
Description
The inaugural awards were given in 2002. The event takes place annually in early spring at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.The 2009 program was named that year's "Most Inspirational Event" by Washington Life magazine.
Past presenters include Ben Affleck, Christiane Amanpour, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Sheila Bair, Candice Bergen, Wolf Blitzer, Laura Bush, United States Secretary of State and Vital Voices co-founder Hillary Clinton, Sally Field, Honorary Co-Chair Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Angelina Jolie, Avon CEO Andrea Jung, Angelique Kidjo, Nicholas Kristof, Lisa Ling, Time Inc. CEO Ann S. Moore, Suze Orman, Queen Rania of Jordan, Zain Verjee, board member Diane von Fürstenberg, Reese Witherspoon, Brian Williams, and many others.
Awards
- Leadership in Public Life Award
- Human Rights Award
- Economic Empowerment Award
- Fern Holland Award, named in honor of the young lawyer who was killed in Iraq while working to create centers for Iraqi women. The award is given to a woman who works for human rights and women's empowerment.
- Rising Voices Award, given to a young woman leader.
- Global Trailblazer
- 10,000 Women Entrepreneurial Achievement Award, part of a partnership between Vital Voices and Goldman Sachs as an initiative to provide women around the world with entrepreneurial education.
Past recipients
2002
- Economic Opportunity Award: Dawn Marole, South Africa
- Human Rights Award: Oksana Horbunova, Ukraine
- Political Participation Award: Inez McCormack, Northern Ireland
- Special Recognition: The Women of Afghanistan
2003: "Voices of Hope in a Time of Global Challenge"
- Economic Opportunity Award: Arije Al-Amad, Jordan
- Human Rights Award: Saisuree Chutikul, Thailand
- Political Participation Award: Anabella de León, Guatemala
- Special Recognition: The Women of Israel and the Palestine Territories
2004: "Changing the Face of Leadership"
- Economic Opportunity Award: Reyna McPeck, Venezuela
- Human Rights Award: Marina Pisklakova-Parker, Russia
- Political Participation Award: Amat al Aleem Ali Alsoswa, Yemen
- Fern Holland Award: Fatima Hassan Mohammed Al-Migdadi, Iraq
- Special Recognition: The Women of Haiti
2005: "A Call to Action"
- Economic Opportunity Award: Jaya Arunachalam, India
- Human Rights Award: Mu Sochua, Cambodia
- Political Participation Award: Latifa Jbabdi, Morocco
- Fern Holland Award: The Women of Ukraine's Orange Revolution
2006
- Economic Opportunity Award: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria
- Human Rights Award: Rita Chaikin, Israel
- Fern Holland Award: Mukhtaran Mai, Pakistan
- Global Trailblazer: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia
- Special Recognition: The Women of Kuwait
2007: "Women Changing Our World"
- Economic Opportunity Award: Maria Pacheco, Guatemala
- Political Participation Award: Margaret Alva, India
- Fern Holland Award: Awut Deng Acuil, Sudan
- Global Trailblazer: Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh
- Special Recognition: The Women of China
2008
- Human Rights Award: Khin Ohmar and Charm Tong, Burma
- Political Participation Award: Laura Alonso, Argentina
- Fern Holland Award: Mariane Pearl, France
- Global Trailblazer: Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, United Arab Emirates
- Rising Voices Award: Kakenya Ntaiya, Kenya
2009: "Women Leading Change Across the World"
- Human Rights Award: Somaly Mam, Cambodia
- Fern Holland Award: Chouchou Namegabe Nabintu and Marceline Kongolo-Bice, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Global Trailblazer: Hillary Clinton, United States
- Rising Voices Award: Sadiqa Basiri Saleem, Afghanistan
- 10,000 Women Entrepreneurial Achievement Award: Temituokpe Esisi, Nigeria
2010: "Impact Through Innovation: Women Inspiring Change"
- Economic Empowerment Award: Roshaneh Zafar, Pakistan
- Human Rights Award: Panmela Castro, Brazil
- Leadership in Public Life Award: Afnan Al Zayani, Bahrain
- Fern Holland Award: Rebecca Lolosoli, Kenya
- Global Trailblazer: Melinda French Gates, United States
- 10,000 Women Entrepreneurial Achievement Award: Andeisha Farid, Afghanistan
2011
- Human Rights Award: Sunitha Krishnan, India
- Fern Holland Award: Liron Peleg-Hadomi and Noha Khatieb, Israel
- 10,000 Women Entrepreneurial Achievement Award: Fatema Akbari, Afghanistan
- Global Trailblazer Award: Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma, named "Voice of the Decade."
- Leadership in Public Life Award: Kah Walla, Cameroon
2012
- Human Rights Award: Rosana Schaack, Liberia
- Leadership in Public Life Award: Ruth Zavaleta Salgado, Mexico
- Fern Holland Award: Samar Minallah Kahn, Pakistan
- Economic Empowerment Award: Adimaimalaga Tafuna’i, Samoa
- Global Trailblazer Award: Shatha Al-Harazi, Manal Alsharif, Salwa Bugaighis, Marianne Ibrahim and Amira Yahyaoui
2013
- Tep Vanny, Cambodia, Vital Voices Global Leadership Award
- Human Rights Award: Malika Saada Saar, USA
- Leadership in Public Life Award: Malalai Joya, Afghanistan
- Economic Empowerment Award: Buroz Ivanova, Bulgaria
- Fern Holland Award: Sally Shara Al-Dulaimi, Iraq
- Global Trailblazer Award: Hadeel Ibrahim, Sudan
2014
- Human Rights Award: Sally Shara Al-Dulaimi, Iraq
- Leadership in Public Life Award: Khadija Ismayilova, Azerbaijan
- Economic Empowerment Award: Sarita Bansal, India
- Fern Holland Award: Nighat Dad, Pakistan
- Global Trailblazer Award: Malala Yousafzai, Pakistan
2022
- Human Rights Award: Phumzile Van Damme, South Africa
- Leadership in Public Life Award: Women's Coalition Ukraine
- Global Trailblazer Award: The Women of Iran
- Economic Empowerment Award: Monica Simpson, USA
2024
- Human Rights Award: Cristina Palabay, Philippines
- Leadership in Public Life Award: Lesia Vasylenko, Ukraine
- Economic Empowerment Award: Keren Bejarano, Israel
- Fern Holland Award: Fatoumatta Bah, The Gambia
- Global Trailblazer Award: Narges Mohammadi, Iran