International Women of Courage Jestina Mukoko

Established in 2007, the annual Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award honors women around the globe who have exemplified exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights, women’s equality, and social progress, often at great personal risk. This is the only Department of State award that pays tribute to emerging women leaders worldwide. Jestina Mukoko is a Zimbabwean human rights activist and the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project. In March 2010 Jestina Mukoko was one of ten human rights defenders honored in the U.S. State Department's International Women of Courage Awards, she returned as an alumni in 2016.