The Atlantic Council and the US Department of State’s Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues will co-host a public panel discussion featuring 2024 International Women of Courage award recipients from Belarus, Cuba, and Iran. The discussion will center on the unjust imprisonment of women globally and the international ramifications of this injustice. Women who are detained, interrogated, or arrested while advocating for democracy, free and fair elections, and resistance against autocracies in the course of their work, such as journalists and human rights defenders, face heightened risks of violence in custody. During this discussion, panelists will discuss the barriers to women’s political, economic, and social advancements to defend their basic human rights and shed light on the radical implications of global crises that lead to the disenfranchisement and unjust imprisonment of women globally.  

To attend this event virtually, register using the form on this page. Note that your registration information will be shared with the US Department of State for event access.

Welcome and keynote remarks

Ambassador Geeta Rao Gupta
Ambassador-At-Large, Office of Global Women’s Issues
US Department of State 

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
United States Representative to the United Nations
US Department of State 

Pre-recorded remarks

Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello
2024 International Women of Courage Award recipient
US Department of State

Fireside chat

Fariba Balouch
2024 International Women of Courage Award recipient
US Department of State

Volha Harbunova
2024 International Women of Courage Award recipient
US Department of State

Moderated by

Jenna Ben-Yehuda
Executive Vice President
Atlantic Council

OUR WORK

As the world grapples with multiple ongoing conflicts, geopolitical turmoil, extreme weather events, and threats to democracy, it is imperative to underscore how these challenges impact women and girls specifically—but also how women and girls are essential in addressing them.  

In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, the Atlantic Council is hosting discussions highlighting how women and girls around the world are addressing today’s most pressing global challenges. The programming will explore how women are advancing foreign policy; advocating for equal access to resources, education, rights; and inspiring future generations to foster an inclusive and equitable world.

Events