March 6, 2019 - Olivera Lakic, a journalist of the daily newspaper “Vijesti,” is the winner of the International Women of Courage Award (IWOC), awarded by the US State Department. The award ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 7, and Lakic is the only journalist and one of two Europeans among the ten graduates of this year.
This year's laureates are Razia Sultana of Bangladesh, Naw K'nyaw Paw of Burma, Moumina Hussein Darar of Djibouti, Mama Maggie of Egypt, Colonel Khalida Khalaf Hanna al-Twal of Jordan, Sister Orla Treacy of Ireland, Flor de María Vega Zapata of Peru, Marini de Livera of Sri Lanka, Anna Aloys Henga of Tanzania, and our Olivera Lakic.
The Secretary of State's IWOC Award recognizes women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women's empowerment, often at high personal risk and sacrifice. Since the inception of this award in March 2007, the State Department has recognized more than 120 women from more than 65 different countries. Diplomatic missions overseas nominate one woman of courage from their respective host countries. The finalists are selected and approved by senior officials.
Following the official award ceremony and meetings or interviews with government officials, NGOs, media, and others in Washington, DC, IWOC honors will travel to individual U.S. cities on the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). American organizations and businesses will host IWOC awardees and collaborate with them on strategies and ideas to empower women both in the United States and abroad. The fellows will convene in Los Angeles for a closing ceremony before returning to their home countries.
The prize of the brave woman Olivera and other winners is indirectly pointing to a dangerous ambiance in which they try to work professionally.
Olivera Lakic has been working in the News since 2002, is married and has two children. She has written numerous research articles in the field of corruption, organized crime, justice, the problem of pedophilia.
For his investigative work on corruption and organized crime, Lakic was twice assaulted, beaten once, and wounded a second time while returning home from work, in front of the building where he lives.
Her daughter also felt threats.
The International Prize of the US State Department Lakic and nine other women from around the world will receive Melania Tramp at the ceremony on Thursday, hosted by the Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo.
