I see the power of women every day in every country I visit: John Kerry

Every day, we read about women and girls around the world who are victims of heinous violence. From Iraqi women abducted and enslaved by ISIL to Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped and forced into marriage, these tragedies seem to belong to medieval times.

Too often, women bear the burden of war. All of us have an obligation to do everything in our power to stop this abhorrent violence wherever and whenever it occurs. But this is only part of the story of women in the 21st century.

I'd like to propose a different headline, a different narrative. While their work may not always make the front pages, women are confronting our most pressing global issues. At great personal risk, they are fighting poverty, discrimination, and violence so that their families, communities, and countries can have better lives.

As Secretary of State, I see the power of women every day in every country that I visit – from Afghanistan, where they are creating opportunities for the next generation, to Liberia, where President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is building the foundation of democracy.

On Friday, the State Department honoured 10 such women with the International Women of Courage Award. Our awardees represent only a small fraction of women around the world who work to advance peace, security, and gender equality, but their individual stories of bravery represent the positive impact that empowered women can make everywhere.

In Kosovo, journalist Arbana Xharra wrote a series of investigative reports on religious extremists in her country. Her tireless efforts uncovered links to foreign terrorist organisations and helped us fight against the rise of a radical extremism threatening global peace and prosperity. Her example galvanised a new generation of journalists working in a nascent democracy to stand up to injustice and corruption.

— John Kerry US Secretary of State