Acid attack victim Laxmi to receive International Women of Courage Award

• Indian acid attack victim Laxmi was honoured with prestigious International Women of Courage Award on 4th March 2014. 
• She received this prestigious award at the State Department ceremony in Washington by first lady of US Michelle Obama. 
• She got this award as she has fought hard to end acid attacks and also fighting legal cases for same. 

Other than Laxmi, other awardess are :

• Nasrin Oryakhil of Afghanistan, 
• Roshika Deo of Fiji,
• Bishop Rusudan Gotsiridze of Georgia,
• Iris Yassmin Barrios Aguilar of Guatemala,
• Fatimata Toure of Mali,
• Maha Al Muneef of Saudi Arabia,
• Oinikhol Bobonazarova of Tajikistan,
• Ruslana Lyzhychko of Ukraine  and 
• Beatrice Mtetwa and Zimbabwe.

About Incident of Laxmi – an acquaintance threw acid on face of Laxmi in 2005, while she was waiting at a bus stop in New Delhi. The incident occurred when Laxmi was of 16-years-old and the incident has disfigured her permanently.

After the acid attack, Laxmi became the standard-bearer of India to end acid attacks and gathered 27000 signatures for a petition to curb acid sales and took her petition to the Supreme Court of India. Following the petition of Laxmi, Supreme Court ordered Indian Central and State Governments to regulate the sale of acid and the Parliament to make prosecutions of acid attacks easier to pursue.  

About International Women of Courage Award

• International Women of Courage Award was established in 2007 and is an annual award that is given by Secretary of State to women around the globe who have exemplified exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights, women’s equality and social progress. 
• This is the only Department of State award that pays tribute to emerging women leaders worldwide. 
• Since the inception of the award in 2007, the Department of State has honored more than 70 women from 49 different countries.