Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend S.Agayeva / Novella Jafarova, Chairman of the Association for the Protection of Women's Rights in Azerbaijan, has been awarded the US Secretary of State's Award for International Woman of Courage. She had shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating women's rights and advancing of democracy.
Anne Derse, the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, presented the award to Jafarova. In her remarks the Ambassador commented on Jafarova's services in the provision of sex equality in Azerbaijan in the political, economic and social sectors.
Derse also noted Jafarova's role in the formation of democratic and civil society in Azerbaijan, her services in the protection of political prisoners' rights and her observations during the elections.