Goshalya Shankar conferred with International Woman of Courage 2021 Award

The US Consulate on Thursday honored Gaushalya Shankar, an anti-caste activist and protector of Tamil Nadu, with the International Woman of Courage (IWOC) award in the city.

She was handed the IWOC Award Certificate of Nomination at Chennai Judith Ravin at an event ‘Courageous Women Inspire a Better World’ held in the city on Thursday. Ms. Goshalya was the American Mission India’s nominee for the 2021 U.S. Secretary of State’s IWOC Award, which honored women who demonstrated exceptional courage, power and leadership in acting to improve the lives of others.

Malini Parthasarathy, President, Hindu, And National Secretary-General of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties V. Suresh also spoke on the subject of courageous women.

In honor of her late husband, Ms. Goshalya started the Shankar Social Justice Trust in March 2017 to fight atrocities against caste-based violence. The trust provides psychological, legal and moral support to the victims and creates awareness against social discrimination and injustice. She said that there was not another occasion to celebrate Women’s History Month. “It is time for women to pledge to fight for their rights,” she said.

Consul General of America Judith Ravin said: “The United States is committed to advancing gender equality, social inclusion, and the status of women and girls globally as a foreign policy priority. Women in the economic, social and political sphere and Global prosperity, security and stability cannot be achieved without full participation of girls. ”