Gwendolyn “Wendy” Green, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy, paid tribute to Ms. Umayma Elamin Amer, President of the Migrant Women Association Malta, as the recipient of the “Ambassador’s Nominee for U.S. Secretary of State’s Women of Courage Award.” The award to Ms. Amer combined the Embassy’s commemoration of Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day, and World Refugee Day.
This annual award honors women who have shown exceptional courage, commitment, and leadership in improving the lives of others. The U.S. Embassy chose Ms. Amer as the recipient of this award because of her exceptional and courageous commitment to the fight for human rights and the integration of refugees and migrants, especially women, into Maltese society.
In her remarks, Chargé Green explained that the U.S. Embassy was committed to supporting the Maltese authorities’ efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 and hence the delay in officially celebrating Ms. Amer. Ms. Green said, “Ms. Amer’s unique influence is important to both Women’s History Month and World Refugee Day so we are delighted to celebrate her invaluable contributions in both fields.”
Past recipients of the Ambassador’s Nominee for Women of Courage Award include: Ms. Renee Laiviera, Commissioner for the Promotion of Equality; Dr. Katrine Camilleri, Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service; Ms. Gabi Calleja, Chairperson of the Malta Gay Rights Movement; Ms. Amy Camilleri Zahra, President of Amputees4Amputees; Dr. Lara Dimitrijevic, Chairperson of the Women’s Rights Foundation, and Ms. Caroline Muscat, Editor of The Shift News.