The United States' ambassador to Morocco lauded the strong will of Moroccan activist Rabha El Haymar, who was recognized as the 2024 International Woman on Courage for campaigning for the rights of children deemed illegitimate. «She is an extraordinary woman», said Ambassador Puneet Talwar, Saturday, in an interview with state-owned channel 2M. Speaking about the month of March, as Women's History Month in the US, the diplomat congratulated El Haymar for «her courage», citing her «moving story» and the fight she had to undergo to document her daughter that she had before getting married. «She had two things going for her that changed her destiny», Talwar said. «First is the determination to fight for her rights and for her daughter's rights to get documented. Second is the legal system that she was able to utilize. Those two things came together to create this story. She persisted and she was able to succeed», he acknowledged. «You are an inspiration to millions not just in Morocco but worldwide, not just women, but men as well», the American ambassador said, referring to El Haymar. When asked about the recent family code reforms that Morocco has launched, the senior diplomat said that Washington will keep supporting Rabat as a partner. «Women must be at the heart of decision-making», Talwar said, quoting US President Joe Biden. Speaking about other Moroccan women who shone internationally and locally, the ambassador said that their achievements could be summarized in three words : «Power, pride and prestige». Earlier in March, El Haymar received her award as the 2024 International Woman on Courage by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington DC.
