First lady Jill Biden, the wife of President Joe Biden, helped the U.S. State Department honor 21 women for their “courage” and “intentional decisions” in 2020. The women were recognized with the 2021 International Women of Courage Award. The honors were presented virtually because of the coronavirus health crisis. Seven of those honored, all from Afghanistan, had died recently. Among them were a reporter, a woman who helped mothers in childbirth, a democracy activist, a police officer and a general who worked to fight kidnapping. Many of them were killed by people who targeted them for their work. Fourteen other women from around the world were honored for their work in many fields.