Co-founder of Defend International was awarded by the National Organization for Future Generations for being a passionate advocate of bridging the gap between cultures, and making valuable contributions to humanity through the creation of a culture of coexistence and harmony.

A delegation of Defend International attended the International Conference: Women, Power and Politics – The Road to Sustainable Democracy at the Radisson Blue Scandinavia Hotel on 14-15 November 2013. During this splendid ceremony that highlighted the Norwegian Women’s Suffrage Centenary, Dr. Widad, co-founder of Defend International, had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former prime minister of Norway, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and Ms. Sanam Anderlini, co-founder of the International Civil Society Action Network.

Defend International welcomed the Euskal PEN/Basque PEN initiative, and thanked the Basque Government, its Justice ministry and people of Basque country for their generosity and support to courageous journalists in general and the Kurdish human rights defenders in Iran in particular.

Defend International supported the International Poetry Prize Castello Di Duino and encouraged its members to participate if they met the qualifications of the conditions of participation as specified in the announcement received from Professor Gabriella Valera Gruber.