Barrister Sara Hossain and 13 other women from all over the world received the prestigious International Women of Courage from US Secretary of State John Kerry at the US Department of State on Tuesday.

Kerry said, "One thing about Sara is clear: Her courage, passion and integrity have earned her the trust and respect of clients and human rights advocates the world over."

The Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award annually recognises women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women's empowerment, often at great personal risks.

Since its inception in 2007, nearly 100 women from 60 different countries have been honoured.

Sara Hossain, daughter of eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain, is a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and the honorary executive director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust.

She played a key role in drafting the country's first comprehensive legislation on violence against women, which became a law in 2010. The 13 other awardees are from Belize, China, France, Guatemala, Iraq, Malaysia, Mauritania, Russia, Slovakia, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand and Yemen.