The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced the three winners of its awards for International Women's Day. Lucha Villar Galvez, president of the Peruvian National Paralympic CommitteeShakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, First Vice-President of the Uzbekistan National Paralympic Committee, and World Para Ice Hockey were among those honored. The recipients were chosen by the members of the IPC Board of Directors.
In the "Leadership" category, Lucha Villar Gálvez was chosen for her three decades of dedication. Chef de Mission for Peru at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games and at numerous other events, she is the driving force behind... the creation of the Peruvian Paralympic Committee in 2015, an institution she still presides over. We are proud to honor Lucha for its unwavering commitment to the Movement, not only in Peru and Latin America, but also for the global growth and visibility of women in Paralympic sport. " commented IPC President Andrew Parsons.
The "Emerging Leadership" award was presented to Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, which the IPC presents as " one of Uzbekistan's most dynamic leaders in promoting women's rights, gender equality, and inclusion She notably pushed for the adoption of the law on the protection of children against all forms of violenceParsons welcomes his work to broaden access to sport and influence national policies.
World Para Ice HockeyFinally, it was awarded in the "IPC Member" category. The organization spent a a major step forward in terms of opportunities and visibility for women in 2025 with the organization of the first Women's World Championships in Slovakia. A competition that Parsons describes as " an example of how women's sport can be developed, from the grassroots level to the highest level of performance ».
