[Senate Prints 116-58]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress}                                        { S. Prt.                                 
 1st Session  }         COMMITTEE PRINT		       { 116-58

======================================================================
                                    

                    EXAMINING THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S

                     CLAIMS ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL

                         WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD

                            AND JESSIKKA ARO

                               __________

                        A MINORITY STAFF REPORT

                      PREPARED FOR THE USE OF THE

                     COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                     One Hundred Sixteenth Congress

                             SECOND SESSION

                             March 20, 2019

                                     
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]



                 COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS        

                JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho, Chairman        
MARCO RUBIO, Florida                 ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin               BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland
CORY GARDNER, Colorado               JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire
MITT ROMNEY, Utah                    CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware
LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina       TOM UDALL, New Mexico
JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming               CHRISTOPHER MURPHY, Connecticut
ROB PORTMAN, Ohio                    TIM KAINE, Virginia
RAND PAUL, Kentucky                  EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
TODD YOUNG, Indiana                  JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon
TED CRUZ, Texas                      CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey
DAVID PERDUE, Georgia
                  Christopher M. Socha, Staff Director        
               Jessica Lewis, Democratic Staff Director        
                    John Dutton, Chief Clerk        



                              (ii)        

                          C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page

Introduction and Summary.........................................     1


Timeline of Communications and Events............................     3


                               Appendixes

Appendix A: List of Referenced Communications and Documents......     9


Appendix B: State Department Document: ``2019 IWOC Awardee 
  Biographies''..................................................    13


Appendix C: State Department Document: ``Jessikka Aro IWOC Bio''.    21


Appendix D: Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor 
  Status.........................................................    25


Appendix E: February 08 Email Requesting Social Media Handles....    29


Appendix F: Invitation sent to Jessikka Aro by the Office of the 
  Chief of Protocol..............................................    33


Appendix G February 11 Email from S/GWI..........................    37


Appendix H: State Department Travel Program for Jessikka Aro.....    41


Appendix I: March 7 Statement by Spokesperson Palladino..........    45


Appendix J: Letter from U.S. Senators to State Department 
  Inspector General..............................................    49


                                (iii)

 
                    EXAMINING THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S
                     CLAIMS ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL
                         WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD
                            AND JESSIKKA ARO

                              ----------                              


                              Introduction

    According to public reports, the Department of State 
rescinded a prestigious award to a foreign journalist because 
of social media posts she made that were perceived as critical 
of President Trump's attacks on the media and rule of law. 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic staff conducted a 
preliminary review and obtained documents and communications 
that appear to contradict the Department's public justification 
for rescinding the award. If the Department cancelled the award 
because of public criticism of the President, it would be an 
affront to U.S. values and our tradition of promoting and 
defending freedom of speech around the world. Such action would 
be particularly troubling against the backdrop of President 
Trump's frequent, well-documented, and corrosive attacks on the 
media.

                                Summary

    Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro is a leader in exposing 
Kremlin disinformation techniques and teaching governments, the 
media, and civil society organizations how to protect 
themselves against this threat. As a result of her work, pro-
Kremlin trolls and criminals have targeted Aro in an intense 
campaign of harassment and intimidation, ultimately leading a 
Finnish court to convict three of her harassers.\1\ One was 
sent to prison and the other two received conditional prison 
sentences--the first time a European country has taken such 
action against pro-Kremlin disinformation efforts.\2\ Aro's 
work has won her recognition at home and abroad: she received 
the Finnish Grand Prize for Journalism in 2016 and, in October 
2018, U.S. Embassy Helsinki nominated her for the Department of 
State's 2019 International Women of Courage Award (IWOC).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Andrew Higgins, ``Effort to Expose Russia's `Troll Army' Draws 
Vicious Retaliation,'' The New York Times, May 30, 2016.
    \2\ Andrew Higgins, ``Three Internet Trolls Convicted of Systematic 
Defamation Against Journalist in Finland,'' The New York Times, Oct. 
19, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Per routine practice, Embassy Helsinki sent the nomination 
to the Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs 
(EUR), which approved and forwarded it to the Secretary of 
State's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/GWI). Out of 55 
nominations from 53 different embassies, S/GWI selected ten 
finalists, including Aro, in early January. According to an 
internal document circulated among 15 Department bureaus and 
offices, S/GWI described Aro as someone who ``works tirelessly 
to combat the Russian disinformation and intimidation of 
journalists, a significant threat to European security, 
stability, and cohesion'' (see Appendix B).
    On January 25, U.S. Embassy Helsinki notified Aro that S/
GWI had selected her as an IWOC finalist, and began 
coordinating event details and logistics with bureaus and 
offices at the Department. Eight different officials from four 
different offices at the State Department edited and approved 
an updated biography of Aro before sending it to Embassy 
Helsinki (see Appendix C).
    On February 6, the Department's Bureau of Education and 
Cultural Affairs (ECA) issued a visa form to facilitate Aro's 
travel to the United States (see Appendix D). The form included 
an attestation, required by U.S. law and signed by an ECA 
official, stating that Aro ``is eligible and qualified for, and 
accepted into, the program in which he or she will 
participate'' (emphasis added). On February 8, an embassy 
official asked for her social media handles as ``the last step 
for us, then Washington will have everything they need'' (see 
Appendix E).
    Four days later, Aro received a formal invitation from the 
Department's Office of the Chief of Protocol, and S/GWI sent 
Embassy Helsinki an email copying seven other officials in 
Washington regarding Aro's travel and event details (see 
Appendices F and G). Aro was presented with flight options and 
asked to fill out a form to receive a $5,000 grant that 
accompanied the award. ECA also proposed that Aro speak on the 
themes of combatting disinformation and freedom of the press 
while visiting the U.S. (see Appendix H). In late February, the 
Embassy in Helsinki arranged a consular interview for Aro to 
obtain her exchange program visa.
    On February 22, three days before her scheduled visa 
interview and two weeks after requesting her social media 
handles, a U.S. embassy official in Helsinki told Aro that she 
would not receive the IWOC award and that her trip to the 
United States had been cancelled. Of the list of ten finalists 
promulgated by S/GWI in January, all but Aro received the IWOC 
award from Secretary Pompeo on March 7.
    On March 7, Foreign Policy reported that the Department of 
State rescinded the award because it was displeased with social 
media posts Aro made criticizing President Trump's assaults on 
the media and rule of law. In response, the Department insisted 
that Aro had been ``incorrectly notified'' of her selection for 
the award due to ``a lack of coordination in communications 
with candidates and our embassies.''\3\ At a press briefing on 
the day that the article was published, a Department 
spokesperson was asked whether Aro had ever been selected as a 
finalist. He replied that ``[s]he had not'' (see Appendix I).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ Reid Standish & Robbie Gramer, ``U.S. Cancels Journalist's 
Award Over Her Criticism of Trump,'' Foreign Policy, Mar. 7, 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Department's statements are not borne out by, and 
appear to be in direct contradiction with, the communications 
and documents reviewed by Democratic Committee staff.
    Because of this, Senator Menendez and other Senators have 
referred the matter to the State Department's Inspector General 
for investigation (see Appendix J).


                 Timeline of Communications and Events

October 29, 2018
   An Embassy employee from U.S. Embassy Helsinki (hereafter 
        EE) sent Jessikka Aro an email [Subject: International 
        Women of Courage ] to ask whether she would accept the 
        Embassy's nomination as an International Women of 
        Courage Award (IWOC) candidate, noting that ``given the 
        issues you deal with, and the timeliness of the trials 
        [against individuals who had harassed Aro for her 
        work], I think we have a good case to make if you don't 
        mind the Embassy nominating you.'' Aro responded on the 
        same day that it would be an honor and she would be 
        happy to be nominated.

November 26, 2018
   EE sent Aro an email [Subject: Award Nomination - Info 
        Request ] to request information (full legal name, date 
        of birth, citizenship, address, etc.) to complete the 
        Embassy's nomination which was ``in its final stages'' 
        at the time.

January 9, 2019
   A document approved by the Secretary of State's Office of 
        Global Women's Issues (S/GWI) [2019 IWOC Awardee 
        Biographies ] listed biographies for the finalists for 
        the IWOC award (see Appendix B). S/GWI wrote that it 
        ``has chosen the following 10 women as finalists for 
        the 13th annual IWOC Award. An initial field of 55 
        nominations from 53 posts was sorted and culled into 
        regional shortlists by S/GWI and then ranked by the 
        regional bureaus . . . . The proposed awardees have 
        demonstrated remarkable courage in diverse fields. They 
        include an advocate for peace against Rohingya 
        discrimination, [an] Anti-Terrorism Investigator 
        combatting al-Shabaab, and [an] investigative 
        journalist countering Russian disinformation'' 
        (emphasis added).

   The S/GWI document, which was approved by the office's 
        Acting Director (as well as two other S/GWI officials), 
        included a short biography for Aro. The biography 
        stated that Aro ``works tirelessly to combat Russian 
        disinformation and intimidation of journalists, a 
        significant threat to European security, stability, and 
        cohesion . . . . Her work has triggered continued death 
        threats and [she] has been stalked and harassed, 
        forcing her to leave Finland. Despite these threats, 
        Ms. Aro refuses to cease her work and continues raising 
        awareness through journalism, speaking engagements, a 
        social media campaign and a novel to release in 2019 
        titled `Vladimir Putin's Troll Empire.' She has been a 
        pioneer on this issue for several years and remains a 
        testament to the effort against Russian 
        disinformation.''

   The document was sent to offices and bureaus throughout the 
        Department, including the Deputy Secretary of State's 
        office; the Under Secretary of State for Political 
        Affairs' office; the Secretary of State's Office of 
        Policy Planning; the Under Secretary for Civilian 
        Security, Democracy, and Human Rights' office; the 
        Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public 
        Affairs' office; the Bureau of Education and Cultural 
        Affairs; the Bureau of Public Affairs; the Secretary of 
        State's Office of the Chief of Protocol; the Bureau of 
        African Affairs; the Bureau of East Asiana and Pacific 
        Affairs; the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs; 
        the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; the Bureau of South 
        and Central Asian Affairs; and the Bureau of Western 
        Hemisphere Affairs.

January 25, 2019
   EE texted Aro and told her that the Embassy received word 
        overnight that she was selected as a 2019 IWOC awardee 
        and asked whether she could accept the award and travel 
        to the United States. Aro replied in the affirmative.

January 28, 2019
   EE sent Aro an email [Subject: IWOC info--ASAP ] requesting 
        her to send a scanned copy of her passport, describe 
        her official title, list any dietary restrictions, and 
        review a provided biography drafted by the Embassy. The 
        email also requested Aro fill out a S/GWI questionnaire 
        and a Participant Consent Release Form from the State 
        Department's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs 
        (ECA). Aro completed and returned all forms as well as 
        a requested high-resolution official photo for use at 
        the IWOC ceremony and promotional material.

February 4, 2019
   Department officials sent EE information, which was 
        forwarded to Aro in an email [Subject: FW: Selection: 
        2019 IWOC Finalist (Finland) ] and contained the 
        confirmed IWOC ceremony date, international arrival and 
        departure dates, and a notional calendar for the 17-day 
        program. EE's email noted that ``we will be in touch 
        about ticketing, etc. . . .[W]e have a call with 
        Washington today to discuss more details.''

   Based on the confirmation of her selection for the award 
        and the preliminary travel itinerary, Aro cancelled 
        several previously-booked speaking engagements in 
        Brussels and around Finland. The events included:

     Three different lectures about countering the 
            security threats posed by Russian trolls and fake 
            news to be held at a Finnish training institute, a 
            private Finnish company, and a Finnish university, 
            and

     A speaking engagement on ``Bots, Trolls, and 
            Free Expression'' in Brussels, Belgium, organized 
            by the Atlantic Council (as well as the U.S. 
            Mission to the EU, U.S. Mission to NATO, and U.S. 
            Embassy in Belgium).

February 6, 2019
   The public diplomacy office of the State Department's 
        Bureau for European and Eurasian affairs (EUR/PD) sent 
        EE an updated biography (see Appendix C) of Aro to use 
        for the IWOC event, which EE forwarded to Aro in an 
        email [Subject: IWOC Aro Bio ] to request her approval. 
        The updated bio was approved by eight State Department 
        officials in Washington: four from EUR/PD (including 
        the office director and the StratComm desk officer); 
        two from EUR/NB (EUR's Nordic and Baltic desk); one 
        from EUR/RUS (EUR's Russia desk), and one from R/GEC 
        (the Global Engagement Center, based in the office of 
        the Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and 
        Public Affairs).

   In the bio, Aro was described as ``at the forefront in 
        pushing back against disinformation and intimidation of 
        journalists. A brave and tenacious investigative 
        reporter [who] has fought over the past five years to 
        expose pro-Russian troll factories'' and ``a testament 
        to the courageous effort it will take to counter 
        Russia's malicious activities in the information 
        space.''

February 8, 2019
   EE sent Aro an email [Subject: Social Media Handles ] 
        asking for all of her social media handles, noting 
        ``that's the last step for us, then Washington will 
        have everything they need.'' Aro replied on the same 
        day with her Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram handles 
        (see Appendix E).

February 11, 2019
   S/GWI sent EE and seven DC-based State Department officials 
        an email [Subject: Selection: 2019 IWOC Finalist 
        (Finland) ] responding to Aro's questions about guest 
        travel and press coverage of her events (see Appendix 
        G).

February 12, 2019

   The State Department's Office of the Chief of Protocol sent 
        EE an email [Subject: INVITATION: 2019 International 
        Women of Courage Awards 3/7/19 ] that EE forwarded to 
        Aro, and which included an attached invitation on 
        official letterhead stating that ``The Secretary of 
        State of the United States requests the pleasure of 
        your company at the 2019 International Women of Courage 
        Awards'' and included time and place details (see 
        Appendix F). EE also wrote Aro that ``Some things came 
        in overnight that I will share soon.''

   EE sent Aro an email [Subject: RE: FW: INVITATION: 2019 
        International Women of Courage Awards 3/7/19 ] 
        informing her that she would need a special visa for 
        the exchange program, and that his colleague at the 
        Embassy (hereafter EE2) would get in touch about the 
        paperwork, noting that ``we just received some 
        documents via DHL yesterday.''

   EE2 sent Aro an email [Subject: Viisuminhakuohjeet, IWOC & 
        IVLP] with information about obtaining a J-1 non-
        immigrant visa for exchange program participants. 
        Attached to the email was a completed form DS-2019 
        ``Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor 
        Status (J-Nonimmigrant).'' The form listed the purpose 
        of the visit as ``Begin new program'', covered the 
        period of March 03 to March 23, 2019, and estimated 
        that the U.S. government's total financial support to 
        Aro would be $10,500 (see Appendix D).

   The form included an attestation, which was signed by an 
        officer from the program sponsor, the State 
        Department's Office of International Visitors (ECA/E/
        VCP), stating that ``I attest that prior to issuing 
        this Form DS-2019, the Program Sponsor organization 
        identified above, for which I serve as the Responsible 
        Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer, has verified, 
        in accordance with the requirements of 22 CFR 62.12(b), 
        that each prospective exchange visitor: (i) is eligible 
        and qualified for, and accepted into, the program in 
        which he or she will participate'' (emphasis added).

   EE2 also sent Aro a second email [Subject: IWOC: 
        Lentovaihtoehtoja ] with different flight options 
        departing March 03 and returning March 20 or 21.

February 14, 2019

   EE sent Aro an email [Subject: IVLP Pre-Departure Materials 
        & AWIU Grant Form--2019 IWOC Finalist (Finland) ] 
        stating that ``Washington sent the attached materials 
        and information below about your upcoming program.'' 
        One of the attachments [IWOC Background and IVLP 
        Outline--Finland ] from the ECA bureau detailed the 
        IWOC group events in Washington (briefings, trainings, 
        tours, awards ceremony, media engagements, etc.) as 
        well as the customized itinerary for Aro's individual 
        program travel, stating that ``The awardees will travel 
        for accompanied individualized programming focused on 
        their specific areas of work and themes of interest. 
        Ms. Jessikka Aro will travel with an International 
        Visitor Liaison to Chicago, Illinois'' and listed the 
        themes for her events as ``The Role of Journalists in 
        Combatting Disinformation'' and ``Freedom of the 
        Press'' (see Appendix H).

   ECA proposed an itinerary for Aro in Chicago, and requested 
        of EE to ``Please let us know if Jessikka or post have 
        any feedback or requests for adjustment to the 
        personalized program.'' Proposed events included:


     Medill Justice Project (Northwestern 
            University)

     The Association for Women Journalists

     Chicago Tribune

     BallotReady

     Speaking opportunity in an academic or 
            professional environment

     Home Hospitality dinner with an American 
            family


   The other attachment [2019 WIRE INFO FILLABLE FORM ] was 
        from the American Women for International Understanding 
        (AWIU) and requested name and bank account information 
        to transfer $5,000 in grant money. As the money was to 
        be transferred upon completion of the program, Aro 
        never received the funds.

February 20, 2019

   EE texted Aro to request a meeting, which was arranged for 
        February 22.
February 21, 2019

   Embassy Helsinki's Consular Section sent Aro an email 
        [Subject: Viisumihaastattelu/Visa Interview] confirming 
        that her J-1 visa interview was scheduled for the 
        morning of February 25.

February 22, 2019

   EE told Aro in person that she would not receive the award. 
        EE did not provide any official or documented 
        explanation.

February 25, 2019

   Aro went to the Embassy on the day of her visa interview 
        and delivered to EE in person a letter from her lawyer. 
        The letter requested answers to the following 
        questions: Who withdrew the already confirmed award, 
        the related program and the related award money and 
        based on what or whose authorization?


     On what ground(s) was the award, the program 
            and the award money withdrawn only 8 days before 
            Ms. Aro's departure to the award ceremony?

     When was the withdrawal decision made?

     Is the withdrawal decision official or has the 
            decision been registered?

     Why was this not communicated to Ms. Aro 
            officially?


   As of the publication of this report, the Department of 
        State had not responded to the letter.

March 7, 2019
   Foreign Policy published an article about Aro and the IWOC 
        award, which cited internal sources claiming that the 
        Department ``revoked her award after U.S. officials 
        went through Aro's social media posts and found she had 
        also frequently criticized President Donald Trump.''\4\ 
        A State Department spokesperson told the reporter that 
        the award was rescinded due to a ``regrettable error,'' 
        that Aro was ``incorrectly notified'' she had been 
        chosen for the award, and it was a mistake that 
        resulted from ``a lack of coordination in 
        communications with candidates and our embassies.'' The 
        article noted that the Department spokesperson did not 
        respond to questions on who made the decision or why.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ Reid Standish & Robbie Gramer, ``U.S. Cancels Journalist's 
Award Over Her Criticism of Trump,'' Foreign Policy, Mar. 7, 2019.

   At a press briefing, State Department deputy spokesperson 
        Robert Palladino was asked about Aro and replied that, 
        ``We incorrectly notified this individual that she had 
        been selected as a finalist. This was an error. This 
        was a mistake.'' When asked whether Aro had been 
        selected as an IWOC finalist, Palladino replied that 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        ``[s]he had not'' (see Appendix I).

   Democratic staff from the Senate Foreign Relations 
        Committee requested a briefing call from the State 
        Department to explain the issue.
March 21, 2019
   In response to the March 7 request, S/GWI, the EUR Bureau, 
        and the U.S. Ambassador to Finland briefed Committee 
        staff by phone. The explanations presented by the 
        Department were not consistent with communications and 
        documents reviewed by Democratic Committee staff.

March 28, 2019
   Senators Menendez, Leahy, Durbin, Cardin, Shaheen, Coons, 
        Markey, and Booker sent a letter to the State 
        Department Inspector General requesting an 
        investigation to determine why the State Department 
        rescinded IWOC award finalist status from Aro (see 
        Appendix J).

=======================================================================


                               Appendix A

                           List of Referenced

                      Communications and Documents

=======================================================================

                           List of Referenced
                      Communications and Documents

                              ----------                              

 1. U.S Embassy Helsinki email to Jessikka Aro, Subject: 
        International Women of Courage Award (October 29, 
        2018).


 2. Embassy email to Aro, Subject: Award Nomination--Info 
        Request (November 26, 2018).


 3. Secretary of State's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/
        GWI) memo to Deputy Secretary of State's office; the 
        Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs' office; 
        the Secretary of State's Office of Policy Planning; the 
        Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and 
        Human Rights' office; the Under Secretary for Public 
        Diplomacy and Public Affairs' office; the Bureau of 
        Education and Cultural Affairs; the Bureau of Public 
        Affairs; the Secretary of State's Office of the Chief 
        of Protocol; the Bureau of African Affairs; the Bureau 
        of East Asiana and Pacific Affairs; the Bureau of 
        European and Eurasian Affairs; the Bureau of Near 
        Eastern Affairs; the Bureau of South and Central Asian 
        Affairs; and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, 
        attaching Tab 1--Finalists for the 2019 International 
        Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards (January 09, 2019).


 4. Embassy employee text to Aro (January 25, 2018).


 5. Embassy email to Aro, Subject: IWOC info--ASAP, attaching 
        Award Recipient Questionnaire--2019.docx; Media 
        Guidelines Attachment D Participant Consent Form.pdf; 
        Jessica Aro Text.docx (January 28, 2019).


 6. S/GWI and/or ECA email to Embassy and forwarded to Aro, 
        Subject: Selection: 2019 IWOC Finalist (Finland) 
        (February 04, 2019).


 7. Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs, Office of Public 
        Diplomacy (EUR/PD) email to Embassy and forwarded to 
        Aro, attaching Jessikka Aro IWOC Bio (February 05-06, 
        2019).


 8. Embassy email to Aro, Subject: Social Media Handles 
        (February 08, 2019).


 9. Office of the Chief of Protocol email to Embassy and 
        forwarded to Aro, Subject: INVITATION: 2019 
        International Women of Courage Awards 3/7/19 (February 
        12, 2019).


10. S/GWI email to Embassy and forwarded to Aro, Subject: 
        Selection: 2019 IWOC Finalist (Finland) (February 12, 
        2019).


11. Embassy email to Aro, Subject: RE: FW: INVITATION: 2019 
        International Women of Courage Awards 3/7/19 (February 
        12, 2019).


12. Embassy email to Aro, Subject: Viisuminhakuohjeet, IWOC & 
        IVLP (February 12, 2019).


13. Embassy email to Aro, Subject: IWOC: Lentovaihtoehtoja 
        (February 12, 2019).


14. ECA email to Embassy and forwarded to Aro, Subject: IVLP 
        Pre-Departure Materials & AWIU Grant Form--2019 IWOC 
        Finalist (Finland), attaching IWOC Background and IVLP 
        Outline--Finland.docx; 2019 Wire INFO FILLABLE FORM.pdf 
        (February 14, 2019).


15. Text from Embassy employee to Aro (February 20, 2019).


16. Email from Embassy to Aro, Subject: Viisumihaastattelu/Visa 
        Interview (February 21, 2019).


17. Letter from Aro's attorney to Embassy (February 25, 2019).

=======================================================================


                               Appendix B

                       State Department Document:

                   ``2019 IWOC Awardee Biographies''

=======================================================================




                       State Department Document:
                   ``2019 IWOC Awardee Biographies''

                              ----------                              


                  (SBU) Tab 1--Finalists for the 2019 
              International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards

    (SBU) The Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/
GWI) has chosen the following 10 women as finalists for the 
13th annual IWOC Award. An initial field of 55 nominations from 
53 posts was sorted and culled into regional shortlists by S/
GWI and then ranked by the regional bureaus. The finalists are 
listed below, organized regionally and alphabetically by 
country. The proposed awardees have demonstrated remarkable 
courage in diverse fields. They include an advocate for peace 
against Rohingya discrimination, Anti-Terrorism Investigator 
combatting al- Shabaab, and investigative journalist countering 
Russian disinformation.

African Affairs (AF)
 1. (SBU) Moumina Houssein Darar (Djibouti)--Born, educated and 
        raised in Djibouti, Moumina Houssein Darar is the first 
        and currently the only female Anti-Terrorism 
        Investigator for the Djibouti National Police (DNP). 
        Through passion and competency in her work, she became 
        a lead investigator after the La Chaumiere bombing in 
        Djibouti in 2014. Maturing into consistent leadership 
        roles on high-profile investigations, Ms. Darar became 
        acutely aware of the local threat of al-Shabaab 
        terrorists. Her work led to the conviction and/or 
        deportation of at least 10 al-Shabaab terrorist as well 
        as uncover and dismantle an international terrorist 
        network. She routinely works with the Federal Bureau of 
        Investigation on these joint efforts and her 
        investigative skills enabled DNP to thwart five 
        attempted terrorist attacks since the 2014 bombing, in 
        a city which hosts thousands of U.S. government 
        personnel. Ms. Darar faces numerous challenges in her 
        work, including threats to her personal safety that 
        compelled her to avoid wearing her uniform ouside of 
        work. In addition to her professional work, Ms. Darar 
        developed a charitable neighborhood organization to 
        provide assistance to children in need, pay for 
        funerals and hopes to expand services to the elderly 
        and handicapped in Djibouti.


 2. (SBU) Anna Aloys Henga (Tanzania)--Anna Henga is a 
        Tanzanian lawyer, advocate of the High Court of 
        Tanzania, and the Executive Director of the Legal and 
        Human Rights Centre (LHRC). She is an activist who has 
        dedicated her entire professional career to advancing 
        human rights in Tanzania with a particular focus on 
        women. Since Ms. Henga joined LHRC in February 2006 as 
        an intern, she has served in roles of increasing 
        responsibility. Highlights of her career include 
        coordinating Tanzania's Anti Female Genital Mutilation 
        (FGM) Coalition, tackling land and economic rights for 
        Tanzanian women, empowering women during the 2015 
        general election cycle, and publicly voicing concern 
        over the direction of democratic governance in the 
        country. During the 2015 general elections, Ms. Henga 
        coordinated LHRC's efforts to inform women of their 
        rights to vote. She also proactively encouraged female 
        candidates to run for office and several are now 
        serving in local council-level positions.

East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP)
 3. (SBU) Naw K'nyaw Paw (Myanmar)--Naw K'nyaw Paw currently 
        serves as the General Secretary of the Karen Women's 
        Organization (KWO), an ethnic community-based 
        organization--now in its 33rd year--in Myanmar that 
        began by providing direct support for displaced 
        communities along the Thai-Myanmar border and in Karen 
        State. The KWO was the first of only three courageous 
        women's civil society organizations in Myanmar to 
        condemn the violence against the Rohingya people in 
        Rakhine State that began in August 2017, part of a 
        larger pattern of military violence against ethnic 
        groups in Myanmar. This public position continues to 
        risk the personal safety of Ms. Kaw and other 
        individals, leading to her inability to travel to 
        Myanmar for recent years and continued fear that she 
        may not be able to return if chosen for the award. Ms. 
        Kaw works tirelessly for the rights of the Karen people 
        and has traveled extensively to participate in the 
        United Nations peace and security trainings. Under her 
        leadership, the KWO has flourished and continues to 
        engage in the peace process, while working daily to 
        improve the lives of women and children in conflict-
        affected communities in Karen State.

European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR)
 4. (SBU) Jessikka Aro (Finland)--Jessikka Aro works tirelessly 
        to combat the Russian disinformation and intimidation 
        of journalists, a significant threat to European 
        security, stability, and cohesion. As a journalist 
        herself, Ms. Aro is at the forefront in pushing back 
        against the malign influence through her tenacious 
        investigative reporting and campaign 
        ``#StopKremlinTrolls'' which aims to advance global 
        awareness of Russia's propoganda and deter contributors 
        through journalism, social media activism and 
        litigation. Her work has triggered continued death 
        threats and has been stalked and harassed, forcing her 
        to leave Finland. Despite these threats, Ms. Aro 
        refuses to cease her work and continues raising 
        awareness through journalism, speaking engagements, a 
        social media campaign and a novel to release in 2019 
        titled ``Vladamir Putin's Troll Empire.'' She has been 
        pioneer on this issue for several years and remains a 
        testament to the effort against Russian disinformation.


 5. (SBU) Olivera Lakic (Montenegro)--As an investigative 
        journalist for the independent Montenegrin daily 
        Vijesti on matters of corruption and organized crime, 
        Olivera Lakic remains a target of violent, organized 
        crime. Following her profound series on the black 
        cirgarette trade in Montenegro, a masked gunman shot 
        Ms. Lakic outisde of her home in May 2018 near the 
        location in which she was beaten in 2012. Charge Judy 
        Kuo and EU Ambassador Aivo Orav visited Lakic in the 
        hospital and Prime Minister Markovic pledged to bring 
        her attacker to justice, but it appears that they have 
        made little progress. From the hospital, the embattled 
        reporter said the attack was clearly a warning to all 
        reporters to avoid stories about organized crime and 
        ``this is an attack on freedom and democracy in 
        Montenegro.'' Ms. Lakic remains a courageous symbol in 
        the desire to cultivate a culture that values 
        journalism and to reject violence agaist them.


 6. (SBU) Sister Orla Treacy (Vatican)--Sister Orla Treacy is a 
        champion and defender of female education, empowerment, 
        and community resilience, in an area besieged by civil 
        war and violent inter-clan conflict. Through the last 
        13 years, Sister Orla has educated young women in 
        Rumbek, South Sudan through primary school, secondary 
        school, and a medical center. Beyond the unthinkable 
        devastation war has wrought on the local population in 
        Rumbek, education has plummeted, children are at risk 
        of being recruited as child soldiers, females are often 
        sold into slavery and forced into marriages, and the 
        threat of starvation is constant. To respond to the 
        2017 starvation through South Sudan, Sister Orla 
        mobilized the medical clinic to serve meals and conduct 
        physical examinations and treatment for various 
        ailments. Her committment to the people of Rumbek, 
        South Sudan is a mark of her unique courage, immense 
        strength, and fierce dedication to female empowerment 
        and justice.

Near Eastern Affairs (NEA)
 7. (SBU) Col. Khalida Khalaf Hanna al-Twal (Jordan)--Col. al-
        Twal is the Chief of the Public Security Directorate's 
        (PSD) Women's Police Department, currently serving as 
        one of the highest-ranking women in Jordan's security 
        services. Through her work, she has inspired and paved 
        the way for generations of young Jordanian women 
        professionals. Until July 2018, women at risk of 
        ``honor crimes'' in Jordan were placed in ``protective 
        detention'' in prison to keep them safe from those who 
        intended to harm or kill them ostensibly in order to 
        protect a family's honor. After years of advocacy by 
        Col. al-Twal, including working in partnership with 
        Embassy Amman and the Ministry of Social Development 
        (MOSD), the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) finally put 
        a stop to this practice and instead now refers victims 
        directly to an MOSD shelter. Col. al-Twal also oversees 
        the unit within the Women's Police Department that 
        deploys women to United Nations peacekeeping missions 
        and serves as a key ally of the Jordanian National 
        Commission for Women in implementing their National 
        Action Plan on women, peace, and security in Jordan. As 
        Jordanians struggle with high living costs, taxes, 
        rising unemployment, and corruption, Col. al-Twal uses 
        her example and accomplishments to encourage more women 
        to join the workforce (Jordan has the second lowest 
        women's workforce participation in the world) and 
        publicly participate in previously taboo fields--both 
        vital to Jordan's long-term stability.

South and Central Affairs (SCA)
 8. (SBU) Razia Sultana (Bangladesh)--Since 2014, Razia has 
        been a prominent advocate for the rights of the 
        Rohingya population. Born in Burma and raised in 
        Bangladesh, she has led the charge to document the 
        stories of those victimized by waves of Burmese 
        government and military violence. She is a volunteer 
        researcher for the Kaladan Press, a member of the Free 
        Rohingya Coalition, Director of the Women's Section at 
        the Arakan Rohingya National Organization, and founder 
        of the Rohingya Women Welfare Society. Ms. Sultana 
        interviewed Rohingya refugees in 2016 to publish 
        Witness to Horror, highlighting violence against the 
        Rohingya in Burma, and Rape by Command in 2017, which 
        details the Burmese army's use of rape as a weapon. 
        Beyond the publications, Razia founded the Rohingya 
        Women Welfare Society (RWWS). RWWS' goal is to support 
        Rohingya women in the refugee camps. RWWS conducts 
        programming highlighting domestic violence and human 
        trafficking, and provides health care for Rohingya 
        women in Bangladesh.


 9. (SBU) Marini de Livera (Sri Lanka)--As chairperson of the 
        National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), Ms. de 
        Livera utilized the legal authority of her office to 
        aggressively investigate allegations of abuse, leading 
        to a cascade of threats against her own life.


    After launching an investigation in early 2018 of a 
        prominent public hospital allegedly operating a ``baby 
        farm'' by selling newborns stolen from underage or 
        unwed mothers, Ms. de Livera was publicly ridiculed. 
        Ultimately, her detractors succeeded in ousting her 
        from the NCPA in April 2018. Invited to address a 
        session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child 
        in Geneva, as an official representative of the 
        Government of Sri Lanka, Ms. de Livera described in 
        detail the widely underreported nature of child sexual 
        abuse and trafficking in Sri Lanka. After less than 
        five minutes of speaking, the secretary to the Sri 
        Lankan Minister for Women and Child Affairs cut off Ms. 
        de Livera's microphone. Sri Lankan officials later 
        excoriated her for embarrasing her country. Ms. De 
        Livera also fought and won an inter-ministerial battle 
        for funding to set-up the NCPA's only emergency shelter 
        for child victims of exploitation, but her successor 
        immediately shut it down. Despite these setbacks, Ms. 
        de Livera started her own NGO called Sisters at Law, 
        which, although under-resourced and over-worked, 
        valiantly attempts to fill-in the gaps in the 
        government's child protection scheme as pro-bono legal 
        advocates.

Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA)
10. (U) Flor de Maria Vega Zapata (Peru)--As Peru's former 
        National Coordinator for the Specialized Prosecutor's 
        Office on Environmental Matters, Ms. Vega combatted the 
        transnational criminal organizations operating behind 
        the multi-billion dollar criminal enterprises of 
        illegal mining and illegal logging. Her tireless and 
        courageous efforts have helped to protect Peru's 
        environmental resources and the communities that depend 
        on them. She is responsible for coordinating the 
        efforts of hundreds of prosecutors combatting 
        environmental crimes and succeeded in obtaining key 
        convictions of criminal elements involved in illegal 
        mining and logging throughout her tenure. Against 
        threats from transnational criminal organizations, 
        widespread corruption, entrenched political and 
        economic interests, and varying levels of support from 
        her own government, Ms. Vega epitomizes the courage 
        needed to carry out the challenging sought in her work 
        to address the precarious situation facing Peru's 
        forest sector.

        
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=======================================================================


                               Appendix C

                       State Department Document:

                       ``Jessikka Aro IWOC Bio''

=======================================================================


                       State Department Document:
                       ``Jessikka Aro IWOC Bio''

                              ----------                              


                              Jessikka Aro

    Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro is at the forefront in 
pushing back against disinformation and intimidation of 
journalists. A brave and tenacious investigative reporter, 
Jessikka has fought over the past five years to expose pro-
Russian troll factories and continues to campaign to 
``#StopKremlinTrolls'' through journalism, social media 
activism, legislation, and litigation.


    Jessikka launched an investigation into the impact of pro-
Russia trolls in Finland in 2014 with a series of crowdsourced 
stories. Her series for the Finnish National Broadcaster (YLE), 
``Have You Become the Target of the Russian Troll Army--Share 
Your Experience,'' included interviews with journalists and 
previous employees, recruiters, and employees of the Internet 
Research Agency, a troll factory in St. Petersburg, Russia. The 
articles exposed the Kremlin's various techniques at 
international social media disinformation, as well as its 
impact on general audience, public debates and freedom of 
speech in Finland. In 2016, she received the Bonnier Grand 
Journalist Prize ``Story of the Year'' award for her work.


    Jessikka's relentless campaign will continue in 2019 with 
the release of her book ``Putin's Trolls,'' as will her tours 
to train people to tackle the spread of Russia's 
disinformation. She also is pushing for stricter legislation 
and regulation of social media companies to better protect 
people and democracies against the dangers of disinformation, 
which is the coordinated dissemination of intentionally false 
information.


    Notably, she also filed a lawsuit in Finnish courts to 
counter the systematic campaign of harassment she faced. In 
October 2018, a Finnish court convicted two of her highest-
profile tormenters in a case The New York Times identified as 
the first taken by a European country against Russian 
disinformation. The judgment, which included a prison sentence 
for one of the convicted, attracted widespread international 
attention.
    As an early exposer of the Kremlin's troll army, Jessikka 
continues to face harassment from pro-Russian networks. She is 
a testament to the courageous effort it will take to counter 
Russia's malicious activities in the information space.


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=======================================================================


                               Appendix D

                     Certificate of Eligibility for

                        Exchange Visitor Status

=======================================================================




                     Certificate of Eligibility for
                        Exchange Visitor Status

                              ----------                              


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=======================================================================


                               Appendix E

                      February 08 Email Requesting

                          Social Media Handles

=======================================================================



                      February 08 Email Requesting.
                          Social Media Handles

                              ----------                              


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=======================================================================


                               Appendix F

                   Invitation sent to Jessikka Aro by

                    Office of the Chief of Protocol

=======================================================================


                   Invitation sent to Jessikka Aro by
                    Office of the Chief of Protocol

                              ----------                              


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=======================================================================


                               Appendix G

                      February 11 Email from S/GWI

=======================================================================


                      February 11 Email from S/GWI

                              ----------                              


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=======================================================================


                               Appendix H

                    State Department Travel Program

                            for Jessikka Aro

=======================================================================

                    State Department Travel Program.
                            for Jessikka Aro

                              ----------                              


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           Background on the IVLP On Demand Project for the 
            Secretary's International Women of Courage Award

    Now in its 13th year, the Secretary of State's 
International Women of Courage Award (IWOC) annually recognizes 
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 risk and sacrifice. The Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs (ECA) partners annually with the 
Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/GWI) on IWOC to 
offer an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) 
following the award ceremony.

    This year, ten IWOC awardees will travel to U.S. cities 
through the IVLP. American organizations and businesses will 
host awardees and collaborate with them on strategies and ideas 
to empower women both in the United States and abroad. The 
awardees will reconvene in Los Angeles for a closing 
celebration before returning to their home countries.

    Since the inception of this award and concurrent IVLP 
exchange in 2007, the State Department has honored more than 
120 women from more than 65 different countries.

    The names, countries, and bios of the 2019 IWOC award 
recipients will be announced the week of the ceremony.

        Overview of the International Visitor Leadership Program

Washington, DC: March 3-March 12, 2019
   Women, Peace, and Security Briefing

   Federalism Briefing

   Media Training

   Visit to the Supreme Court and/or Capitol Hill

   Awards Ceremony and Reception with the Secretary of State 
        and First Lady of the United States

   Media Engagements

   U.S. Foreign Policy briefings at the U.S. Department of 
        State

   Public Forum

   White House Tour

Individual City Stops: March 12-March 16, 2019
    The awardees will travel for accompanied individualized 
programming focused on their specific areas of work and themes 
of interest.
    Ms. Jessikka Aro will travel with an International Visitor 
Liaison to Chicago, Illinois.
Themes:
    The Role of Journalists in Combatting Disinformation
    Freedom of the Press

Proposed Appointments:
   Medill Justice Project (Northwestern University): an 
        investigative journalist group at Medill School of 
        Journalism, one of the top journalism schools in the 
        country.

   The Association for Women Journalists: supports women in 
        journalism and promotes the respectful treatment of 
        women by the news media.

   Chicago Tribune: reporters will discuss the 
        responsibilities of journalists, the merits of print 
        media, the Tribune's digital presence, and the 
        importance of quality journalism to maintaining 
        democracy.

   BallotReady: works to ensure election transparency and 
        combat disinformation by publishing clear and non-
        partisan information on all candidates before major 
        elections.

   Speaking opportunity in an academic or professional 
        environment.

   Home Hospitality dinner with an American family.

Awardees Reunite in Los Angeles, California:
    March 16-March 20, 2019
   Dinner hosted by the American Women for International 
        Understanding

   Public Speaking Opportunity

   IVLP Closing Session and Evaluation

=======================================================================


                               Appendix I

                          March 7 Statement by

                         Spokesperson Palladino

=======================================================================

                          March 7 Statement by
                         Spokesperson Palladino

                              ----------                              


                        CQ NEWSMAKER TRANSCRIPTS

                Federal Agency March 7, 2019--Final

              State Department Holds News Briefing,
                as Released by the State Department





           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
  Question: And secondly, can you explain why exactly this 
        Finnish journalist was--her--the award, International 
        Women of Courage Award, was rescinded? Why did that 
        happen?

  Palladino: On the first one, I am not familiar with the 
        report, I haven't heard anything about that, and I 
        don't want to speculate. On the second one, yeah, I've 
        seen that report.

  Question: Oh, I'm sure you have.

  Palladino: What I would say is we made a mistake. This was a 
        regrettable error.

  Question: In rescinding it?

  Palladino: In rescinding, we--

  Question: You should not have rescinded?

  Palladino: No, no, no, no.

  Question: Oh.

  Palladino: We incorrectly notified this individual that she 
        had been selected as a finalist. This was an error. 
        This was a mistake.

  Question: So she hadn't been selected as a finalist?

  Palladino: She had not. We regret the error. And to be clear, 
        we admire this journalist's achievements as a 
        journalist, and that was the basis of her nomination by 
        Embassy Helsinki.

  Question: Okay. So the process here is that the embassy, 
        wherever the person is--various embassies nominate 
        people, it comes back here, these--the nominations are 
        looked at and then you guys make a decision. Somehow, 
        someone screwed up here and notified her that she had 
        won, but she hadn't?

  Palladino: Yes, yes.

  Question: Is that--that's the short? So it has--

  Palladino: Yes.

  Question: --nothing to do with any social media commentary 
        that is critical of the President or this 
        administration?

  Palladino: I've seen that speculation. I'm not going to be 
        able to go further into weighing the merits of who was 
        selected, whether one person had more merit versus the 
        other. That's internal. But I can say we regret the 
        error and we've got to do better in that regard. I'll 
        leave it at that.

=======================================================================


                               Appendix J

                      Letter from U.S. Senators to

                   State Department Inspector General

=======================================================================

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