Actress Maria Bellow was honored for her work with the Save Darfur Coalition at yesterday’s Power of Women Lifetime Impact luncheon. Bello has been a tireless advocate on behalf of the people of Darfur and a leader in the fight against gender-based violence. As she told Variety:

“In 2003, when the genocide started happening, I thought it was my duty and my right and my privilege as a human being, as a woman living in a democracy, and as a public figure to speak out and use my voice to talk about the injustice,” Bello says. She adds that while the Obama administration “has done so much to further the cause of the Darfuri people,” there is still work to be done. “And women are the key,” Bello adds.

Check out some photos from yesterday’s event: