General Motors CEO Mary Barra decided not to attend an awards ceremony after families of victims of the faulty ignition switch appealed for the withdrawal of the award.

CEO Barra was supposed to receive Katharine Graham Living Legacy Award at the National Women's History Museum on Nov. 17. The said award is given to women for their achievements in their field; in Barra's case, her contribution to GM for "product and quality" and "customer service."

The president of the National Legal and Policy Center and the families of victims of the faulty ignition switches appealed to the museum to cancel said award. They reasoned that Barra should be focusing on resolving the issue instead of accepting such awards that they felt she did not deserve, according to the Wall Street Journal.

One of the complainants, Laura Christian of Maryland, wrote a letter to the deciding body of the award on behalf of more than 260 friends and family members of those who got injured and died due to the faulty ignition switch. Her 16-year-old daughter was one of the victims who died from a 2005 car crash that was linked to the faulty switch. They appealed for the withdrawal of the award, Detroit News reported.

GM confirmed on Wednesday that Barra will not be attending the event.

"Out of respect for the National Women's History Museum and the honorees, CEO Mary Barra will not attend the de Pizan Honors next Monday, November 17," GM said in a statement. "The decision was made to ensure that attendees can focus on recognizing the achievements of American women - past and present."

The museum announced that they will be canceling the awarding for Barra, but clarified that they still believe that she deserves it. Barra was nominated and selected by a committee for her exceptional contribution in the industry that is dominated by males.

"We are not presenting Mrs. Barra with the award at this time, but may at some future date," a museum spokeswoman said. "Further, we won't be selecting anyone else and therefore won't present a Katharine Graham Living Legacy award Monday evening."