About the Event
On Tuesday, July 22 at 5:30 pm, the NED Board posthumously awarded the Democracy Service Medal to Oswaldo Payá.
As the founder of the Christian Liberation Movement and the architect of the groundbreaking Varela Project, Payá mobilized more than 25,000 Cuban citizens to peacefully demand fundamental freedoms. His efforts challenged the regime’s monopoly on power and continue to inspire a new generation of pro-democracy leaders in Cuba and beyond.
This year’s ceremony took place on the 13th anniversary of Payá’s death. It also marked the 4th anniversary of Cuba’s historic protests, when thousands of people took to the streets to demand democratic change. Payá’s wife, Ofelia Acevedo, and daughter, Rosa María Payá, accepted the medal on his behalf—representing the resilience of a family and a movement that continues to challenge authoritarianism in pursuit of justice.
By honoring Payá’s legacy, NED reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to frontline advocates for freedom and underscored the extraordinary courage behind the struggle for freedom.
Awarded by the NED Board of Directors, the Democracy Service Medals pay tribute to individuals who have made an exceptional personal contribution to the cause of freedom, human rights, and democracy. Notable past recipients include His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, and Poland’s Lech Walesa.
Speakers:
- Accepted by Rosa María Payá and Ofelia Acevedo
- Damon Wilson, NED President and CEO
- Senator Ted Cruz
- Senator Dick Durbin
- Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz
- César González, Chief of Staff for Representative Mario Diaz-Balart
- Kenneth Wollack, NED Vice Chair
- Michael G. Kozak, Senior Bureau Official for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State
- Mel Martinez, NED Board Member, U.S. Senator (Ret.)
- Liliana Ayalde, NED Board Member
- Peter Roskam, NED Board Chairman, U.S. Representative (Ret.)
