About the Event

On Thursday, June 13, 2024, the National Endowment for Democracy hosted a special evening recognizing organizations and individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to freedom and democracy through the impact of their work and feature distinguished political leaders who champion the right of people to freely determine their own destiny.

The 2024 NED Democracy Awards paid tribute to courageous partners from Sudan, Tibet, and Ukraine who are defending the rights of vulnerable children and young people by seeking accountability, documenting repression, and building grassroots movements. The Democracy Service Medals recognized extraordinary leaders defending democracy around the world. The event also paid tribute to the people of Venezuela.

The 2024 Democracy Awards recognized achievements in:

Seeking Accountability: Forcibly Abducted Ukrainian Children to be awarded to The Regional Center for Human Rights, represented by Kateryna Rashevska
Documenting Repression: Chinese Communist Party Attempts to Erase Tibetan Identity to be awarded to Tibet Action Institute, represented by Lhadon Tethong and Dr. Gyal Lo
Building a Movement: Response to Ongoing Crisis in Sudan to be awarded to Waey Organization, represented by Zahra Hayder

The 2024 Democracy Service Medal Honorees were:

Evgenia Kara-Murza, Advocacy Coordinator, Free Russia Foundation
Vladimir Kara-Murza, Global Opinions Contributor, The Washington Post; Russian opposition leader
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Republican Leader
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA11), Speaker Emerita of the House of Representatives
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of Free Belarus

2024 Special Tribute:

Special Tribute to the People of Venezuela musical performance by Saúl Vera, Bandola & Mandolin Player, Composer and Music Arranger, and Co-Founder and President of Kalos Music & Arts School; and Jorge Glem, Latin Grammy Award-winning and Grammy nominated Cuatro Player, Mandolinist and Music Producer

Additional Speakers:

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX20), NED Board of Directors Member
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN9)
Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA51)
María Corina Machado, Leader of the Democratic Opposition of Venezuela
Aung Myo Min, Union Minister of Human Rights for the National Unity Government of Burma
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Damon Wilson, President & CEO, National Endowment for Democracy
Rep. Joe Wilson, (R-SC2)
Kenneth Wollack, Chairman of the Board of Directors, National Endowment for Democracy