NED Democracy Award

"The Democracy Award is given annually by the National Endowment for Democracy's Board of Directors to recognize the courageous and creative work of individuals and organizations that has advanced the cause of human rights and democracy around the world." [1]

The 2009 "honorees are Jorge Luis Garcia Pérez, (aka “Antúnez”), José Daniel Ferrer García, Librado Linares García, Ivan Hernandez Carrillo, and Iris Tamara Perez Aguilera. All five are relatively young, in their 30s and 40s, three are Afro-Cuban, one is a Christian Democrat and another is a Social Democrat, one is a trade unionist and another is a women’s leader.

"The award presentation and reception will take place in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building from 5:30 – 7:00 pm, and will be preceded by a panel discussion examining the prospects for democracy in Cuba, which will begin at 3:30 pm in the same room.

"Toward a Free Cuba: the prospect for Democracy after 50 Years of Dictatorship is the topic, which will be discussed by panelists who include: José Azel, Senior Research Assoicate, Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, University of Miami; José Miguel Vivanco, Executive Director, Americas Division, Human Rights Watch; Janisset Rivero Gutierrez, Directorio Democratico Cubano; and Marifeli Pérez-Stable, vice president for democratic governance at the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, DC and a professor of sociology at Miami’s Florida International University. The panel will be moderated by NED Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Miriam Kornblith." ^[1]

Past Recipients

The recipients of the 2008 Democracy Award (received on June 17, 2008) were: ^[2]

"The honorees will be joined in the discussion by other notable activists and advocates for basic rights in China, including Han Dongfang, - executive director of China Labour Bulletin, Bob Fu – founder of the China Aid Association and a student leader of the 1989 Tiananmen democracy movement, Sharon Hom – executive director of Human Rights in China, Xiao Qiang – founder and publisher of China Digital Times, Wang Tiancheng – a founder of the Liberal Democratic Party of China and the Free Labor Union of China, and Yang Jianli – a Chinese democracy activist recently released from prison, who now is president of Initiatives for China." ^[3]