Bishop Silvio Báez is a Nicaraguan prelate of the Catholic Church and an auxiliary bishop of Managua, Nicaragua. Since he was named bishop in 2009, he was a close shepherd of the poor and a courageous defender of human rights and democracy. In July 2018, Báez, along with other prominent clergy in Nicaragua, attempted to free anti-government protesters that had taken refuge in St. Sebastian Basilica. Bishop Báez and his colleagues were injured by pro-government paramilitary forces during the siege. Later, Báez participated in an effort led by the Conference of Bishops to mediate between the government and pro-democracy forces in an attempt to broker an agreement for a transition to democracy. He was accused of plotting a coup against the Ortega-Murillo government and was the target of an assassination plot, forcing him into exile in 2019. The Bishop has remained vocal in his criticism of violent government repression and has advocated for the release of political prisoners. We hope to honor the Bishop’s personal contributions with the NED’s Democracy Service Medal, while helping to shine a brighter spotlight on the deteriorating human rights situation in Nicaragua and the democratic aspirations of the Nicaraguan people.