The Democracy Awards recognize NED partners who have made an exceptional contribution to the cause of freedom and democracy through their work. Democracy Service Medals highlight extraordinary individuals who have demonstrated, through personal commitment, their dedication to the advancement of freedom, human rights, and democracy. We honor our courageous partners at the forefront of democratic struggles everywhere.

2023 NED Honorees

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We will honor courageous NED partners at the forefront of the fight for freedom, pay tribute to those who contributed to NED’s legacy, and rally our community to work in common cause in support of democratic renewal.

Bishop Silvio Báez
Nicaraguan Prelate of the Catholic Church; 2023 Democracy Service Medal Honoree for Religious Freedom
Anna Bondarenko
Ukrainian Volunteer Service
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ukrainian Volunteer Service
Pepe Borrás
NetFreedom Pioneers
Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer; Accepting the 2023 NED Democracy Award—Trailblazers on behalf of NetFreedom Pioneers
Representative Joaquin Castro
Member, U.S. House of Representatives
Representative Mario Diaz-Balart
Member, U.S. House of Representatives
DJ Switch
Nigerian DJ
Evan Firoozi
NetFreedom Pioneers
Executive Director; Accepting the 2023 NED Democracy Award—Trailblazers on behalf of NetFreedom Pioneers
Nazia Hashimyar
Amu TV
Journalist, Amu TV; Accepting the 2023 NED Democracy Award—Journalism on behalf of Afghan Independent Media
Jamala
Ukrainian Singer
Golog Jigme
Tibetan Human Rights Activist and Filmmaker; Accepting the 2023 NED Democracy Award—Individual Courage on behalf of those Imprisoned or Killed in 2023
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas
Prime Minister of Estonia
Representative Barbara Lee
Member, U.S. House of Representatives
Ambassador Oksana Markarova
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States
Nicholas Opiyo
Chapter Four Uganda
Human Rights Lawyer and Founder, Chapter Four Uganda; Accepting the 2023 NED Democracy Award—Individual Courage on behalf of those Imprisoned or Killed in 2023
Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Member, U.S. Senate
Mersedeh Shahinkar
Protest Crackdown Victim, Activist, Coach; Accepting the 2023 NED Democracy Award—Civic Movement on behalf of the Women of Iran
Senator Dan Sullivan
Member, U.S. Senate
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
President Tsai Ing-Wen
President of Taiwan; 2023 Democracy Service Medal Honoree for Safeguarding Democracy
Su Tseng-chang
Former Premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan)