Скачать или смотреть 2025 Democracy Service Medal Highlights

On July 22, 2025, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) posthumously awarded the Democracy Service Medal to Oswaldo Payá, one of Cuba’s most courageous and visionary voices for freedom.

Under one of the world’s most repressive regimes, Payá mobilized thousands to demand democratic elections and fundamental human rights—proving that the human spirit will always yearn for freedom.

By honoring him with the 2025 #DemocracyServiceMedal, NED recognizes his extraordinary courage, his ultimate sacrifice, and the enduring legacy carried forward by his family and the Cuban people.

His wife, Ofelia Acevedo, and daughter, Rosa María Payá, accepted the award on his behalf. They embody the strength and resilience of a family—and a movement—still seeking freedom.

The evening’s program also featured remarks from Senators Ted Cruz and Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, along with reflections from Payá’s family and a tribute to Harold Cepero, whose father Sabas Cepero attended the ceremony in remembrance.

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, a longtime supporter of Payá’s legacy, was slated to speak but was pulled away at the last minute due to congressional business, with his Chief of Staff César González speaking in his stead.

NED Board Member and former U.S. Senator Mel Martinez and Board Vice Chair Ken Wollack—both of whom knew Payá personally—shared personal remembrances that underscored the depth of his impact and the moral clarity of his cause.

His legacy lives on in the struggle for democracy in Cuba and continues to inspire all who stand for dignity, rights, and justice around the world.

At NED, we are proud to support those who stand up for freedom, even in the most difficult circumstances.

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The National Endowment for Democracy is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. Each year, NED makes more than 2,000 grants to support the projects of non-governmental groups abroad who are working for democratic goals in more than 100 countries. Learn more at https://www.ned.org/

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