Ceremony on Capitol Hill honors Cuban dissident’s enduring legacy of faith-fueled resistance and democratic leadership Washington, D.C., July 22, 2025 — This evening, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) posthumously awarded its highest honor, the Democracy Service Medal, to Oswaldo Payá, one of Cuba’s most principled advocates of peaceful democratic change on the anniversary of…
The 2025 Democracy Service Medal was bestowed posthumously to Oswaldo Payá in recognition of his life’s work and sacrifice for freedom in Cuba. Accepting on his behalf were his wife, Ofelia Acevedo, and daughter, Rosa María Payá—who reflect the resilience of a family and a movement that continues to confront authoritarianism in pursuit of justice. Oswaldo Payá embodied the extraordinary power of…
On July 22, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) posthumously awarded its highest honor, the Democracy Service Medal, to Oswaldo Payá, one of Cuba’s most principled advocates of peaceful democratic change. Held in the Cannon House Office Building and hosted by NED’s Board of Directors, the ceremony commemorated the 13th anniversary of Payá’s murder by the Cuban regime and celebrated the…