Every year since 1988, the European Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize to individuals or groups who have dedicated their lives to defending human rights and freedom of thought. This year, the EP awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Venezuelan opposition leaders María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, recognizing their unwavering commitment to restoring democracy in Venezuela. Dialogue Platform, along with other civil society organizations, took part in the Award Ceremony on December 17 in Strasbourg. The event brought together laureates, finalists, and CSOs to discuss shared values and strategies for promoting democracy, peacebuilding, and human rights worldwide.
On December 18, following the Award Ceremony, several civil society representatives had the opportunity to engage directly with the finalists through a series of panel discussions. The day began with a panel on Women as Protagonists in Peacebuilding.
The First Panel: Women as Protagonists in Peacebuilding
The panel featured Pascale Chen from Women Wage Peace and Reem Al Hajajra from Women of the Sun, both emphasizing the vital role of women in peacebuilding efforts.
Chen discussed Women Wage Peace, an Israeli movement founded in 2014 after the Gaza War, which has since grown to over 44,000 members. Their activities include parliamentary advocacy, public marches, vigils, and conflict-resolution webinars. Similarly, Women of the Sun, an independent Palestinian organization, works to amplify women’s voices in political and peace processes.
Al Hajajra highlighted the challenges women face in conflict zones, stating, “War enters our homes without permission, and us, women and children, are the first victims. But today, we are not only victims; we are protagonists in peacebuilding.” Both women concluded with a unified message: “A mutual agreement between Israel and Palestine is the only way to achieve peace.”
The Second Panel: Fighting Corruption and Advocating Human Rights
The second panel featured Zhala Bayramova, the daughter of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, an Azerbaijani academic and anti-corruption activist currently under house arrest for his efforts to expose government corruption. Bayramova shared the personal sacrifices made by her family in the fight for transparency and justice in Azerbaijan.
She remarked, “Injustice thrives in the shadows; therefore, we must shine a light on it,” urging global institutions to act. Bayramova stressed the international significance of Azerbaijan’s human rights crisis, stating, “Fighting against corruption and for fundamental freedoms in Azerbaijan has to be a global action.” Her call for global solidarity underscored the worldwide struggle against authoritarianism.
The Last Panel: The Democracy Crisis in Venezuela
The final panel focused on the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, with María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, the 2024 laureates, standing as symbols of the Venezuelan people’s resilience. Represented by her daughter Ana Corina Sosa, Machado addressed the audience remotely due to safety threats. Sosa emphasized the urgent need for international collaboration to bring an end to the Maduro regime, stating, “Dictatorship murders people.”
President-elect González urged civil society organizations to act as mediators between citizens and institutions, stating, “Venezuela’s mission is everyone’s mission.” Both laureates stressed that while the Sakharov Prize is an important recognition, the fight for democracy and against corruption in Venezuela is far from complete.
Interactive Workshop: Advocacy Tools for Global Change
The event concluded with an interactive workshop where human rights experts and civil society representatives discussed how to leverage the Sakharov Prize for mobilizing public opinion, strengthening advocacy campaigns, and engaging policymakers. The participants shared innovative strategies to amplify the voices of activists and forge global alliances to combat repression and human rights violations.
The 2024 Sakharov Prize ceremony reaffirmed the European Parliament’s commitment to human rights, freedom, and democracy. For IDP, this experience was profoundly valuable as it reinforced our mission to advocate for justice, equality, and the protection of fundamental rights. The event celebrated the interconnected global struggles for justice and equality, aligning with our efforts to amplify marginalized voices. By highlighting women’s leadership in peacebuilding and activists’ work against corruption and authoritarianism, the ceremony provided inspiration and strengthened our determination to continue driving positive change in our communities.
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