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2020 Annual Awards

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Watch the recorded livestream above, or click here to watch on Vimeo. 

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Freedom House Annual Awards
The Power of Protest

September 16, 2020

6:45pm EST - Online Reception
7:00pm EST - Live Program Begins

Event Details: 

For more than 78 years, Freedom House has worked to defend fundamental freedoms and promote democracy around the world. We analyze the challenges to democracy, advocate for greater support of civil liberties and political rights, and support frontline activists to defend human rights and promote democratic change.

Since 1943, our annual Freedom Awards have recognized outstanding leaders who have championed freedom and democracy, including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Winston Churchill, Vaclav Havel, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Hala Al-Dosari, Edward R. Murrow and Bernard Baruch. Click here for a full list of past honorees.

This past year, a striking number of citizen protest movements emerged in every region of the world. While the spread of COVID-19 forced activists to re-think their activities, people are taking to the streets once again, putting their health and well-being at risk in an effort to fight oppression. Please join us to honor and celebrate the unquenchable desire for freedom, human dignity and equality, and the courage of the people demanding it.
 

DONATE HERE

 

2020 Honorees

 

FREEDOM AWARD 

Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Movement
Special Remarks by Nathan Law

Sudanese Professionals Association
Award accepted by Samahir Ali Othman Almubarak

Organization of the December Revolution Martyrs' Families
Award accepted by Dr. Amira Babiker Ahmed Osman

 

RAISING AWARENESS AWARD

For Advocacy on Behalf of Human Rights, Women's Rights, and Refugees 
Nazanin Boniadi
Actor and Activist

 

Reflections on US Protests
for Racial Justice

Kristen Clarke
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

 

Special Remarks

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Former Presidential Candidate, Belarus

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Marco Rubio
U.S. Senator

 

Special Performance

The American Pops Orchestra feat. Nova Y. Payton

Hong Kong pro-democracy movement

Freedom Award: Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Movement

As the Chinese government has heightened repression at home and expanded efforts to export its authoritarianism abroad, Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement — a leaderless, people-led effort —has inspired the world. Two million people have turned out to stand together in defense of the rights and freedoms they are supposed to enjoy under Hong Kong law. Beijing’s sudden imposition of a repressive new national security law has made these efforts tremendously dangerous. Yet the people of Hong Kong remain committed to defending their rights for future generations in new and creative ways. Nathan Law, a former Hong Kong lawmaker and prominent pro-democracy activist, will provide remarks during the event.

Samahir ali othman almubarak sudanese professional association sudan activist

Freedom Award: Sudanese Professional Association

The Freedom Award will be accepted by Samahir Ali Othman Almubarak, on behalf of the Sudanese Professional Associations (SPA). The Sudanese Professionals Association, an independent organization made up of doctors, pharmacists, engineers, lawyers, journalists, teachers and supporters, organized and led the citizens of Sudan in peaceful protests demanding regime change in 2018. As a direct result of these protests, dictator Omar al-Bashir was removed from office in April 2019. Today, the SPA is part of Sudan’s transitional government. 

Sudan democracy movement Dr. Amira Babiker Ahmed Osman

Freedom Award: Organization of the December Revolution Martyrs' Families

The Freedom Award will be accepted by Dr. Amira Babiker Ahmed Osman, on behalf of the Organization of the December Revolution Martyrs' Families (ODRMF). The organization was created in response to the June 3, 2019 massacre of peaceful protesters by Sudan’s Armed Forces General Command. Their enduring mission is to ensure that justice for their loved ones is served and that their children did not die in vain. The ODRMF coalition serves as a watchdog guarding the values of freedom, peace and justice, and guiding Sudan toward a successful transition to democracy. 

Nazanin Boniadi actress and activist Iran

Raising Awareness Award: Nazanin Boniadi

Nazanin Boniadi is a British-Iranian actress who is known for her film and television performances in Hotel Mumbai, Homeland, Bombshell, How I Met Your Mother, and more. Boniadi is also a dedicated human and women’s rights advocate with a focus on Iran. She is an Amnesty International UK Ambassador, a member of the board of directors of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, and she was recently selected for membership in the  Council on Foreign Relations. Boniadi also produced a documentary film called Stateless that exposes the plight of Iranian refugees and other asylums seekers who were forced to leave their homes to find freedom and safety. See some of Nazanin's work here. 

Kristen Clark Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Special Remarks: Reflections on US Protests for Racial Justice

The 2020 Annual Awards will feature remarks from Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, one of the country’s most important civil rights organizations. The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee is to secure equal justice for all through the rule of law, targeting in particular the inequities confronting African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities. Under her leadership, the organization has been at the forefront of tackling some of the nation’s biggest racial justice problems. 

2020 Annual Awards Slideshow

2020 Annual Awards Slideshow

Download the 2020 Annual Awards journal slides here.

Download

DONATE HERE

 

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

Freedom Supporter
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Norm & Karen Willox, Compass Point Group, LLC.

 

Freedom Advocate

Katherine & Ira Carnahan
Nonie & Andrew Prozes

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Guardian of Freedom 

Dr. Carol & Ambassador Kenneth Adelman
The Honorable Goli Ameri
American Express
AT&T
Coalfire
Discovery/TVN
David & Meade Fogel
Microsoft
Faith Morningstar & Ambassador Richard L. Morningstar
Susan & Thomas Staudt
Anne & Marcus Wedner
 The Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation

 

DONATE HERE

For additional information about supporting the Annual Awards, please contact +1(212)249-6188 or e-mail [email protected]. 

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