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2023 Annual Awards

Freedom House 2023 Annual Awards

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Freedom House’s annual Freedom Awards were presented to Vladimir Kara-Murza and the women of Iran. The Hon. Michael A. McCarthy received the 2023 Mark Palmer Prize.

More than eighty years ago, Freedom House was founded to rally Americans in the fight against fascism. It was a long and difficult fight, but one in which democracy ultimately prevailed.  We were not alone in that fight then, and we are not alone today. Our courage comes from the fact that you are with us.  

To those who joined us at our 2023 Annual Awards, thank you for your presence and your incredible support.

 

Read the Recap

Awardees

Vladimir V. Kara-Murza

FREEDOM AWARD

Vladimir Kara-Murza

Russian Opposition Leader and Prisoner of Conscience

The Women of iran

FREEDOM AWARD

The Women of Iran

Ambassador Michael A. McCarthy

MARK PALMER PRIZE

Hon. Michael A. McCarthy

U.S. Ambassador to Liberia

Program

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

FEATURED SPEAKER

Antony J. Blinken

Secretary of State

Nazanin Boniandi

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Nazanin Boniadi

Actor and Activist

Shawn Colvin

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

Shawn Colvin

Presenters

Jane Harman Headshot

The Honorable Jane Harman

Chair of the Freedom House Board of Trustees

The Honorable Michael T. McCaul, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

The Honorable Michael T. McCaul

Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Jason Rezaian

Jason Rezaian

Global Opinions Writer, The Washington Post

Event Recap

On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at its annual awards gala, Freedom House honored Russian political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, the women of Iran, and the Hon. Michael A. McCarthy.  

 

Kara-Murza, a Russian journalist and opposition leader who, despite being poisoned twice, stood up to Vladimir Putin and called for an end to the war on Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. He has been convicted of treason and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Vladimir’s wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, accepted Freedom House’s Freedom Award on his behalf. 

Evgenia Kara-Murza
Evgenia Kara-Murza accepted a 2023 Freedom Award on behalf of her husband Vladimir Kara-Murza. (Photo by Joshua Roberts.)

Freedom House also awarded a Freedom Award to the women of Iran, who sparked a pro-democracy revolution that has been embraced by millions of Iranians living at home and in exile abroad, and which has been met with a brutal crackdown.  

 

 

The movement sparked by these brave women has the power to bring change that would alter the course of a nation that Freedom House currently considers to be one of the least free in the world. Accepting this award on behalf of the women of Iran were journalist Aida Ghajar and actor Nazanin Boniadi. 

Accepting this award on behalf of the women of Iran were journalist Aida Ghajar and actor Nazanin Boniadi.
From left: Freedom House President Michael Abramowitz, the Hon. Michael T. McCaul, the Hon. Jane Harman, Nazanin Boniadi, and Aida Ghajar. (Photo by Joshua Roberts.)

The Hon. Michael A. McCarthy, the US Ambassador to Liberia, was awarded the Mark Palmer Prize for his leadership in engaging stakeholders in peaceful dialogue, after years of civil conflict, which resulted in a free and fair election.   

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke about the current state of democracy and underscored the important role Freedom House plays in informing decision makers about threats to freedom, mobilizing global action, and supporting democracy’s defenders like Vladimir Kara-Murza and the women of Iran. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers the keynote address at Freedom House's 2023 Annual Awards Dinner.

The event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of Freedom in the World, Freedom House’s annual report tracking global trends in political rights and civil liberties. The 2023 edition of Freedom in the World revealed that, while global freedom declined for the 17th consecutive year, the struggle for democracy may be reaching a positive turning point.

 

 

Dinner Host Committee

Ira & Kitty Carnahan
Connie Coopersmith
Rich & Jill Lane
Dave Marchick & Pamela Kurland
Cathy Merrill
Ambassador Alfred Moses
Bill & Amalie Reichblum
Nina K. Solarz
Joe Sternlieb
Miles Taylor & Hannah Hummelberg
Ralph & Bobbi Terkowitz
David Willkie
David & Lori Willox

Board of Trustees

See full list here.

 

Thank You to our Generous Supporters

UNDERWRITER

Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation

FREEDOM SUPPORTER

Dionisio Gutiérrez

Hon. Jane Harman

Thomas & Susana Kahn

Miles Taylor & Hannah Hummelberg

Karen & Norman Willox

TransUnion

FREEDOM ADVOCATE

The Honorable Goli Ameri

Rodger Desai

The Ginns Family

Motion Picture Association

Dr. Sushma Palmer in Honor of Ambassador Mark Palmer

Pan American Energy

Mason Slaine & Daniele Schachter

Susan & Thomas Staudt

Telecom Argentina SA

Robert Holmes Tuttle & Maria Hummer-Tuttle

Aegon-Transamerica

GUARDIAN OF FREEDOM

Anonymous

Ava J. Abramowitz and Neil Rackham

Accenture Federal Services

Carol & Ken Adelman

Kitty & Ira Carnahan

Connie Coopersmith

Charles & Julie Davidson

Mathea Falco & Peter Tarnoff

David L. Fogel

Jeffrey Hirschberg & Frann Lichtenstein

General James L. Jones, Ret.(USMC) & Mrs. Diane Jones

William & Sheila Konar Foundation

Richard & Jill Lane

Cater Lee & David Yost

MadWolf Technologies

Faith Morningstar & Ambassador Richard L. Morningstar

Tandym Group

Ralph & Bobbi Terkowitz

Carlotta & Wendell Willkie

David Willkie

HarrisX - a Stagwell Company

 

As of May 10, 2023

Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to create a world where all people are free. We inform the world about threats to freedom, mobilize global action, and support democracy’s defenders.

Read More

Freedom House

Freedom House Presents Its 2023 Freedom Award to Vladimir Kara-Murza and the Women of Iran

Press release

May 9, 2023
Freedom House

Freedom House Awards 2023 Mark Palmer Prize to US Ambassador Michael McCarthy

Press release

May 8, 2023

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