National Endowment for Democracy

“Our honorees remind us that courage is contagious—and that every act of conscience strengthens the cause of freedom. May their example call each of us to stand a little taller, and believe a little deeper, in the power of faith and freedom.” – Damon Wilson, President and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy

Thirty years ago, a Tibetan boy was taken from his home. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, recognized as the 11th Panchen Lama, was abducted by Chinese authorities at the age of six in 1995 and has not been seen since. Tonight, NED honored him with the Democracy Service Medal accepted by Zeekyab Rinpoche, Abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. This award honors Tibet’s struggle and the right of all faith communities to choose their own spiritual leaders, free from authoritarian control.  

This year, the Democracy Awards honor China Digital Times for its unwavering commitment to chronicling the Chinese people’s struggle for freedom. Presented by Representative Joaquin Castro, the award was accepted by Xiao Qiang, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of China Digital Times. As Beijing’s grip tightens, China Digital Times and Xiao Qiang keep a vital window open to the unfiltered, authentic perspectives of the Chinese people—proving that no regime, however powerful, can silence a people’s voice.  

This year, the Democracy Awards honor Campaign for Uyghurs for its tireless advocacy on behalf of Uyghurs and other Muslim communities living under Chinese Communist Party rule. Presented by Senator Mel Martínez, the award recognizes Rushan Abbas, Founder & Executive Director of the Campaign for Uyghurs, whose courageous leadership has given voice to Uyghur families torn apart by the CCP’s mass internment and repression.    A global force for Uyghur rights, Rushan Abbas and Campaign for Uyghurs reminds us that even under the weight of repression, courage and conscience endure. 

Tonight, the National Endowment for Democracy presented the Democracy Service Medal to Pastor Wang Yi, a courageous defender of religious freedom and leader of the Early Rain Covenant Church in China.  In 2018 Pastor Wang Yi was sentenced to nine years in prison for standing up for the right to worship freely. The award was presented by Rep. Jason Crow and accepted on his behalf by Cao Yaxue, founder of China Change, who continues to elevate the voices of China’s most courageous dissidents and rights defenders.  Pastor Wang Yi’s story reminds us that even in the darkest places, faith and freedom endure.

Tonight, the National Endowment for Democracy will present the 2025 Democracy Awards, honoring the courage of those who risk everything to defend faith, truth, and freedom in the face of the Chinese Communist Party’s repression. This year’s Democracy Awards are being presented to China Digital Times for its commitment to documenting the Chinese people’s struggle for freedom, and the Campaign for Uyghurs for its tireless advocacy on behalf of Uyghurs and other Muslim communities persecuted by the CCP for their faith. We will also present Democracy Service Medals to two powerful symbols of faith and resilience: Pastor Wang Yi, imprisoned for leading his house church, and the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, abducted by Chinese authorities at age six in 1995 after the Dalai Lama recognized his role in Tibetan Buddhism’s spiritual succession. By honoring them, we affirm a simple truth: even the most repressive regimes cannot extinguish conscience, faith, and the human desire to live free. Stay tuned as we celebrate their courage!

On this International Day of Political Prisoners, NED joins more than two dozen organizations in standing in solidarity with those unjustly detained around the world for exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms. We reaffirm our shared commitment to the universal right to freedom of thought, expression, association, and belief. The world’s political prisoners must not be forgotten. Read our joint statement here: https://lnkd.in/e8QJpADF

The National Endowment for Democracy congratulates Board Member Roxanne D. Brown on her election as President of the United Steelworkers (USW).    Since 1983, NED has worked with partners around the world to advance economic freedom and accountability where authoritarian regimes manipulate markets, exploit workers, and suppress civic voice.     Roxanne’s election is a powerful reminder that economic and political freedom rise together, strengthened by citizens who organize, lead, and lend their voices to democracy at home and abroad.    Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gstzJEb4   

Join Damon Wilson, President and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy, at the 2025 China Forum. Hosted by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, the China Forum convenes leading scholars, experts, and policymakers working on China to deepen America’s understanding of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, and the key challenges shaping U.S.–China relations. 📅 October 27–28 📍 Washington, DC 🔗https://lnkd.in/e9Yai_J7

Every day, Ukrainians are keeping democratic life alive against extraordinary odds. In the face of bombardment, occupation, and atrocities meant to break their spirit, they are defending fundamental rights, documenting war crimes, and advancing reforms to secure a future where human dignity and the right of free people to choose their own path prevails. The United States has invested billions to support Ukraine. By empowering local reformers, watchdogs, and independent media, NED helps ensure that investment delivers results: a Ukraine capable of holding the line against authoritarian aggression, emerging stronger and freer, and contributing to a safer, more secure world for Americans and their allies. 📖 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ejnmV23C