Freedom Award Honorees
Established in 1995, the Freedom Award honors individuals who have worked to advance freedom and democracy. The contribution of these individuals has given hope to millions and has helped improve the lives of people around the globe.
2023
- The Women of Iran
2022
- Alexei Navalny
- The People of Ukraine
2021
- The People of Burma
- The People of Cuba
- The People of Lithuania
2020
- U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo
Maria Kolesnikova, Veronika Tsepkalo, and the People of Belarus
- The People of Hong Kong
2019
- Senator Mitch McConnell
- Cindy McCain
- The People of Venezuela
2018
- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis
- UN Ambassador Nikki Haley
2017
- Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White), peaceful civic movement fighting for Cuba’s political prisoners
- Senator John McCain
2015
- John A. Boehner, 53rd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
- Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation
- Boris Nemtsov, Russian democracy leader (awarded posthumously)
2014
- George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States of America
- Ukraine’s Maidan Movement
2011
- James A. Baker III, former U.S. Secretary of State
- Lawrence Eagleburger, former U.S. Secretary of State (awarded posthumously)
2010
- George P. Shultz, former U.S. Secretary of State
2009
- Henry A. Kissinger, former U.S. Secretary of State
2007
- Elías Antonio Saca González, President of El Salvador
2006
- Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States of America
- Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia
2005
- George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States of America
- Pope John Paul II (awarded posthumously)
2004
- Condoleezza Rice, U.S. National Security Advisor
- Sergio Vieira de Mello, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (awarded posthumously)
2003
- Bill Frist, M.D., U.S. Senate Majority Leader
- Hamid Karzai, President of the Transitional State of Afghanistan
2001
- Richard B. Cheney, 46th Vice President of the United States of America
- The Honorable Lynne Cheney
1999
- Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Laureate and Burmese democracy leader
- Natan Sharansky, human rights activist and former Minister of the Interior of Israel
1998
- Robert J. Dole, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader
1997
- Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States of America
1996
- General Colin Powell, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
1995
- Alfredo F. Cristiani, former President of El Salvador
- Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo, advocate for peace in Nicaragua