Guwahati: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado, recognizing her tireless efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Venezuela and her courageous struggle for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
Announcing the decision in Oslo, the Committee described Machado as “a brave and committed champion of peace” and “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.”
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Machado, a leading figure in Venezuela’s democracy movement, has long been at the forefront of the opposition against the country’s authoritarian regime. As the founder of Súmate, an organization promoting free and fair elections, she has spent over two decades advocating for judicial independence, human rights, and democratic reforms — often at great personal risk.
In 2024, despite being barred from contesting the presidential election, Machado supported opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of volunteers to monitor polling stations and ensure transparency. Their peaceful efforts revealed that the opposition had won by a clear margin, though the regime refused to acknowledge the results.
The Nobel Committee emphasized that “democracy is a precondition for lasting peace,” and praised Machado’s unyielding commitment to non-violent resistance amid persecution.
“She embodies the hope of a different future — one where the fundamental rights of citizens are protected, and their voices are heard,” the Committee stated.
Currently living in hiding due to threats against her life, Maria Corina Machado remains in Venezuela, inspiring millions who continue to call for democratic change.
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By honoring Machado, the Nobel Committee reaffirmed its tradition of recognizing those who “dare to step forward despite grave risk” and who remind the world that freedom must constantly be defended with “words, courage, and determination.”
