National Democratic Institute Announces 2022 Madeleine K. Albright Democracy Award Recipients

 

At its annual gala on December 6, 2022, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) will bestow its inaugural Madeleine K. Albright Democracy Awards to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on behalf of the people of Ukraine; President Zuzana Čaputová of Slovakia, President Maia Sandu of Moldova, and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte of Lithuania, for their tireless efforts to promote and protect democracy in their countries, their region and beyond. 

Beginning this year, NDI has re-named its Democracy Award after its former Chair to honor her powerful and lasting legacy to NDI and the principles to which she dedicated her life. A central component of the annual Gala is the presentation of the Democracy Award to individual(s) or group(s) that exemplify commitment to the cause of democracy and human rights, often at great personal risk. 

“Madeleine was an unparalleled champion of democracy,” said NDI Board Chair Tom Daschle. “When I succeeded her as Chair of NDI, it was clear renaming our Democracy Award after her was one of the best ways to honor her legacy, and this year’s honorees exemplify all that she stood for.” 

“The world is witnessing daily the fortitude and resilience of the people of Ukraine, under the inspiring leadership of President Zelenskyy, to defend their democracy under brutal attack,” said NDI President Derek Mitchell. “It is also no coincidence that among the inaugural recipients of an award named after Madeleine are three remarkable European women who have shown exceptional leadership in defense of democracy in the face of extraordinary challenge.”  

The 2022 NDI’s Democracy Gala will celebrate the Institute’s efforts around the world to work for democracy and make democracy work at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

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NDI is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization that works in partnership around the world to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, processes, norms and values to secure a better quality of life for all. NDI envisions a world where democracy and freedom prevail, with dignity for all.