Nobel Peace Prize 2025, Maria Corina Machado Awarded for Her Work Promoting Democratic Rights

Maria Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 for her courageous fight to promote democratic rights and achieve a peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela. Machado’s lifelong commitment to free elections, human rights, and civil liberties stands out as a beacon against authoritarian rule and repression in her country.

Nobel Peace Prize 2025

Maria Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize marks an important moment for Venezuela’s democracy movement and symbolizes global support for civilian resistance to authoritarianism. The Nobel Committee praised Machado as an extraordinary example of civilian courage in Latin America, highlighting her relentless advocacy for free elections, judicial independence, and human rights despite severe government repression.

Maria Machado: Achievements and Contributions

Machado was born in Caracas in 1967 and trained as an industrial engineer and financial expert before dedicating herself to public life.

She is the founder of several major organizations, including Súmate, a key election monitoring group, and has coordinated pro-democracy efforts that inspired the Venezuelan public to demand free and fair elections. Despite facing government bans and personal threats, Machado founded the opposition party Vente Venezuela, united diverse opposition forces, and organized mass mobilizations for justice and electoral transparency.

In 2023, she won opposition primaries but was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election. Still, Machado helped rally support for an alternative candidate, documenting irregularities and supporting the civilian movement for justice.

Machado’s International Recognition

Machado’s activism led to international honours, including the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize, and now the Nobel Peace Prize. She has risked her freedom and personal safety to remain in Venezuela and inspire hope in her people, showing staunch courage and resilience.

The Nobel Committee’s Message

The Nobel Committee praised Machado for:

“Her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.“

Her leadership is seen as a symbol of hope, unity, and the continuing global struggle for fundamental rights and a free society.

Previous Nobel Peace Laureates

2024: Nihon Hidankyo (Japan)

For its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again.

2023: Narges Mohammadi (Iran)

For her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and for promoting human rights and freedom for all.

2022: Ales Bialiatski, Memorial, and Centre for Civil Liberties (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine)

For representing civil society in their home countries, and advancing the right to criticize power and defend citizens’ fundamental rights.