OSLO, NORWAY (Dec. 10, 2025) — The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) celebrates today’s award of the Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado. Accepted on her behalf by her daughter Ana Corina Machado during the official award ceremony at the Oslo City Hall, the prize recognizes Machado’s decades-long commitment to freedom, democracy, and human dignity in Venezuela. Machado’s Nobel Prize highlights the urgent task ahead: restoring democracy and ensuring Venezuelans can determine their future without fear.
In an interview with Norway’s public broadcaster last week, Machado emphasized Venezuela’s ongoing struggle for democratic freedoms. “I am fighting to bring peace to my country. But we have learned that in order to achieve peace, you need democracy. That is what the Norwegian Nobel Committee has recognized — the fight for democracy,” Machado told NRK.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Venezuela currently has the largest refugee population in the world. Nearly one-third of the country’s citizens are now displaced or living in exile. María Corina Machado’s three children are among the many Venezuelans who have been forced to leave the country. This week, they are being reunited in Oslo for the first time in two years.
Last year, María Corina Machado had a conversation with HRF CEO Thor Halvorssen at the Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF).
A former member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, founder of the civic movement Súmate and Vente Venezuela, and a relentless advocate for free and fair elections, Machado has inspired millions with her unwavering defense of democratic values. She has persevered in the face of state persecution, intimidation, and repeated attempts to silence her. With her guidance, the opposition carried Venezuela’s July 2024 elections with nearly 70 percent of the vote. The regime ignored the results, clung to power illegally, and forced Machado into hiding in January.
Amid escalating repression and the Maduro dictatorship’s attempts to silence dissent, this recognition shines a global spotlight on Venezuela’s continuing struggle for democracy. Machado’s win sends a clear message to authoritarians everywhere that those who stand for liberty, peace, and justice will not be forgotten. With the world’s eyes on Venezuela, the prize represents a rare opportunity to turn global attention into meaningful, sustained support for those risking everything for freedom.
“María Corina Machado embodies fearless, nonviolent resistance,” said HRF CEO Thor Halvorssen. “This prize honors her extraordinary sacrifice as well as the resilience of millions of Venezuelans who refuse to surrender their dream of a free country.”
For 20 years, HRF has amplified the voices of Venezuelan dissidents, exposed the regime’s human rights abuses, and connected leaders with global allies in the struggle for freedom through initiatives like the Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF). Today, Machado becomes the fifth OFF speaker to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after delivering an address at the Forum.
Today’s recognition underscores the courage of all those who continue to strive to advance democracy worldwide. As it brings hope and visibility, Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize strengthens this work and proves that people’s hope for freedom endures, even under one of the world’s most repressive regimes.
