{"id":2381719,"date":"2024-12-19T03:30:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T08:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/european-union-honors-venezuelas-opposition-leaders-with-heralded-human-rights-prize-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-12-19T03:30:35","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T08:30:35","slug":"european-union-honors-venezuelas-opposition-leaders-with-heralded-human-rights-prize-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/european-union-honors-venezuelas-opposition-leaders-with-heralded-human-rights-prize-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"European Union honors Venezuela\u2019s opposition leaders with heralded human rights prize &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Feuropean-union-honors-venezuelas-opposition-leaders-with-heralded-human-rights-prize-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2381719&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The European Union has recognized Venezuelan opposition leaders\u2063 Mar\u00eda Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez Urrutia \u200cwith \u200cthe 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought,acknowledging their struggle for democracy in the\u2064 face of \u200dnicol\u00e1s maduro&#8217;s regime. Following the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/swing-states-have-a-long-way-to-go-to-safeguard-the-2024-election\/\" title=\"Swing states must do more to protect the 2024 election\">controversial presidential election<\/a> on July 28, 2024, where Maduro&#8217;s government declared him the winner against allegations of electoral fraud, Gonz\u00e1lez is believed by many to\u2064 have won.Despite meaningful protests and international criticism, Maduro has refused to concede power. The\u200c award\u2064 is intended to highlight the sacrifices made by these leaders in their pursuit of human rights and political reform in Venezuela.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">European Union honors Venezuela&rsquo;s opposition leaders with heralded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/live-2-pm-et-lantos-human-rights-prize-awarded-to-irwin-cotler\/\" title=\"Lantos Human Rights Prize awarded to Irwin Cotler at 2 PM ET.\">human rights prize<\/a><\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1914948\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Venezuela&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/quebec-abandons-policy-of-taxation-on-the-unvaccinated\/\" title=\"Quebec Abandons Policy of Taxation on the Unvaccinated\">opposition party leaders<\/a> may have been stonewalled by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nicolas-maduro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Nicolas Maduro<\/a>&rsquo;s regime regarding the country&rsquo;s presidential election, denying them their rightful place as victors. However, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/european-union\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">European Union<\/a> has acknowledged their efforts and plight by recognizing them with a human rights prize.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The country&rsquo;s election was held on July 28, but Maduro and Edmundo Gonzalez, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/venezuelas-opposition-held-congress-extends-term-after-disputed-vote\/\" title=\"Venezuela\u2019s opposition-held Congress extends term after disputed vote\">opposition candidate<\/a>, declared victory. It is speculated that Gonzalez was the actual winner of the election, but governing bodies in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/venezuela\/\" title=\"\">Venezuela<\/a>, loyal to Maduro, declared him the winner. Despite opposition to his claim and numerous protests and demonstrations, he has refused to concede or step down as president. Maduro has been widely criticized and condemned by the international community.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The European Parliament has awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Venezuelan opposition leader Mar&iacute;a Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo Gonz&aacute;lez Urrutia. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KHk88gDU7y\">pic.twitter.com\/KHk88gDU7y<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Europarl_EN\/status\/1869383593790767383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Party leader Maria Corina Machado and opposition party presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3235663\/us-acknowledges-venezuelan-president-elect\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">whom the United States recognized as Venezuela&rsquo;s President-elect<\/a>) were awarded the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jurist.org\/news\/2024\/12\/eu-honors-venezuela-opposition-leaders-with-top-human-rights-prize\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Sakharov Prize <\/a>for their work in fighting for democracy and human rights in their country. The prize is considered a prestigious recognition and the EU&rsquo;s highest award for &ldquo;defenders of freedom.&rdquo; It was presented at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, during a ceremony on Tuesday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Sakharov Prize is named after Andrei Sakharov, a former Soviet Union physicist and eventual dissident who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. Sakharov argued against the arms race between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. and advocated more international cooperation and human rights. The award was established in his honor in 1988; previous recipients include South African President Nelson Mandela, Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Anon, Russian activist Alexei Navalny, and activist Malala Yousafzai.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The European Parliament has awarded the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Venezuelan opposition leader Mar&iacute;a Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo Gonz&aacute;lez Urrutia,&rdquo; Europe&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/belarus-may-join-ukraine-invasion\/\" title=\"Belarus May Join Ukraine Invasion\">governing body announced<\/a> in a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Europarl_EN\/status\/1869383593790767383\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">post<\/a> on X.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Your courage and your dedication to the cause of Venezuelan democracy is in equal parts inspiring and galvanizing. Your efforts remind us that it is up to every one of us to fight for democracy, because freedom must and will prevail everywhere, always,&rdquo; said Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Gonzalez attended the ceremony in person, but Machado is currently in hiding in Venezuela after numerous threats on her life for her continued opposition to Maduro&rsquo;s regime. Her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the award on her behalf. Machado addressed the European Parliament remotely from an undisclosed location. Gonzalez was forced to flee Venezuela in September and sought Asylum in Spain.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The fight for freedom and democracy in our country is also the fight for these values around the world,&rdquo; Gonzalez said. &ldquo;It is those people [of Venezuela] who truly embody the spirit of this award, in recognition of the courageous struggle to restore freedom and democracy in Venezuela.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This award is a tribute to every Venezuelan who has decided to be free,&rdquo; Machado said. &ldquo;This recognition, especially at this critical moment, is a testament to the world&rsquo;s faith in the Venezuelan people and the unwavering pursuit of our ultimate goal: Freedom.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1914948\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1914948\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EU awards human rights prize to Venezuela&#8217;s opposition leaders<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2677,"featured_media":2381721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Edmundo-Gonzalez_Venezuela_23.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32233,47094,14099],"class_list":["post-2381719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-european-union","tag-opposition-leaders","tag-venezuela"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Edmundo-Gonzalez_Venezuela_23.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2677"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2381719"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381719\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2381723,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2381719\/revisions\/2381723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2381721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2381719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2381719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2381719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}