The 2025 Hillary Rodham Clinton Awards recognize “the courage, strength and determination of women around the world who stand up for democratic values.” According to the Penal Forum, as of October 6, there were 103 political prisoners registered throughout the country. Human rights organizations have pointed out that women deprived of liberty face inhuman conditions and extreme vulnerability.
The Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University awarded the 2025 Hillary Rodham Clinton Prize to Venezuelan political prisoners, due to their courage in facing political persecution, torture and imprisonment in inhumane conditions.
The 2025 Hillary Rodham Clinton Awards, presented by the former Secretary of State and US Senator, recognize “the courage, strength and determination of women around the world who defend democratic values and make their voices heard.”
The award was received on behalf of all political prisoners by Daneli Hernández, daughter of the Súmate coordinator Nélida Sánchez; Rosa Virginia González, former political prisoner and social activist; Geraldine Afiuni, daughter of Judge María Lourdes Afiuni; and defender Sairam Rivas, former political prisoner and current coordinator of the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners.
During the presentation, the cases of Nélida Sánchez, arrested for more than a year by Sebin agents and accused without evidence of terrorism and conspiracy, were recounted; Judge María Lourdes Afiuni, detained and tortured for having granted a humanitarian measure to a political opponent during the government of Hugo Chávez.
Likewise, Rosa Virginia González was imprisoned for trying to bring food to a friend in extreme poverty. After her release, the activist was forced into exile due to harassment by state officials; while Sairam Rivas, who was imprisoned in El Helicoide for his student leadership, now has his partner, activist Jesús Armas, behind bars.
According to the Penal Forum, until October 6, there were 103 women imprisoned for political reasons in the country. Human rights organizations have pointed out that women deprived of liberty face inhuman conditions and extreme vulnerability.
They suffer from malnutrition, lack access to essential basic services such as clean water and menstrual hygiene products, and receive poor medical care. Added to this is that many are in annexes within men’s prisons or share cells with prisoners for common crimes.
The Hillary Rodham Clinton Awards are presented annually in Georgetown to individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to defending women’s rights and promoting democracy and global peace.
This year was also recognized the work of Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, the writer Anne Applebaum and the women students who mobilized and led the protests in Bangladesh.
*Journalism in Venezuela is carried out in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments in place to punish the word, especially the laws “against hate”, “against fascism” and “against the blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
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