This Friday in Madrid, Cuban dissident Rosa María Payá, the visionary behind the Cuba Decide initiative, will be honored with the 13th FAES Freedom Award. She shares this accolade with Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, and Iranian activist Masih Alinejad.
Receiving this award elevates the Cuban civic resistance to a symbolic status comparable to the Russian and Iranian movements in the European context. The board of the FAES Foundation, led by former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, unanimously decided to grant these awards on July 30. The foundation highlighted the outstanding dedication of the three laureates to defending freedom, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Payá is the daughter of the late dissident Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, whose death in a car accident in July 2012 was attributed to Cuban state agents by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). She is also set to serve as an IACHR commissioner from 2026 to 2029, marking the first time a Cuban has held this position.
Symbol of Hope and Resilience
FAES emphasized Payá's lifelong commitment to the peaceful advocacy of freedom and democracy in Cuba. Her unwavering support for civil liberties, political pluralism, and human rights has kept the hope for a free and democratic Cuba alive.
This award comes amid heightened pressure on the Cuban dictatorship. This week, a coalition of Cuban opposition groups presented an appeal in Miami with over 1,000 signatures, urging democracies to vote against or abstain in an upcoming vote.
The human rights organization Prisoners Defenders reported a historic high of 1,372 political prisoners in Cuba as of September 2026, including 40 individuals detained as minors.
International Implications
The recognition of Payá coincides with the upcoming UN General Assembly vote on the annual resolution calling for the end of the U.S. embargo on Cuba, scheduled for October 27-28. In 2025, this resolution garnered 165 votes in favor, seven against, and 12 abstentions.
In August 2025, addressing the OAS Permanent Council, Payá emphasized that "dictatorships only respond to pressure," a sentiment she brings to Madrid as Europe considers its stance on Havana.
Profiles of Courage
Yulia Navalnaya, since July 2024, has led the Anti-Corruption Foundation established by her late husband, Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison on February 16 of that year. Navalnaya currently resides in exile in Germany.
Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist, launched the My Stealthy Freedom campaign in 2014 and remains under FBI protection following multiple kidnapping and assassination attempts attributed to the Tehran regime.
The FAES (Foundation for Social Analysis and Studies) is a private, non-profit think tank dedicated to promoting ideas centered on political, intellectual, and economic freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and the free market.
Established in 2009, the FAES Freedom Award honors international figures distinguished in promoting and defending democracy and liberty. Past recipients include Mario Vargas Llosa, Luis Almagro, and Juan Guaidó.
FAQs on Rosa María Payá and the FAES Freedom Award
What is the FAES Freedom Award?
The FAES Freedom Award is a recognition given by the FAES Foundation to individuals who have significantly contributed to the promotion and defense of democracy and freedom worldwide.
Who are the other recipients of the 13th FAES Freedom Award?
Alongside Rosa María Payá, the 13th FAES Freedom Award was also given to Yulia Navalnaya and Masih Alinejad for their efforts in advocating for freedom and human rights.
Why is Rosa María Payá a significant figure in Cuban resistance?
Rosa María Payá is notable for her relentless pursuit of democratic reforms in Cuba and her leadership in the Cuba Decide initiative, which aims to bring about peaceful change in the country.