Council of Europe's Václav Havel prize for Venezuela's Machado

The 2024 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize was awarded on Monday to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Addressing the assembly remotely from Venezuela, Machado said she was "deeply moved, honoured and grateful" to be the first Latin American to win the distinction.

"I want to dedicate this recognition to the millions of Venezuelans who, every day, embody Havel's values and ideas – some without even realising it," she said.

Machado said her movement had demonstrated "the victory of democrats over dictatorship" in Venezuela's recent elections. "Today our struggle continues, because the truth persists until it prevails," she added.

Machado was not permitted to stand in the July elections as she has for years been banned from holding public office in her country. PACE reported that she had gone into hiding in August, declaring that she feared for her life, her freedom, and that of her fellow citizens.

Edmundo González stood in her stead before fleeing to Spain after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is widely believed to have beaten President Nicolás Maduro, who refused to stand aside.

There have been protests all round the world in response to Maduro's election without detailed results being presented.

The prize, which is worth €60,000 ($66,000) is awarded every year "to honour outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights in Europe and beyond."

Previous winners include Osman Kavala, who is in prison in Turkey, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was released by Russia in a prisoner exchange in August.