Secretary Blinken to Honor Human Rights Defender Award Winners

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will deliver remarks at 1:00 p.m. ET on December 10, 2024 at the Secretary’s Human Rights Defender Award Ceremony at the Department of State.  The Secretary will be joined by Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya and Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Dafna Rand.

The award recipients from Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Eswatini, Ghana, Kuwait, and the Kyrgyz Republic have demonstrated leadership, courage, and impact in the promotion of human rights.

The ceremony is open press coverage and will be streamed live on the Department homepage and the Department YouTube channel.

Pre-set time for video cameras is 12:20 p.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.  Final access time for writers and stills is 12:40 p.m. from the 23rd Street entrance. 

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued photo media credential (e.g., Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), or (2) an official photo identification card issued by their news organization, or (3) a letter from their employer on official letterhead verifying their current employment as a journalist.  Additionally, they must present an official government photo identification card (i.e., U.S. driver’s license or passport).