Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering commitment to democracy and human rights in Venezuela. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized her as a "brave and committed champion of peace" who "keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness" .

Machado, 58, has been a prominent figure in Venezuela's struggle against the authoritarian regime of President Nicolás Maduro. Despite being barred from running in the 2024 presidential election and facing threats to her safety, she has remained a symbol of resistance. The Nobel Committee highlighted her tireless efforts to promote democratic rights and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy .