Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

中國民主教育基金會

Chinese Democratic Education Foundation

CDEF is a non-profit organization registered in California, USA, founded in 1985 by Huang Yuchuan, Guo Taijian, Yang Yun, Sun Luzheng, Liang Dong, Jiang Wen, Lin Jianming and others. The foundation is headquartered in San Francisco. All the staff of the foundation are volunteers who are enthusiastic about public welfare. The foundation sets up prizes to reward people or activities that have made outstanding contributions to promoting the prosperity and progress of Chinese society for democracy, freedom and human rights. Nominated by influential people from all walks of life and selected by a selection committee composed of prestigious experts and scholars. Past winners are internationally renowned Chinese democracy and social activists.

Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

In order to commend “persons, groups and works that have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of democracy, rule of law, freedom and human rights in China”, to commend and reward people, groups and works that have made outstanding contributions to promoting the prosperity and progress of Chinese society for democracy, freedom and human rights, China Democracy Education Foundation Established the [Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award].

[Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award] is an annual award, including bonuses and medals. It has been awarded annually since 1986. The list of winners is nominated by people from all walks of life and selected by a selection committee composed of prestigious experts and scholars. Subject to the majority of votes.

After years of hard work and support from all walks of life, the [Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award] has enjoyed a high reputation. Our winners are recognized by other organizations around the world. After Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010. The 1986 winner Wei Jingsheng and the 2007 winner Hu Jia won the Sakharov Prize for Free Thought in 1996 and 2008 respectively. The 2006 winner, Yaojie Gao, received the New York Academy of Sciences Scientist Human Rights Award in 2007, among others.

35th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

On December 4, 2021, the award ceremony of the 35th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award was held at the Liberty Sculpture Park in Southern California. This year’s winners are Hong Kong democracy activist Chow Hing-tung and Chinese dissident Chen Yunfei.

Past

Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

34th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

2020-12-11 The award ceremony of the 34th "Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award" was held in front of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, USA. The winners were Xu Zhiyong, the founder of the "New Citizens Movement", and Chris Smith, US Representative.

32th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

2019-10-23 Seven prison heroes were awarded the 32nd Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award, namely Liu Xianbin, Qin Yongmin, Chen Xi, Chen Wei, Chen Shuqing, Lu Gengsong and Xie Changfa. They are known as "China Democracy Party Heroes in Prison" .

33th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

2019-10-29 The 33rd Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award was announced on October 27. The "8964 Anti-Violence Group" in mainland China and the "Revolutionary Resistance Group of the Times" in Hong Kong were selected as winners by the "China Democracy Education Foundation".

31th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

2017-12-12 The 31st Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award was jointly won by Huang Qi, founder of the website "64 Tianwang", and Yang Tianshui, a mainland dissident and member of the Independent Chinese PEN Association.

30th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

2016-11-29 At the 30th "Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award" awarding ceremony, the Outstanding Democracy Award was presented to Tang Jingling, a well-known human rights lawyer. Tang Jingling, a former lawyer, had his lawyer license revoked for defending people's rights.

28th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

2014-10-06 The China Democracy Education Foundation held an award ceremony in San Francisco to commend Guo Feixiong, Ding Jiaxi, Wu Renhua and Zhao Changqing for winning the 28th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award.

29th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

2015-10-04 The 29th "Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award: "China Democracy Education Foundation" selected Chinese independent journalist Gao Yu and human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang as the 29th "Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China"

27th Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

2013-10-01 The 27-year-old China Democracy Education Foundation selects the China Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award every year. The three are from mainland China, namely Tan Zuoren, Zhu Chengzhi and Ai Xiaoming.

Distinguished Person for Advancing Democracy in China Award

Nominate

Nominations are public, and the list of nominees is publicly collected around the world. Each year the foundation receives more than 1,000 nomination letters, mostly from workers and activists on social issues in China.



Selection

Through open public nominations, the CDEF Council compiles a report and a preliminary list of candidates to the Selection Committee. The final winners are selected by direct vote of the selection committee. The committee is composed of renowned China experts, scholars and researchers, and lawyers. Previous winners also participated in the selection vote. CDEF board members do not have voting rights.

Awards Ceremony​

Winners are announced before the awards ceremony and released to the media. The awards ceremony is held in the San Francisco Bay Area and is open to the public. The award ceremony will be held concurrently with the winner's lecture and the China issue discussion. The specific time and address will be announced through the media one month before the awards ceremony.

Past Winners

  • The 34th (2019): Xu Zhiyong

  • The 33rd (2018): Hong Kong era revolutionary anti-violence group, 8964 anti-violence group

  • The 32nd (2017): Seven Warriors of China Democracy Party in Prison

  • The 31st session (2016): Huang Qi, Yang Tianshui

  • The 30th (2015): Tang Jingling

  • The 29th (2014): Gao Yu, Pu Zhiqiang

  • The 28th (2013): Guo Feixiong, Ding Jiaxi, Zhao Changqing, Wu Renhua

  • The 27th (2012): Tan Zuoren, Zhu Chengzhi, Ai Xiaoming

  • The 26th (2011): Wang Bingzhang, Chen Yizi

  • The 25th (2010): Teng Biao, Jiang Tianyong

  • The 24th (2009): Ai Weiwei, He Weifang, Fujian Three Netizens Case Concern Group

  • The 23rd (2008): Charter 08 Signatories Group

  • The 22nd (2007): Hu Jia, Chen Guangcheng

  • The 21st (2006): Gao Yaojie, Zhang Yihe

  • The 20th (2005): Gao Zhisheng, Jiao Guobiao, Tiananmen Three Gentlemen (Yu Zhijian, Yu Dongyue, Lu Decheng

  • The 19th (2004): Yan Jiaqi, Hu Shigen, Chen Guidi, Chuntao and his wife

  • The 18th (2003): Jiang Yanyong, Du Daobin, Yu Haocheng, Article 23 Concern Group of the Basic Law

  • The 17th (2002): Liu Xiaobo, Yang Jianli, Fang Jue, Zhang Zhaofu

  • The 16th (2001): Jiang Qisheng, Xin Haonian, “Beijing Spring” magazine

  • The 15th (2000): Carl Gershman, Peng Ming, Shi Mingde

  • The 14th (1999): Xu Wenli, Zhang Minyi, Tzu Chi Foundation

  • The 13th (1998): Wang Youcai, Bao Tong, Lu Siqing

  • The 12th (1997): Hoover, the 14th Dalai Lama, Liu Nianchun

  • The 11th (1996): Chen Ziming, A.M. Rosenthal, Hu Juren

  • The 10th (1995): Xu Liangying, National Promotion Committee for Clean Elections, Li Zhiying, Human Rights in China (organization)

  • The 9th (1994): Ding Zilin, Bo Yang, Lu Gonghui, Li Zhisui

  • The 8th session (1993): Wang Xizhe, Zhao Shaokang, Emily Liu, Chen Zhuoyu

  • The 7th (1992): Liu Qing, Patten, “New News” Weekly, Nancy Pelosi

  • The 6th (1991): Wu Hongda, Tao Baichuan, Hong Kong Democratic Alliance

  • The 5th session (1990): Wang Juntao, Chai Songlin, Liu Qianshi

  • The 4th (1989): Wang Dan, Chai Ling, Wuer Kaixi, Kang Ningxiang, Cen Jianxun

  • The 3rd session (1988): Liu Zaifu, Situ Hua, Gu Hua

  • The 2nd session (1987): Fang Lizhi, Fei Xiping, Wang Ruowang, Li Zhuming

  • The 1st session (1986): Wei Jingsheng, Liu Binyan, Wang Ruoshui