About the Award
The annual Unidas Prize for Women’s Rights and Democracy is presented annually to individuals, groups, or organizations that have made significant contributions to the promotion of women's rights and democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean. It provides an opportunity to pay tribute to those who stand up for gender equality with particular courage and perseverance.
The award is based on the decision of an independent jury consisting of members of the Unidas advisory board and the chairwoman of Unidas and is endowed with 10,000 euros. The jury decides on the basis of relevance, impact, innovation, sustainability, and special challenges.
Previous Winners
Award Winner 2024: María Angelina Aspuac
In 2024, we proudly honored María Angelina Aspuac, a Maya Kaqchikel advocate from Guatemala, with the prestigious Unidas Award for Women’s Rights and Democracy. Angelina has been an inexhaustible voice championing the economic rights of Indigenous women, particularly through her work with weavers to protect their traditional textiles and adress exploitation.
As a founder of the Movimiento Nacional de Tejedoras and a member of the Women's Association for the Development of Sacatepéquez (AFEDES), she leads initiatives to defend intellectual property rights and preserve indigenous heritage.
Award Winner 2023: Francia Márquez
At the closing of Unidas Week 2023, which was held in Cali, Colombia, from 6 to 8 June, 2023, the German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, presented the Unidas Award for Women's Rights and Democracy to the Vice President of Colombia, Francia Márquez. During the ceremony, Minister Baerbock stated that "we know that our countries are safer when everyone has equal rights, resources and representation.”
This is a recognition of Márquez's fight against structural racism and the disadvantages faced by women in Colombia. Her work as a social leader, environmental activist, human rights defender and feminist has led her to confront issues such as illegal mining, and displacement due to the armed conflict. In August 2022, she became Colombia's first Afro-descendant vice president.
The Unidas Week 2023 provided an opportunity for network members to exchange views and experiences on issues related to peace and security, the climate crisis, access to justice, migration and gender and diversity. This way we reinforce our commitment to unite women from Latin America and the Caribbean with Germany in order to create societies that offer equal opportunities and true gender justice.
Award Winner 2022: #NiUnaMenos
After serious cases of violence against women and femicides came to light in 2015, thousands of people took to the streets in Argentina, and later throughout the region, to protest violence against women. This was the birth of the #NiUnaMenos ("not one less") movement. What started with a tweet and was driven by a group of female journalists has now become one of the world's largest and best known movements against the oppression of women.
Congratulations to #NiUnaMenos for winning the first Unidas Award for Women's Rights and Democracy!