Liberty Medal
Liberty Medal
The Liberty Medal is an annual award presented by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. It honors individuals of "courage and conviction" who strive to secure the blessings of liberty for people worldwide. Originally founded by the Philadelphia Foundation, the medal is now the Center’s highest honor, often coinciding with Constitution Day celebrations.The medal’s prestige stems from its diverse and globally significant roster of recipients. It has been awarded to humanitarian icons like Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, and the 14th Dalai Lama, as well as political figures like Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.In recent years, the award has expanded to recognize cultural and educational impact. In 2024, filmmaker Ken Burns was honored, while the 2025 Liberty Medal was awarded to the musical Hamilton and historian Ron Chernow for their roles in sparking a modern resurgence of interest in American constitutional history.
| Sl | Name | Country | Flag | Year | Awarded For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Hamilton (The Musical) | USA | 2025 | Bringing the U.S. Constitution to life for new generations. | |
| 46 | Ron Chernow | USA | 2025 | His biographical work inspiring the musical Hamilton. | |
| 45 | Ken Burns | USA | 2024 | Excellence in documentary filmmaking on American history. | |
| 44 | Judy Woodruff | USA | 2023 | Promoting civil dialogue and journalistic integrity. | |
| 43 | David Rubenstein | USA | 2023 | Patriotic philanthropy and preserving American history. | |
| 42 | Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Ukraine | 2022 | Heroic defense of liberty against Russian aggression. | |
| 41 | Loujain al-Hathloul | Saudi Arabia | 2021 | Advocacy for women's rights in Saudi Arabia. | |
| 40 | Jimmy Lai | China | 2021 | Courage in exercising freedom of speech and the press. | |
| 39 | Ruth Bader Ginsburg | USA | 2020 | Advancing liberty and gender equality. | |
| 38 | Anthony M. Kennedy | USA | 2019 | Preserving liberty through Constitutional education. | |
| 37 | George W. Bush | USA | 2018 | Commitment to veterans and national service. | |
| 36 | Laura Bush | USA | 2018 | Advocacy for global literacy and women's rights. | |
| 35 | John McCain | Panama | 2017 | A lifetime of sacrifice and service to the country. | |
| 34 | John Lewis | USA | 2016 | Courageous leadership in the Civil Rights Movement. | |
| 33 | 14th Dalai Lama | Tibet | 2015 | Advocacy for human rights and world peace. | |
| 32 | Malala Yousafzai | Pakistan | 2014 | Courage in advocating for girls' education. | |
| 31 | Hillary Rodham Clinton | USA | 2013 | Advocacy for women and girls' rights worldwide. | |
| 30 | Muhammad Ali | USA | 2012 | Humanitarianism and religious freedom advocacy. | |
| 29 | Robert Gates | USA | 2011 | Steady leadership and decades of public service. | |
| 28 | Tony Blair | UK | 2010 | Peace efforts in Northern Ireland. | |
| 27 | Steven Spielberg | USA | 2009 | Artistic contribution to history and human rights. | |
| 26 | Mikhail Gorbachev | Russia | 2008 | Ending the Cold War and expanding liberty. | |
| 25 | Bono | Ireland | 2007 | Global advocacy for debt relief and AIDS awareness. | |
| 24 | DATA (Organization) | UK | 2007 | Fighting poverty and disease in Africa. | |
| 23 | George H.W. Bush | USA | 2006 | Bipartisan humanitarian leadership. | |
| 22 | Bill Clinton | USA | 2006 | Leadership in global disaster relief efforts. | |
| 21 | Viktor Yushchenko | Ukraine | 2005 | Advancing democracy during the Orange Revolution. | |
| 20 | Hamid Karzai | Afghanistan | 2004 | Rebuilding democratic institutions in Afghanistan. | |
| 19 | Sandra Day O’Connor | USA | 2003 | Her historic service on the Supreme Court. | |
| 18 | Colin Powell | USA | 2002 | Leadership in military and diplomatic service. | |
| 17 | Kofi Annan | Ghana | 2001 | Promoting international peace and human rights. | |
| 16 | Dr. James D. Watson | USA | 2000 | Co-discovery of DNA's double helix structure. | |
| 15 | Dr. Francis Crick | UK | 2000 | Revolutionary contributions to genetic science. | |
| 14 | Kim Dae-jung | South Korea | 1999 | Advancing democracy and peace in the Korean peninsula. | |
| 13 | George Mitchell | USA | 1998 | Brokering the Good Friday peace agreement. | |
| 12 | CNN International | USA | 1997 | Commitment to the global free flow of news. | |
| 11 | King Hussein | Jordan | 1996 | Courageous leadership in Middle East peace. | |
| 10 | Shimon Peres | Belarus | 1996 | Efforts toward establishing regional stability. | |
| 9 | Sadako Ogata | Japan | 1995 | Leadership in international refugee protection. | |
| 8 | Vaclav Havel | Czech Republic | 1994 | Peaceful resistance against totalitarianism. | |
| 7 | Nelson Mandela | South Africa | 1993 | Dismantling apartheid through reconciliation. | |
| 6 | F. W. de Klerk | South Africa | 1993 | Ending apartheid and seeking a new constitution. | |
| 5 | Thurgood Marshall | USA | 1992 | Championing civil rights through the law. | |
| 4 | Médecins Sans Frontières | France | 1991 | Providing medical relief in global conflict zones. | |
| 3 | Oscar Arias Sanchez | Costa Rica | 1991 | Peace initiatives in Central America. | |
| 2 | Jimmy Carter | USA | 1990 | Post-presidential dedication to human rights. | |
| 1 | Lech Walesa | Poland | 1989 | Leading the Solidarity movement for freedom. |
Liberty Medal Laureates (2025 ~ 2021)
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Judy Woodruff
Liberty Medal 2023
David Rubenstein
Liberty Medal 2023
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Liberty Medal 2022
Loujain al-Hathloul
Liberty Medal 2021
Jimmy Lai
Liberty Medal 2021
Liberty Medal Laureates (2020 ~ 2001)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Liberty Medal 2020
Anthony M. Kennedy
Liberty Medal 2019
George W. Bush & Laura Bush
Liberty Medal 2018
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Malala Yousafzai
Liberty Medal 2014
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Liberty Medal 2013
Muhammad Ali
Liberty Medal 2012
Robert Gates
Liberty Medal 2011