Jose Daniel Ferrer

Cuban pro-democracy leader, prominent human rights defender, and one of the most internationally recognized figures of the Cuban democratic opposition. For over three decades, he has led peaceful resistance efforts demanding freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. Frequently persecuted, arbitrarily imprisoned for 12 years & subjected to torture, he has become a symbol of civic courage and resistance to totalitarian repression. His work includes political organizing, civic education, human rights defense, written and audiovisual journalism, public speaking, and international advocacy. He participates in TV shows, radio broadcasts, interviews, and written press in US, Latin America, and Europe on Cuba’s political reality and human rights situation. He delivers lectures, keynote speeches at public institutions, universities, international organizations & civil society forums. He is a recipient of multiple prestigious international democracy and human rights awards, including Democracy Award National Endowment for Democracy, Human Rights Award Hispano-Cuban Foundation, Homo Homini Award Czech NGO People in Need, Truman–Reagan Medal of Freedom Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, John McCain Freedom Award International Republican Institute & Carlos Alberto Montaner Award Interamerican Institute for Democracy.