ABOUT THE LIBERTY MEDAL

The Liberty Medal is awarded annually by the National Constitution Center to men and women of courage and conviction who have strived to secure the blessings of liberty to people the world over. The Liberty Medal was established by We the People 2000 celebration of the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution to heighten recognition of the principles that founded this nation and to serve as a lasting legacy to the Constitution.

 

The Liberty Medal was administered by the National Constitution Center for the second time last year, when Bono, U2 lead singer and activist, and DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), the advocacy organization he co-founded were honored for helping focus public attention on how to beat AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa. In 2006, the Medal was awarded to President George H.W. Bush and President William J. Clinton. A global initiative of the Constitution Center, the Liberty Medal reflects the values of the U.S. Constitution -- a belief in justice, fairness, self-governance, and a balance between individual rights and communal responsibility; in the power of people to effectuate change; and in resolving issues through deliberation, compromise, and respect for diverse viewpoints.   

 

Past Liberty Medal winners include Vaclav Havel, Nelson Mandela, Shimon Peres, Kofi Annan, and Sandra Day O’Connor. The Medal has also been awarded to organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and CNN International.  Six former recipients of the Medal have subsequently won the Nobel Peace Prize.