Martin Butora

Martin Butora, Slovak Republic

"An advocate of democracy and human rights, Martin Butora, former Ambassador to the United States was a key activist in the Velvet Revolution as a member of the Public Against Violence movement, and later a vocal critic of Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar's authoritarian-style regime (1994-98). During the Meciar era, Butora participated in civic organizations that promoted democracy, condemned economic corruption, increased awareness of income disparity, and protested restrictions on free speech. Ambassador Butora served as then-Czechoslovak President Vaclav Havel's advisor for human rights until the 1993 breakup of Czechoslovakia."


 * White House "Champion of Freedom" (2005)
 * Advisory Board, Project on Justice in Times of Transition
 * Recipient of the 1999 NED Democracy Service Medal
 * Transatlantic Steering Group, Project on Democratic Transitions