Alicia Lira Honors Collective Resilience in Acceptance of the 2026 National Human Rights Award

Original article: “Nunca nos quitaron la alegría ni la esperanza”: Alicia Lira recibe el Premio Nacional de Derechos Humanos 2026

The Centro Cultural La Moneda witnessed a historic day this Wednesday, as Alicia Lira, president of the Group of Families of Executed Political Prisoners (AFEP), received the 2026 National Human Rights Award. The hall, filled with officials, academics, and representatives from social organizations, erupted in prolonged applause that underscored the significance of an award that, rather than being personal, resonates with the collective memory of a country still grappling with the scars of dictatorship. The eighth edition of this award, bestowed by the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH), thus concluded a decades-long career dedicated to the tireless pursuit of truth and justice.

The INDH Council based its decision on Lira’s relentless efforts not only within the judicial sphere but also in strengthening historical memory, and advancing human rights beyond Chile’s borders.

Yerko Ljubetic, the director of the organization, emphasized that the honoree expanded the traditional scope of defense by incorporating work with children and education.

«Alicia Lira promoted essential books on how horror affected girls, boys, and adolescents differently,» Ljubetic pointed out, also highlighting her role as an international observer in conflicts such as those in Palestine, Guatemala, and Colombia, as well as her support for victims of state violence during the social upheaval in Chile.

In a political context marked by the resurgence of denialist discourses, Lira stands as a bulwark against historical distortion. Ljubetic raised concerns about what he termed an «assault on memory,» where there are attempts to alter and refute the events surrounding the systematic violations of human rights in the country.

«We are witnessing a siege as well concerning memory, regarding what occurred in the country,» he warned, while also emphasizing the importance of the legacy of the president of the Group of Families of Executed Political Prisoners, in difficult times for democracy.

 «They Never Took Away Our Joy or Hope«

Upon taking the floor, Alicia Lira dedicated the award to her fellow members of the memory sites and organizations, asserting the collective nature of the struggle. «This award is for all of us, for my companions from the memory sites, for my fellow members of the organizations, because it has been a long, terrible road, but they never took away our joy or hope. We are a collective,» she expressed with a firm voice, directly connecting with the spirit of the statement that headlines this article.

The leader took the opportunity to make a call to civil society to adopt the human rights cause as their own.

«The issue of human rights belongs to everyone. Claim the names of our loved ones who are missing and executed political prisoners. You don’t need to consult or ask family members; they belong to the people, to the community,» she urged, as reported by Diario U. de Chile.

However, the awardee’s speech also contained a tone of warning regarding current challenges. Lira expressed her concern over regressions in human rights, mentioning illegal adoptions and the remaining impunity.

«This award serves as another tool to denounce the existing impunity and the regressions that have been implemented in matters of human rights during this time,» she asserted.

 Her closing remarks reaffirmed the pending objectives: the quest for truth and full justice, both for the victims of the dictatorship and for those affected by the social upheaval, making clear that her struggle continues.

«Our ultimate goal is truth, full justice in cases of human rights violations during the dictatorship, as well as for victims of the social upheaval,» she emphasized.