Chen Guangcheng, who has been blind since a young age and is self-taught in law, has become one of China’s most prominent human rights defenders. He has represented hundreds of Chinese villagers in rights-violation cases and has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and rule of law in China. Following his daring escape from house arrest in April 2012 and intervention by the highest levels of American government, Guangcheng was granted a visa to come to the United States where he is currently studying at New York University’s School of Law. He is being honored with this award for the courage he shows — in the spirit of Oxi Day — to promote human rights and democratic values in China.