Rosa María Payá Acevedo is founder and leader of the Cuba Decide movement, the citizen mobilization initiative for systemic change in Cuba. She serves as Executive Director of the Foundation for Pan American Democracy, a human rights defender and expert in Latin American politics. She has built unprecedented coordination among democratic forces in Cuba, through the Freedom Accord, and across the hemisphere. Under her leadership, the Latin American Youth Network for Democracy—where she serves as Honorary President— united over 100 organizations spanning 20 countries. She established the Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum, forging legislative alliances to advance human rights on the global stage. Her work has shaped initiatives with the OAS and driven action before the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch, the UN, and the European Parliament. She was elected by OAS member states as Commissioner to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the sole hemispheric body charged with promoting and protecting human rights in the Americas, for the 2026-2029 term. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Havana and a Master’s in Public Administration in Global Leadership from Columbia University. Her thought leadership has earned international recognition and coverage in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Fox News, CNN, and major global media outlets.
