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Sydney Peace Prize

The Sydney Peace Prize is awarded by the Sydney Peace Foundation,[1] a non profit organisation associated with the University of Sydney. The prize promotes peace with justice and the practice of nonviolence. It aims to encourage public interest and discussion about issues of peace, social justice, human rights, and non-violent conflict resolution.[2]

Support[edit]

The City of Sydney is a major supporter of the Sydney Peace Prize. This involves a significant financial contribution along with other in-kind support in order to foster peace with justice.

who has made significant contributions to global peace including improvements in personal security and steps towards eradicating poverty, and other forms of

structural violence

whose role and responsibilities enable the recipient to use the prize to further the cause of peace with justice

whose work illustrates the philosophy and principles of non-violence

Over three months each year, the Sydney Peace Prize jury – comprising seven individuals who represent corporate, media, academic and community sector interests – assesses the merits of the nominees' efforts to promote peace with justice. It is awarded to an organisation or individual:

Considerations[edit]

The jury has been prepared to make some controversial choices. Sydney Peace Foundation Founder, Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees, said, "The initiators of the Sydney Peace Prize aimed to influence public interest in peace with justice, an ideal which is often perceived as controversial. The choice of a non-controversial candidate for a peace prize would be a safe option but unlikely to prompt debate or to increase understanding. Consensus usually encourages compliance, often anaesthetises and seldom informs."[3]

1998 – Professor , the founder of the Grameen Bank for the poor and Nobel Peace Prize recipient

Muhammad Yunus

1999 – Archbishop Emeritus , Nobel Peace Prize recipient

Desmond Tutu

2000 – , the poet-artist and president of East Timor

Xanana Gusmão

2001 – Sir , the former Governor-General of Australia[4]

William Deane

2002 – , former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Mary Robinson

2003 – Dr. , Palestinian academic and human rights campaigner

Hanan Ashrawi

2004 – , Indian novelist and peace activist

Arundhati Roy

2005 – , United Nations Under Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict from Uganda

Olara Otunnu

2006 – , Secretary General of Amnesty International

Irene Khan

2007 – , chairman of the UN Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission

Hans Blix

2008 – , chairman of the Lingiari Foundation

Patrick Dodson

2009 – , Australian journalist and documentary maker

John Pilger

2010 – , Indian social justice and environmental activist, eco-feminist and author

Vandana Shiva

2011 – , American linguist and activist[5]

Noam Chomsky

2012 – , Zimbabwean Senator[6]

Sekai Holland

2013 – , Burmese doctor[7]

Cynthia Maung

2014 – , Australian barrister, human rights and refugee advocate[8][9]

Julian Burnside

2015 – , Australian artist who chronicles conflicts around the world[10]

George Gittoes

2016 – , Canadian journalist, author and prominent activist for climate justice[11]

Naomi Klein

2017 – , International civil rights activist movement[12]

Black Lives Matter

2018 – , American economist and academic[13]

Joseph E. Stiglitz

2019 – and Tracey Spicer, American founders of the #MeToo Movement[14]

Tarana Burke

2020 – , Australian rock band[15]

Midnight Oil

2021–2022 – The [16][17][18]

Uluru Statement from the Heart

2023 – , British actress and activist[19]

Nazanin Boniadi

Gold medal for Peace with Justice[edit]

The foundation also occasionally awards a special gold medal for significant contributions to peace and justice. Winners of the gold medal include South African statesman Nelson Mandela, 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, Japanese Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda, WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange,[4][3] Costa Rican Christina Figueres and Australian band Midnight Oil.[15]

Sydney Peace Foundation