Sydney Peace Prize
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English The Sydney Peace Prize is awarded by the Sydney Peace Foundation,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
SupportEdit
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.
The prizeEdit
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:
- 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
ConsiderationsEdit
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."<ref name=smh-2004 />
Prize winnersEdit
- 1998 – Professor Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank for the poor and Nobel Peace Prize recipient
- 1999 – Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize recipient
- 2000 – Xanana Gusmão, the poet-artist and president of East Timor
- 2001 – Sir William Deane, the former Governor-General of Australia<ref name="award 2001" />
- 2002 – Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- 2003 – Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian academic and human rights campaigner
- 2004 – Arundhati Roy, Indian novelist and peace activist
- 2005 – Olara Otunnu, United Nations Under Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict from Uganda
- 2006 – Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International
- 2007 – Hans Blix, chairman of the UN Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission
- 2008 – Patrick Dodson, chairman of the Lingiari Foundation, "father of reconciliation"
- 2009 – John Pilger, Australian journalist and documentary maker
- 2010 – Vandana Shiva, Indian social justice and environmental activist, eco-feminist and author
- 2011 – Noam Chomsky, American linguist and activist<ref name=smh-2011 />
- 2012 – Sekai Holland, Zimbabwean Senator<ref name="award 2012" />
- 2013 – Cynthia Maung, Burmese doctor<ref name="award 2013" />
- 2014 – Julian Burnside, Australian barrister, human rights and refugee advocate<ref name="award 2014" /><ref name="SBS 2014" />
- 2015 – George Gittoes, Australian artist who chronicles conflicts around the world<ref name="award 2015" />
- 2016 – Naomi Klein, Canadian journalist, author and prominent activist for climate justice<ref name="SBS 2016" />
- 2017 – Black Lives Matter, International civil rights activist movement<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2018 – Joseph E. Stiglitz, American economist and academic<ref name=smh-2018 />
- 2019 – Tarana Burke and Tracey Spicer, American founders of the #MeToo Movement<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2020 – Midnight Oil, Australian rock band<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2021–2022 – The Uluru Statement from the Heart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- 2023 – Nazanin Boniadi, British actress and activist<ref name=khadem2023>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- 2025 – Navi Pillay, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Gold medal for Peace with JusticeEdit
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,<ref name="award 2001" /><ref name="smh-2004" /> Costa Rican Christina Figueres and Australian band Midnight Oil.<ref name=":0" />