The Sydney Peace Prize is awarded by the Sydney Peace Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation associated with the University of Sydney. The Sydney Peace Prize is the only international peace prize awarded in Australia.
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 within Sydney.
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
The jury has been prepared to make some controversial choices. Sydney Peace Foundation Director, 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." (SMH)
In 2003 the awarding of the prize to Dr. Hanan Ashrawi sparked some debate and protests, arising from Ashrawi's role as a Palestinian spokesperson in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In 2004 conservative commentator Gerard Henderson criticised the award being presented to Arundhati Roy given her support for resistance to United States forces involved in the Iraq War. Roy's supporters defended her views on the basis that she advocated non-violent resistance only.
Read more about Sydney Peace Prize: Prize Winners, Gold Medal For Peace With Justice
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