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Previous winners
2007
Hans Blix, Swedish diplomat, international human rights lawyer, weapons inspector and disarmament campaigner
The citation for the award reads: ‘Hans Blix, for principled and courageous opposition to proponents of war in Iraq, for life long advocacy of humanitarian law and non violence and for leadership of disarmament programs to rid the world of weapons of terror.’
Alan Cameron, Chair of the Sydney Peace Foundation, said, ‘It is highly relevant that in this 10 th anniversary year of the Sydney Peace Prize, the jury focussed on universal disarmament as a major peace issue and chose one of the most significant campaigner against the manufacture and possession of arms of all kinds.’
When notified of the news, Dr. Blix responded from Stockholm: ‘It is with surprise, gratitude and pride that I received notice of my selection as the recipient of the 2007 Sydney Peace Prize. While I am at present deeply engaged in urging a revival of disarmament in line with the recommendations of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission (WMD) that I chaired, I am particularly happy that the jury also referred to my work on principles of humanitarian law… It will be a great pleasure to come to Sydney to receive the award, to give the City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture; and to speak with school and university students and representatives of the media.’
Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation, Professor Emeritus Stuart Rees, says that the choice of Dr. Blix ‘signals a need for an Australian Government to revive the work of the 1996 Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons although, as chair of the WMD Commission, Hans Blix’s interpretation of disarmament ranges from small guns to biological, chemical and nuclear weapons.’ Rees adds: ‘It was impressive that other members of the Commission praised Hans Blix for his personal diplomacy and unique skills as chairman. These qualities enabled the Commission to reach a successful outcome.’
Previous recipients of the Sydney Prize – the only international award for peace in Australia and currently worth $50,000 – included the inaugural Sydney recipient and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, former Governor General of Australia Sir William Deane, former UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson, and the celebrated Indian author and human rights campaigner Arundhati Roy.
Dr. Blix gave the City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture on November 7th in the Sydney Town Hall. He received the 2007 Peace Prize at a Gala Award Ceremony on November 8th in the Great Hall of The University of Sydney.
Transcripts available -
Download file
(mp3 - 27MB download)
Read about Hans Blix 's visit to Australia in News & Events.
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2006
Irene Khan , Secretary General of Amnesty International
The Jury's citation recognises:
“Irene Khan’s leadership as a courageous advocate of universal respect for human rights, her skills in identifying violence against women as a massive injustice and therefore a priority in campaigning for peace”.
The recipient of the 2006 Sydney Peace Prize is Ms. Irene Khan the Secretary General of Amnesty International.
Announcing the decision, Alan Cameron AM, Chair of the Sydney Peace Foundation, referred to the jury’s citation which recognises, “Irene Khan’s leadership as a courageous advocate of universal respect for human rights, her skills in identifying violence against women as a massive injustice and therefore a priority in campaigning for peace”.
Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation, Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees said, “The peace prize jury recognised the significance of Ms Khan’s efforts to eliminate violence towards women, whether that violence was caused by poverty, by men’s abusive power, by cultural norms or religious traditions. We are also impressed by her diversity – someone who was brought up as a Muslim in Bangladesh, who has married into another culture, who was educated in three different countries and has served the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for over 20 years before becoming Secretary General of Amnesty International”.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Sydney Peace Prize” said Irene Khan from Amnesty International’s London headquarters. “Through this award, the Sydney Peace Foundation recognizes that there can be no peace without justice and respect for human rights. I passionately believe in the power of human rights as a set of global values to bring our fractured and divided world together. Around the world human rights activists are giving hope to millions of people - women, indigenous people, the poor and the marginalised - in their struggle for equality and dignity. This award is for them. In their name I accept this award with humility and with gratitude”.
Transcripts available -
Download file
(mp3 - 27.8MB download)
Read about Irene Khan 's visit to Australia in News & Events (Past Events - 2006).
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2005
Olara Otunnu, United Nations Under Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict
The Sydney Peace Prize jury’s citation refers to Mr Otunnu’s ‘lifetime commitment to human rights, his ceaseless efforts to protect children in time of war and his promotion of measures for the healing and social reintegration of children in the aftermath of conflict’.
The 2005 Sydney Peace Prize was presented to Olara Otunnu by
Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir
AC, the Governor of New South Wales
at the Great Hall, University of Sydney, on Thursday 10 November
.
Read about Olara Otunnu's visit to Australia in News & Events (Past Events - 2005).
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| 2004 Arundhati Roy, author and human rights campaigner.
On 4 November 2004, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir
AC, the Governor of New South Wales, presented the 2004 Sydney
Peace Prize to Arundhati Roy. The Award Ceremony was held at
McLaurin Hall at the University of Sydney.
The jury's citation read, "Arundhati Roy has been recognized for her courage in campaigns for human rights and for her advocacy of non violence, as expressed in her demands for justice for the poor, for the victims of communal violence, for the millions displaced by the Narmada dam projects and by her opposition to nuclear weapons".
From New Delhi, Ms Roy commented, 'I am honoured to accept the prize'. On non violence as a criterion for the award, Arundhati Roy says, 'Today, in a world convulsed by violence and unbelievable brutality the lines between 'us' and 'the terrorists' have been completely blurred… We don't have to choose between Imperialism and Terrorism, we have to choose what form of resistance will rid us of both. What shall we choose? Violence or non violence? …We have to choose knowing that when we are violent to our enemies, we do violence to ourselves. When we brutalize others, we brutalize ourselves. And eventually we run the risk of becoming our oppressors'.
Commenting on the selection of Ms Roy, the Director of the Peace Foundation Professor Stuart Rees said, ‘Arundhati Roy is a distinguished world citizen. She was chosen for her opposition to the violence of poverty in India and for her commitment to the global cause of peace with justice. As a writer she challenges the world. She is an outstanding communicator who writes with great clarity and grace. She insists that ‘silence is indefensible’, that 'Peace is not the opposite of war. Peace is the sibling of justice’. At a time of terrible disregard for human life, we need to hear from citizens like Arundhati Roy. Her presence in Sydney will be exciting and encouraging.’
Ms Roy is perhaps best known for her Booker Prize-winning novel, The God of Small Things.
Read about Arundhati’s visit to Australia in News & Events (Past Events - 2004).
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Photo: Pradip Krishen
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| 2003 Dr Hanan Ashrawi, Founder and Secretary General of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH). For her commitment to human rights, to the peace process in the Middle East and for her courage in speaking against oppression, against corruption and for justice.
The 2003 Sydney Peace Prize was presented to Dr Hanan Ashrawi by NSW Premier Bob Carr at NSW Parliament House.
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2002 Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, former President of Ireland. For her leadership in advocating respect for human rights and for her courage in standing up for the powerless against the interests of powerful individuals and governments.
The 2002 Sydney Peace Prize was presented to Mary Robinson at NSW Parliament House by Rt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen.
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2001 Sir William Deane AC KBE, former Governor General of Australia . For his consistent support of vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians and his strong commitment to the cause of reconciliation.
The 2001 Sydney Peace Prize was presented to Sir William Deane AC KBE at the Great Hall, University of Sydney, by Patrick Dodson.
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2000 Xanana Gusmão, East Timorese leader, currently (2004) President of East Timor. Courageous and principled leader for the independence of the East Timorese people.
The 2000 Sydney Peace Prize was presented to Xanana Gusmão at the Great Hall, University of Sydney by Rt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen.
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1999 Archbishop Desmond Tutu. For his work as Chairman of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Nobel Prize winner, leader of anti-apartheid movement against racial oppression, tireless campaigner for reconciliation through tolerance and forgiveness.
The 1999 Sydney Peace Prize was presented to Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Great Hall, University of Sydney, by Sir William Deane AC KBE.
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1998 Professor Muhammad Yunus, Founder of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh.
Innovator in work for the world's poor, inspiring advocate of the view that peace is freedom from poverty.
The 1998 Sydney Peace Prize was presented to Professor Muhammad Yunus at the Great Hall, University of Sydney, by His Excellency the Governor General of Australia, Sir William Deane AC KBE.
A few years later, Professor Yunus went on to win the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize
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