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Nomination Process

Awarding the Sydney Peace Prize

The 2021-22 peace prize winner has been selected and was awarded to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The jury are currently deliberating on the 2023 Prize winner.

All public nominations will now be considered for 2024 prize. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.

By celebrating solutions that prove peace is possible, the Sydney Peace Foundation aims to inspire and empower people from all walks of life to make peace with justice a reality.

We do this primarily by awarding the Sydney Peace Prize, Australia’s only international prize for peace. The prize brings inspiring and exemplary stories of courage and dedication to global justice to the Australian and Sydney stage, educates the community on the work of the world’s most effective peacemakers, and honours the remarkable people at the heart of these stories.

The award has national and international significance in terms of support given to leaders for peace. It also identifies Sydney as a city with a prominent peace agenda.

The recipient is awarded a $50,000 prize to further the cause of peace with justice and a hand-made glass trophy crafted by Australian artist Brian Hirst. They spend a week in Sydney to promote understanding of their work by engaging with the media, delivering the City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture, and attending other events including Cabramatta High School Peace Day.

Selection criteria

The Sydney Peace Prize is awarded to an organization or an individual whose life and work has demonstrated significant contributions to: 

  • The achievement of peace with justice locally, nationally or internationally
  • The promotion and attainment of human rights
  • The philosophy, language and practice of nonviolence

The Foundation has not sought candidates with impeccable records, as efforts for peace and human rights are often controversial. Neither has the Foundation regarded a Peace Prize recipient as someone who must be associated with a specific event, such as a ceasefire in hostilities or the signing of a peace treaty. Recipients may also have received little public recognition for such work.

Submitting a nomination

Everyone can nominate. Whether you’re a Sydneysider, live somewhere else in Australia, or live abroad – the Sydney Peace Foundation welcomes you to nominate. The Sydney Peace Prize is Australia’s international prize for peace, and each winner inspires us to be the change we want to see. Have your say and nominate your role model here.

Who have you been admiring from afar? Who you want to see on the Sydney stage?

Whose message needs to be heard by the Australian community, media, corporate world and politicians?

Nominate them for the Prize!

The Sydney Peace Foundation accepts nominations in writing or email. The 2021 Sydney Peace Prize recipient has been chosen. We are accepting nominations for the 2022 Peace Prize. Nominations should be accompanied by an explanation as to merit of the nomination against the criteria for selection (approximately 200 words), together with as much relevant supporting material as possible.

Submit a nomination online

Download the nomination form here. 

Email nominations to:
The Executive Officer

The Jury and the process of deliberation

The Sydney Peace Prize Recipient is selected by the Sydney Peace Prize Jury. The Jury comprises up to seven members, including at least three members independent of the Executive Committee. The Jury membership reflects a balance of men and women of diverse backgrounds. The Jury’s meetings are convened and chaired by the Convenor of the Jury.

The Jury’s selects a recipient after considering candidates from wide and diverse fields. A theme generally emerges from this deliberation and from the Jury’s selection that reflects issues of particular resonance at that time.

At the first meeting, Jury members are reminded of the three selection criteria and also:
(i) that each nomination be taken as seriously as any other, i.e. there can be no summary dismissal of anyone’s nomination, and
(ii) that the candidate must be able to give a public lecture in Sydney

Occasionally the Foundation has set a theme in advance, providing a framework for a more targeted advocacy program that responds to the issues arising in that year.

Confidentiality

All processes and deliberations of the Jury are subject to strict confidentiality. The principle of confidentiality has been adhered to in several ways:

  • Nominations are treated confidentially by the Jury.
  • Nominees are not informed that they have been nominated.
  • The minutes of Jury meetings are confidential.
  • The name of the selected recipient is not made public until they have accepted offer of the Prize.
  • A prospective recipient’s unwillingness or inability to accept the Prize is not made public, thus making possible a reconvening of the Jury with a view to selecting another candidate.
  • Each Jury member’s identity and views are not for public comment even if, inevitably, some members have strong feelings about the merits of nominees.

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