Meet Cynthia:
Dr Maung, an ethnic Karen, fled her native Burma during the pro-democracy uprising of 1988 and set up the Mae Tao Clinic on the Thai-Burmese border, where each year 700 staff treat over 150,000 people including refugees, migrant workers and orphans. Dr Maung has advanced the cause of peace in the AsiaPacific region and upheld the best humanitarian and ethical traditions of the medical profession.
The Sydney Peace Prize Jury’s citation reads: “Dr Maung: for her dedication to multi-ethnic democracy, human rights and the dignity of the poor and dispossessed, and for establishing health services for victims of conflict.”
Watch a short 5 min introductory video from Karen News – available on Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook.
See photos in a Photogallery of Mae Tao Clinic taken by Fairfax photographer Brendan Esposito, published on 16 August 2013 in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WA Today, and The Canberra Times.
Watch ‘A moment with Dr Cynthia Maung’, published on the 16th of August 2013 on the website of the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Brisbane Times, and WA Today.
Read more in a feature article “Fragile Sanctuary” written by Sharon Bradley in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend, 17 August 2013. Bradley’s article was also published in the The Age, The Canberra Times, The Brisbane Times, WA Today, The Examiner, The Scone Advocate, The Illawara Mercury and The Maitland Mercury.
Read about Dr Maung in article “Peace Prize winner fights for survival of her health clinic” by Sharon Bradley in the Sydney Morning Herald, 17 August 2013. This article was also published in The Age, The Canberra Times, WA Today, The Scone Advocate and The Examiner.
Read about Dr Maung’s announcement as this year’s Syndey Peace Prize recipient “Humanitarian Doctor to Receive 2013 Sydney Peace Prize” on New Zealand’s independent news website Scoop, 17 August 2013.
Read about the AusAID cuts in “Burmese refugees the forgotten victims of AusAID cuts” by PhD scholar Belinda Thompson, Crikey, 24 October 2013
Listen to an interview with Belinda Thompson, “AusAid cuts hurt Burmese refugees“, produced by Bridget Backhaus, The Wire (radio) 25 October 2013. Audio file.
Read about the Mae Tao Clinic in article “Medical Inspiration” written by David Hirsch, Medical Journal of Australia on 28 October 2013.
Listen to an interview with Stuart Rees on SBS Radio Burmese, produced by Terrell Oung, 2 November 2013.
Read AAP Ron Corben’s article “Aid cuts may weaken Myanmar refugee clinic“, published on 3 November 2013, at news.com.au, in The Australian, The Herald Sun, The Townsville Bulletin, The Mercury, and The Geelong Advertiser.
Read about Dr Maung’s message in “Burma still fragile: Peace Prize winner” by APP, published on 4 November 2013, on news.com.au, SBS news, in The Australian, The Herald Sun, The Gold Coast Bulletin, The Townsville Bulletin, The Mercury, and The Geelong Advertiser.
Listen to “Karen refugee clinic pioneer wins Sydney Peace Prize“, a radio interview with Sen Lam, Asia-Pacific, Radio Australia, 5 November 2013
Listen to “Burmese doctor wins Sydney Peace Prize“, a radio conversation with Phillip Adams and Jane Singleton, Late Night Live, Radio National, 4 November 2013
Read “Myanmar refugee doctor wins Sydney Peace Prize“, on ABC Australian Network News and 936 ABC Hobart News, 5 November 2013
Read about AusAid’s funding cuts in Henry Zwartz’s article “Peace Prize Recipient Honoured for Burma Border Clinic – Australia Cuts Her Funding” on Karennews.org.
Read about AusAid’s funding cuts in “Australia Govt Cuts Dr Cynthia’s Funding” on Karennews.org.
Read about the parallels between Dr Cynthia Maung and Aung San Suu Kyi in Susan Banki’s article “Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi, Cynthia Maung to receive honorary degrees in Sydney“, published on 7 November 2013 in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Canberra Times, The Brisbane Times and WA Today.
Read “Dr Cynthia in ‘shock and pain’ after losing Australian funding” on The Democratic Voice of Burma, published on 7 November 2013
Listen to “Cynthia Maung: Sydney Peace Prize Winner“, a radio conversation with Ron Sutton, SBS World News Australia Radio, 8 November 2013. Podcast here.
Read “Burma’s famous ‘refugee’ doctor wins Sydney Peace Prize” in The University of Sydney News, 8 November 2013
Read “A Healthcare Heroine” about Dr Maung’s visit to the Crawford School of Public Policy at the ANU College of Asia & the Pacific.
For media inquiries please contact: Jane Singleton (Director) or Lisa Fennis (Events and Media Assistant) on 9351 4763 /
On Wednesday 6 November, Dr Cynthia Maung presented the City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture, which included a conversation with esteemed Australian journalist Mary Kostakidis:
Sydney Peace Prize 2013 Dr Cynthia Maung from Sydney Peace Foundation on Vimeo.
On Thursday 7 November, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore presented Dr Cynthia Maung the 2013 Sydney Peace Prize:
2013 Sydney Peace Prize Award Ceremony: Dr Cynthia Maung from Sydney Peace Foundation on Vimeo.