International jurist and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Sydney Peace Prize citation
“for a lifetime of advocating for fundamental human rights, peace with justice and the rights of women, all of which serves a clarion call in the face of a growing culture of impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, towards accountability and responsibility.”
Lecture: Human rights, international law and accountability
International humanitarian movement
Sydney Peace Prize citation
The 2024 Sydney Peace Prize is awarded to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a humanitarian network of more than 16 million volunteers and staff, for saving lives and preventing the suffering of people affected by armed conflict and for the Movement’s commitment to International Humanitarian Law.
Lecture: Protecting humanity and upholding international humanitarian law
Iranian-born actor and advocate
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For drawing attention to human rights violations, for lending a powerful voice to support Iranian women and girls and their #WomanLifeFreedom movement, and for using a high profile platform to promote freedom and justice in Iran.
Lecture: Human rights in Iran and pathways toward fundamental change for a more just society.
An invitation to the Australian people to walk with First Nations people to create a better future
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For bringing together Australia’s First Nations Peoples around a clear and comprehensive agenda; for facilitating healing and peace within our Nation; and for delivering self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, enabling Australia to move into the future with unity and confidence.
Lecture: A Voice to Parliament and a united Australia
Global women-led movement of solidarity with survivors of sexual violence and harassment
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For empowering survivors of sexual harassment and violence, and elevating their voices; for championing truth and justice; for highlighting the breadth and impact of sexual violence worldwide; and for launching a demand for change that is sweeping the world
Lecture: Towards a world free from sexual violence
Nobel Prize Winner, champion for global economic justice
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For leading a global conversation about the crisis caused by economic inequality, for exposing the violence inflicted by market fundamentalism, and for championing just solutions to the defining challenge of our time; How can we break the cycle of power and greed to enable all peoples and the planet to flourish?
Lecture: Another world is possible
Movement for freedom, justice and dignity for all Black lives
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For building a powerful movement for racial equality, courageously reigniting a global conversation around state violence and racism. And for harnessing the potential of new platforms and power of people to inspire a bold movement for change at a time when peace is threatened by growing inequality and injustice.
Lecture: Freedom and justice for all Black lives
Canadian award-winning author, journalist, and activist
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For exposing the structural causes and responsibility for the climate crisis, for inspiring us to stand up locally, nationally and internationally to demand a new agenda for sharing the planet that respects human rights and equality, and for reminding us of the power of authentic democracy to achieve transformative change and justice.
Download lecture (PDF): Captain Cook’s Climate
Humanist artist, activist and filmmaker
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For exposing injustice for over 45 years as a humanist artist, activist and filmmaker, for his courage to witness and confront violence in the war zones of the world, for enlisting the arts to subdue aggression and for enlivening the creative spirit to promote tolerance, respect and peace with justice.
Lecture: Art and not War
Australian barrister, human rights advocate and author
Sydney Peace citation
For his brave and principled advocacy for human rights and for those wronged by government, for insisting that we respect our international legal obligations toward those seeking asylum, and for his unflinching defence of the rule of law as a means to achieve a more peaceful and just society.
Download lecture (PDF): Without Justice there will not be Peace
Founder of Mae Tao Clinic
Sydney Peace citation
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.
Lecture: Health, Healing and Dignity for the Dispossessed
Co Minister for Reconciliation Healing and Integration in the Cabinet of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
Sydney Peace citation
For a lifetime of outstanding courage in campaigning for human rights and democracy, for challenging violence in all its forms and for giving such astute and brave leadership for the empowerment of women.
Lecture: Celebrating our Diversity as we Build an Inclusive Society
Distinguished American linguist, social scientist and human rights campaigner
Sydney Peace citation
For inspiring the convictions of millions about a common humanity and for unfailing moral courage. For critical analysis of democracy and power, for challenging secrecy, censorship and violence and for creating hope through scholarship and activism to promote the attainment of universal human rights.
Download lecture (PDF): Revolutionary Pacifism: Choices and Prospects
Scientist, environmentalist and feminist
Sydney Peace citation
For her courageous leadership of movements for social justice – the empowerment of women in developing countries, advocacy of the human rights of small farming communities and for her scientific analysis of environmental sustainability.
Lecture: Health, Healing and Dignity for the Dispossessed
Australian world-renowned journalist, author and film-maker
Sydney Peace citation
For his work as an author, film-maker and journalist as well as for courage as a foreign and war correspondent in enabling the voices of the powerless to be heard and for commitment to peace with justice by exposing and holding government sot account for human rights abuses and for fearless challenges to censorship in any form.
Download lecture (PDF): Breaking Australia’s Silence
Chairman, Lingiari Foundation
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For his courageous advocacy of the human rights of Indigenous people, for distinguished leadership of the reconciliation movement and for a life time of commitment to peace with justice.
Download lecture (PDF): In Search of Change – Robed in Justice
Swedish diplomat, international human rights lawyer, weapons inspector and disarmament campaigner
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For his 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.
Download lecture (PDF): The Globalization of Peace
Secretary General of Amnesty International
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For her leadership as a courageous advocate of universal respect for human rights, and her skills in identifying violence against women as a massive injustice and therefore a priority in campaigning for peace.
Download lecture (PDF): Tough Choices in a Tough World: Peace, Security and Human Rights
Ugandan politician, diplomat, and lawyer
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For a 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.
Download lecture (PDF): Saving our Children from the Scourge of War
Indian Author and human rights campaigner
Sydney Peace Prize citation
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.
Download lecture (PDF): Peace & The New Corporate Liberation Theology
Founder and Secretary General of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH)
Sydney Peace Prize citation
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.
Download lecture (PDF): Peace in the Middle East, A Global Challenge and Human Imperative
Distinguished lawyer, former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For her leadership and advocacy to uphold respect for human rights and for her consistent support and courage in standing up for the world’s vulnerable and disadvantaged against the interests of powerful individuals and governments.
Download lecture (PDF): Peace Through the Attainment of Human Rights
Former Governor General of Australia
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For his consistent support of vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians and his strong commitment to the cause of reconciliation.
Download lecture (PDF): Justice for Indigenous People: The Peace Priority
President of the National Council for East Timorese Resistance and subsequently the First President of East Timor
Sydney Peace Prize citation
Courageous and principal leader for the independence of the East Timorese people, a statesman in the causes of human rights and peace with justice.
Download lecture (PDF): Peace Building a Priority for East Timor
Chairman, South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Sydney Peace Prize citation
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.
Download lecture (PDF): Reconciliation and Justice as the Road to Peace
Founder of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh
Sydney Peace Prize citation
For his innovative work enabling the world’s poor to become independent through access to microfinance, and for his inspiring advocacy of view that poverty is the denial of all human rights and that peace is freedom from poverty
Download lecture (PDF): Peace is Freedom from Poverty