Transcripts, videos and recordings

2021-22 The Uluru Statement From the Heart

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

2019 The Me Too movement

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

2018 Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz

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

2017 Black Lives Matter

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

2016 Naomi Klein

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

2015 Dr George Gittoes AM

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

2014 Julian Burnside AO QC

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

2013 Dr Cynthia Maung

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

2012 Senator Sekai Holland

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

2011 Professor Noam Chomsky

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

2010 Dr Vandana Shiva

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

2009 John Pilger

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

2008 Patrick Dodson

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

2007 Hans Blix

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

2006 Irene Khan

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

2005 Olara Otunnu

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

2004 Arundhati Roy

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

2003 Dr Hanan Ashrawi

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

2002 Mary Robinson

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

Mary Robinson speaking on climate change and human rights

2001 Sir William Deane AC KBE

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

2000 Xanana Gusmão

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

1999 Archbishop Desmond Tutu

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

1998 Professor Muhammad Yunus

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