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Patrick Dodson wins 2008 Sydney Peace Prize

Mr Patrick Dodson has been awarded the 2008 Sydney Peace Prize for his 'courageous advocacy of the human rights of Indigenous people, for distinguished leadership of the reconciliation movement and for a lifetime of commitment to peace with justice, through dialogue and many other expressions on non violence'.

Chair of the Sydney Peace Foundation Alan Cameron says, "It is significant that the Peace Prize jury's choice of Patrick Dodson can build on the momentum for justice and reconciliation for Indigenous people which was given such a boost by Sorry Day on February 13th."

Peace Foundation Director Professor Stuart Rees comments, "The jury was impressed with Patrick's work for reconciliation internationally - in Northern Ireland and in South Africa - as well as by his creative leadership of the Lingiari Foundation and as inaugural chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. In the history of this Peace Prize, Patrick is only the second Australian recipient. In 2001, former Governor General Sir William Deane was recognized for his work with Aboriginal Australians and on that occasion he was presented with the Prize by the Reconciliation chair, Patrick Dodson."

Speaking from Broome, Mr. Dodson has responded, "I would be very honoured to receive the Sydney Peace Prize. I thank the jury for considering me and my work worthy of such recognition."

Other distinguished recipients of Australia's only international prize for peace have included previous Nobel winners Professor Muhammad Yunus and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, Indian author and human rights campaigner Arundhati Roy and, last year, the Swedish diplomat and disarmament advocate Dr. Hans Blix.

Patrick Dodson will give the City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture on November 5th in the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House. On November 6th he will receive the 2008 Sydney Peace Prize at a gala ceremony in the Great Hall of Sydney University and on the morning of Friday 7th November he will be the guest of 1500 high school students in a festival of welcome and gratitude hosted by Cabramatta High School.

The Sydney Peace Prize

The Sydney Peace Prize is the only International Peace Prize awarded in Australia. This Prize has global significance in terms of the support and recognition given to leaders for peace.

The citation for the Sydney Peace Prize refers to significant contributions to 'peace with justice', which could include:
treaties to achieve nuclear disarmament, to ban land mines, and to end religious and ethnic violence.
initiatives to abolish the injustices of hunger and poverty, unemployment, homelessness and illiteracy, domestic violence and infant mortality.
individual and community fulfilment through the creation of rewarding opportunities in employment and education.

Each year the prize is awarded to an organisation or individual
who has made significant contributions to global peace including improvements in personal security and steps towards eradicating poverty, and other forms of structural violence
whose role and responsibilities enable the recipient to use the prize to further the cause of peace with justice
whose work illustrates the philosophy and principles of non-violence.

The Sydney Peace Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which was created in 1998 as a partnership between business, media, public service, community and academic interests. The Foundation aims to promote peace with justice in Australia. Peace with justice relates to a way of thinking and acting which promotes non-violent solutions to every day problems and contributes to the development of civil societies.

For more information : Sydney Peace Foundation