Australian barrister,
human rights advocate and 
author, Julian
Burnside AO QC was awarded the 2014 Sydney Peace Prize
on Wednesday 5th November 2014, at Sydney Town Hall.
He delivered the
2014 City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture, and
Professor The Hon. Dame Marie Bashir presented him with
the Prize in front of nearly 1500 people.
The Sydney Peace Prize
Gala Reception followed directly after
the Lecture and Award Ceremony, where 200 guests had the
opportunity to meet Julian Burnside and engage in a Q&A
moderated by distinguished journalist Richard Ackland and
enjoy entertainment from The Chaser’s Charles Firth, whilst
enjoying drinks and canapés.
The Sydney Peace Prize
Jury’s citation reads:
Julian
Burnside AO QC: “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.”
“Julian Burnside
is a splendid choice. All nominations were
remarkable people doing extraordinary things in a myriad
of ways, but the Jury chose Julian Burnside for his
unflinching advocacy
and commitment,” says Jane Singleton AM,
the Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation.
“I
am deeply honoured to be selected to receive thisyear’s
prize, especially in a year when Australia’s reputation
is being tarnished by its intentionally harsh treatment
of asylum seekers. I have long admired the work of
the Sydney Peace Foundation. It continues to advocate for
human rights and promote peace. It helps keeps our focus
on the importance of the rule of law, the need to treat
all human beings with compassion and the need to ensure
that human rights are respected,” says Julian Burnside
AO QC.
“Australia is
currently marooned at a moral and legal crossroads
over policies towards asylum seekers and refugees,” says
the founder of the Foundation, former Director,
Chair and current Vice Chair, Emeritus Professor Stuart
Rees AM, “Julian Burnside’s
decades long advocacy of
the of the human rights of some of the world’s most vulnerable
people makes him an extremely worthy recipient.”
Read
Julian Burnside's Speech
Julian Burnside with Peace Prize |
