October 31 marks 23 years since UN and Member States pledged their support for women’s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in peace and security. Yet women’s rights today are under ceaseless attack in contexts marked by intensifying conflict, rising authoritarianism, militarisation. Women’s participation in peace processes remains unacceptably low and is decreasing.

This is the third year in a row that the Nobel Peace Committee has chosen to honour human rights activism. This year’s award goes to Narges Mohammadi in recognition of her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all. She is an outstanding individual who has shown extraordinary courage over more than a quarter of a century.

This year’s Sydney Peace Prize is awarded to Nazanin Boniadi, an Iranian-born human rights activist, for lending a powerful voice to support Iranian women and girls and the #WomanLifeFreedom movement. The Annual Sydney Peace Prize Lecture and Award Ceremony is on 2 November at Sydney Town Hall. Join us to recognise the contribution of Australian and Iranian women’s rights activists. Event details and registration link can be found here.

Recognising the outstanding contribution of women human rights defenders and women peacebuilders such as Nazanin Boniadi highlights the important issue of gender equality as an essential factor in a country’s stability and security.

 Women’s rights are the backbone of resilient, peaceful, and democratic societies. If our national commitment to women peace and security means anything at all we must stand together for human rights and justice and elevate the many voices of solidarity and peace.

The Sydney Peace Prize Lecture and Award ceremony is on Thursday 2 November from 6:30 to 8pm at the Sydney Town Hall.

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This year’s Sydney Peace Prize Lecture will be delivered by Iranian-born human rights activist and actress Nazanin Boniadi at the Sydney Town Hall on 2 November.

The Sydney Peace Prize is Australia’s international prize for peace, recognising leading global voices who promote peace, justice and non-violence.

This year’s laureate is Iranian-born human rights activist and actress Nazanin Boniadi.

Ms Boniadi’s lecture will be followed by a panel interview featuring Australian-born Middle Eastern political scientist Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert – recently released from 804 days of Iranian imprisonment, together with Iranian journalist and author, Shokoofeh Azar.

The 2023 Sydney Peace Prize recognises Ms Boniadi’s decades-long commitment to advancing women’s rights in Iran, and the importance of the female-led #WomenLifeFreedom movement.

Following the death of 22-year-old Iranian woman Jina Mahsa Amini last year, Ms Boniadi was instrumental in bringing the human rights of women and others in Iran into sharp focus on the world stage, She has put the case before the UN Security Council, the US Senate Human Rights Caucus, the British Parliament, and forums across the globe.

The ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement has demonstrated the unifying power and potential of women’s rights as a lever for mobilisation and demands for change. The movement makes the pursuit of women’s rights an essential part of any pathway towards fundamental change in Iran.

Melanie Morrison, Sydney Peace Foundation Director, said: “In the Foundation’s 25th year, attention has turned to Iran and the powerful Woman, Life, Freedom movement. This year’s Sydney Peace Prize Laureate Ms Boniadi will provide a timely spotlight on Iran’s oppressive and violent actions against human rights activists. We call on all Australians to stand side-by-side with Iranians as they call for peace with justice in Iran.”

On accepting the Prize, Ms Boniadi said: “Receiving the Sydney Peace Prize is an extraordinary honour. As my compatriots in Iran are subjected to unspeakable assaults on their minds, bodies and souls and risk their lives to speak out against the injustices they experience daily, I can only dedicate this recognition to them and pledge to use this opportunity to further amplify their voices, centre them on the world stage, and support their dreams of a free, prosperous and secular democratic Iran.”

Sydney Peace Foundations’ partners in peace, the University of Sydney and City of Sydney, encourage the community to come together to talk about peace, justice and non-violence, and to honour one of the world’s most inspiring peacemakers.

Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO, said: “Since its inception at the University of Sydney, the Sydney Peace Foundation has reminded us that the pursuit of peace is not a passive endeavour but an active, ongoing commitment to justice and cooperation. We are very proud to partner with Sydney Peace Foundation in awarding Nazanin Boniadi and recognising her efforts in demanding a safer world, particularly for women in Iran.”

Foundation Patron and Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore AO, said: “For more than 20 years, the City of Sydney has partnered with the Sydney Peace Foundation to help create a peaceful, fair, just and compassionate world, I commend the Sydney Peace Foundation on its dedication to promoting peace and honouring champions of human rights, including this year’s worthy recipient, Nazanin Boniadi. Nazanin’s work resonates around the world. We congratulate and thank Nazanin for her long-time fight for justice and setting a shining example for turning outrage into action.”

The Sydney Peace Prize Lecture and Award ceremony is on Thursday 2 November from 6:30 to 8pm at the Sydney Town Hall.

The Sydney Peace Prize Gala Dinner is on Friday 3 November from 6 to 11pm in the Great Hall at the University of Sydney.

Tickets for both events are on sale now.

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Ms Boniadi is deeply committed to human and women’s rights advocacy and has used her public profile as an actress to campaign in solidarity with the people of Iran. Following the death of 22-year-old Iranian woman Jina Mahsa Amini last year, she was instrumental in bringing the human rights of women and others in Iran into sharp focus on the world stage, and has put the case before the UN Security Council, the US Senate Human Rights Caucus, the British Parliament, and forums across the globe.

The Peace Prize jury selected Ms Boniadi from a strong field of nominations “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.”

Joy Kyriacou and Felix Eldridge, co-chairs of the Sydney Peace Foundation, said: “We must continue to pay attention to the atrocities being faced by the people of Iran. The 2023 recipient, actress and activist Nazanin Boniadi, is a powerful advocate for the #WomanLifeFreedom movement, dedicating her platform to amplifying the voices of the brave protestors risking their freedom and their lives.”

The announcement ceremony was attended by Sydney Peace Foundation patron and Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore, along with gender and human rights expert Elizabeth Broderick.

“On behalf of the City of Sydney, we congratulate Nazanin for her long-time fight for justice. Her activism and advocacy for human rights and women’s rights in Iran is helping to turn outrage into action,” said Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore.

“Thank you Nazanin for standing in solidarity with the women of Iran, who are bravely raising their voices for freedom, equality and human rights,” said Elizabeth Broderick, gender equality and human rights expert. “Recognising the importance of this female-led movement through this year’s Peace Prize winner will contribute to the much-needed momentum for change in Iran.”

On accepting the Prize, Ms Boniadi said: “Receiving the Sydney Peace Prize is an extraordinary honour. As my compatriots in Iran are subjected to unspeakable assaults on their minds, bodies and souls and risk their lives to speak out against the injustices they experience daily, I can only dedicate this recognition to them and pledge to use this opportunity to further amplify their voices, centre them on the world stage, and support their dreams of a free, prosperous and secular democratic Iran.”

The Sydney Peace Prize will be formally awarded to Nazanin Boniadi later in the year, when she will travel to Australia to attend the Sydney Peace Foundation’s annual lecture at Sydney Town Hall and Gala Dinner at the University of Sydney.

ABOUT THE SYDNEY PEACE PRIZE

The Sydney Peace Prize is Australia’s international prize for peace, awarded by the Sydney Peace Foundation at the University of Sydney. The Prize recognises leading global voices that promote peace, justice and nonviolence. Laureates include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson, Joseph Stiglitz, Patrick Dodson, Naomi Klein, the Black Lives Matter Global Network and the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

For over two decades, the Sydney Peace Prize has been awarded with the generous support of the City of Sydney.  Your donation to the Sydney Peace Foundation helps Laureates continue their vital work for a fairer, more just world.

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