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Allard Prize for International Integrity

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Allard Prize for International Integrity
A.
Winners of the 2017 Allard Prize display their awards. From left to right, Representative of winner Khadija Ismayilova, Four members of Operation Car Wash (Honourable Mention), Representative of Azza Soliman (Honourable Mention)
Awarded forExceptional courage and leadership in combating corruption
LocationVancouver, Canada
Presented byAllard Prize Foundation / Allard Prize Committee / Peter A. Allard School of Law
First awarded2013; 11 years ago (2013)
WebsiteAllardprize.org

The Allard Prize for International Integrity is one of the world's largest prizes dedicated to the fight against corruption and the protection of human rights.[1] The prize is awarded biennially to an individual, movement or organization that has "demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in combating corruption, especially through promoting transparency, accountability and the Rule of Law."[2] The winner receives the Allard Prize Award, a uniquely crafted brass artwork,[3][4] and CAD$100,000. Honourable mention recipients are awarded a unique nickel-plated artwork, and may also receive a cash award.

At the 2017 Award Ceremony, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald stated that the Allard Prize “is important … and isn't devoted just to honouring anti-corruption crusaders, but to constructing and fortifying a framework that really does protect them and enables the work to proceed much more safely,"[5] and "this kind of courage can be very contagious."[1] Past Allard Prize winners and others have said that the Allard Prize assists, supports and protects those working in anti-corruption and their work.[6][7][8][9][10] Canada's National Observer calls The Allard Prize 'The Oscars of anti-corruption'.[1]

The Allard Prize and Allard Prize Foundation, the charitable organization that supports the Allard Prize, were founded in 2011 and are funded by lawyer and businessman Peter A. Allard, Q.C.[1][11][12][13][14] The Allard Prize Committee is responsible for the oversight, organization and selection of the Prize winner and honourable mention recipients. From 2013 until June 21, 2019, the Prize was administered at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. The Allard Prize is now independent of UBC.[15]

Some Allard Prize nominees and winners have previously been subjected to threats, violence, torture, imprisonment and other attacks associated with their anti-corruption and human rights activities.[1] 2020 Allard Prize co-recipient Daphne Caruana Galizia and 2015 honourable mention recipient Sergei Magnitsky both received the Allard Prize posthumously. Maltese journalist Caruna-Galizia was assassinated by car bomb in 2017.[16] Russian auditor Magnitsky died after being tortured in prison.[17][18]

Nomination and selection

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Political commentator Jimmy Dore of TYT Network interviews members of Operation Car Wash at the 2017 Allard Prize ceremony.

The Allard Prize winner and any honourable mention recipients are chosen through a comprehensive nomination and selection process involving the Allard Prize Committee, sub-committees and an advisory board.[19] For the 2015 Allard Prize, over 140 people were nominated from 50 countries. In 2017, the number of nominations grew to 244 from 70 countries, with 42 nominations (17 percent) from North America.[13] In 2020 there were 525 nominations received from 80 countries.[20]

Nomination

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There are no restrictions as to who may submit a nominee for consideration. Nominations may come from anywhere including from members of the Allard Prize Committee. Self-nominations are allowed for both individuals and organizations.[21] Nominees range from neighbourhood activists to prominent world leaders, academics, social movements, political organizations and charitable groups.

Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis, with a new nomination cycle beginning with the announcement of finalists in the Prize year. Previously nominated candidates can be re-nominated, but new nomination forms must be submitted. There are no minimum or maximum age limits or any other limiting characteristics as to eligibility, with the exception that members of the Allard Prize Committee, Advisory Board and members of their immediate families may not be awarded the Allard Prize during their respective terms and for one year following the end of their terms.[19][21]

Selection

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The Allard Prize Committee reviews all nominations and is responsible for selecting the Prize winner and any honourable mention recipients. The selection process involves research, subcommittees and due diligence, two levels of short-listing, and a requirement to submit short-listed of nominees to the Allard Prize Advisory Board for review and comment prior to the selection of the winner and honourable mention recipients.[19][21]

Awarding the Prize

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The 2015 and 2017 Allard Prize public awards ceremonies were held at the University of British Columbia's Old Auditorium and were live-streamed over the Internet.[22][23] The 2020 Allard Prize Ceremony was conducted online only via live streaming from Vancouver, Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24]

The list of Allard Prize 'finalists' is released approximately one month prior to the Prize Ceremony. The public announcement identifying the Allard Prize winner is made at the Prize Ceremony, typically held in September or October of the award year. Finalists attend the ceremony in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and become part of the growing Allard Prize anti-corruption network. Travel expenses are paid by the Allard Prize.[21] Past award ceremony keynote speakers include Canadian diplomat Stephen Lewis (2013),[25][26] Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire (2015),[27][28] Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Glenn Greenwald (2017).,[1][5] and for the 2020 ceremony - Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges.[24]

List of Allard Prize Recipients and Honourable Mentions

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As of 2020, the Allard Prize has been awarded to six individuals (one posthumously). Three organizations, one government office and three individuals (one posthumously) have received Honourable Mention.

Year Name of Finalist Recipient/Honourable Mention Country Rationale
2013 Anna Hazare Recipient  India At great personal risk, led successful movements to advance rural development, enhance government transparency and investigate and prosecute official corruption. He has also played a leading role in educating people in India about their fundamental rights and encouraging them to raise their voice against unlawful practices like corruption.[29][30][31]
Global Witness Honourable Mention United Kingdom For courage and a relentless approach in efforts to tackle corruption and to promote transparency, expose the corrupt exploitation of natural resources and international trade systems, to drive campaigns that end impunity, resource linked conflict, and human rights and environmental abuses.[31]
Sima Samar Honourable Mention Afghanistan At great personal risk, worked to raise global awareness about the detrimental impact of corruption on the promotion and protection of Afghan human and women's rights.[31]
2015 John Githongo Co-Recipient Kenya For courage and fighting against corruption and towards political transparency in Kenya.[32][33]
Rafael Marques De Morais Co-Recipient Angola For courage and dedication in exposing corruption, murder and torture in Angola especially relating to Blood Diamonds and government corruption.[32][33]
Indonesia Corruption Watch Honourable Mention Indonesia For courage and dedication to providing political pressure for policy reform, transparency, and accountability of government through bringing cases of corruption to law enforcement agencies, monitoring campaign and political finance spending in national and local elections and pushing for improved anti-corruption laws such as the Freedom of Information Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act, Anti-corruption Act and Election Act.[13][34]
Sergei Magnitsky Honourable Mention (Awarded Posthumously) Russia After exposing a $230 million tax fraud involving Russian organized crime, police and government officials, Sergei Magnitsky courageously refused to retract his evidence. Russian officials falsely accused and arrested Magnitsky, who was imprisoned for over 11 months in pre-trial detention. His arrest, torture and in-prison death garnered the attention of international government bodies, parliaments and human rights organizations.[17][18]
2017 Khadija Ismayilova Recipient Azerbaijan For courage and leadership in the fight against human rights abuses and corrupt practices in government, and for inspiring a new age of political activism in Azerbaijan at great personal risk.[1][12]
Azza Soliman Honourable Mention Egypt For courage and leadership, fighting at great personal risk for the inclusion of women in political, economic and social activities, and in access to justice.[1][12]
Operation Car Wash (Força Tarefa da Lava Jato) Honourable Mention Brazil The Car Wash Task Force has been responsible for billions of dollars in recovered bribes, and criminal charges against hundreds of political and corporate operatives, changing the nature of Brazilian politics and its culture of criminal impunity.[1][12]
2019 William Binney (intelligence official) Lifetime Achievement Award United States Allard Prize Lifetime Achievement Award for leadership and commitment to protecting human rights and combatting corruption.[35]
2020 Daphne Caruana Galizia Co-Recipient (Awarded Posthumously) Malta For leadership and commitment to protecting human rights and combatting corruption. Despite years of threats & acts of violence against her and her family, journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia courageously continued investigating government corruption and organized crime. She was assassinated with a car-bomb in 2017.[36][16]
Howard Wilkinson (whistleblower) Co-Recipient United Kingdom For leadership and commitment to protecting human rights and combatting corruption. While working at the Danske Bank, Howard Wilkinson uncovered one of the largest money laundering schemes in history involving over 200 Billion Euros. Despite the considerable risk to himself & his family, Wilkinson testified before European Parliament - advocating for greater protections for whistleblowers and a new regulation model for greater transparency. The scandal led to investigations & criminal charges across Europe, Danske's CEO's resignation, & Danske's Estonian branch's closing.[36]
International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala Honourable Mention Guatemala The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) operated in Guatemala for 12 years and helped prosecute over 120 cases. CICIG also pursued critical reforms to improve accountability measures, strengthening citizens’ trust in domestic judicial institutions.[36]

Controversies

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Protest against selection of finalist Operação Lava Jato (Brazil - Car Wash Task Force) - 2017

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The selection of Brazil's Car Wash Task Force (Operação Lava Jato) as a 2017 Allard Prize finalist triggered objections in Brazil and Canada. A group of Brazilian lawyers wrote to the Allard Prize Committee demanding the Committee rescind their finalist status and alleging "numerous abuses, arbitrariness and legal violations" by the Task Force. A group of University of British Columbia faculty and students supported the Brazilian lawyer group.[1][37] During the September 28, 2017 Prize Ceremony, several audience members made vocal outbursts against the Car Wash Task Force.[1]

In response, 2017 Allard Prize keynote speaker Glenn Greenwald said in his keynote address that while the Operation Car Wash Task Force had made some mistakes, powerful investigative work often creates controversy and enemies.[1][5] In a post-award open discussion at the Allard School of Law, opponents confronted the Task Force's lead prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol with their criticisms, who responded during a recorded video session.[38]

Allegation of Third World Bias

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Shortly after the 2017 Allard Prize finalists were announced, journalist Russell Mokhiber noted in an article published in Corporate Crime Reporter that the Allard Prize has "a bias in favour of anti-corruption fighters in the Third World" rather than selecting nominees from Western developed countries. Mokhiber speculated that the bias might be due to a heavy representation of corporate lawyers, World Bank and Asian Development Bank personnel on the selection and advisory committees. In an interview with Mokhiber, Allard Prize Executive Director Nicole Barrett acknowledged that none of the previous finalists have been from North America. Noting that the majority of nominees are from the developing world, she said that the Allard Prize may consider developing a formal requirement of geographical balance to address this concern.[13]

Photography and video competitions

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The Allard Prize Committee also adjudicates the bi-annual Allard Photography Competition and the Allard Video Competition.[39][40] Both competitions align with the ideals of the Allard Prize of combating corruption and protecting human rights.[2][39][40]

In November 2018, one of the winners of the Photography Competition was Darrin Zammit Lupi whose winning photograph titled Justice for Daphne showed a vigil and protest calling for justice in the case of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia who was murdered in 2017.[16][41] Caruana Galizia was awarded the Allard Prize posthumously in 2020.[36]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Uechi, Jenny (29 September 2017). "At the Oscars of anti-corruption, badass women lead the way". National Observer. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Prize Criteria". Allard Prize for International Integrity. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Allard Prize Award Design". Diatom Studio. 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Award Design". Allard Prize for International Integrity. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Greenwald, Glenn (28 September 2017). "2017 Allard Prize Keynote: Glenn Greenwald". Allard Prize YouTube channel. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Indian corruption fighter wins UBC's $100K integrity award". Maclean's Magazine. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  7. ^ "OCCRP's Khadija Ismayilova Awarded 2017 Allard Prize for International Integrity". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  8. ^ Barrett, Nicole (9 July 2017). "Letter from Allard Prize Director + 11 others to Canadian Ambassador to Angola re Prosecution of Angolan Journalists Rafael Marques de Morais and Mariano Brás Lourenço" (PDF). Allard Prize for International Integrity. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  9. ^ Baker, Audrey (9 July 2017). "Allard Prize for International Integrity Calls for End to Prosecution of Rafael Marques de Morais". Allard Prize for International Integrity. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  10. ^ "The Allard Prize - An Introduction". Allard Prize YouTube Channel. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  11. ^ Bradshaw, James (13 July 2011). "UBC law school gets donation worth almost $12-million". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  12. ^ a b c d Dhillon, Sunny (28 September 2017). "Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova wins 2017 Allard Prize". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d Mokhiber, Russell (6 September 2017). "The Allard Prize and The Case for Public Integrity". Corporate Crime Reporter. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  14. ^ Gardiner, Heather (13 July 2011). "UBC alumnus donates $12 million to law school". Canadian Lawyer Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  15. ^ Zhao, Sarah. "UBC backs out of Allard Prize, declines to say why". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  16. ^ a b c Garside, Juliette. "Justice on trial: three years after the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  17. ^ a b "The Trump administration sends a commendable signal to despots everywhere". The Washington Post. 25 December 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Sergei Magnitsky". Allard Prize for International Integrity. 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  19. ^ a b c "Process of Nomination and Selection". Allard Prize for International Integrity. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  20. ^ "2020 finalists announced for Allard Prize for International Integrity". Allard Prize For International Integrity. Allard Prize Foundation. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  21. ^ a b c d "Frequently Asked Questions". Allard Prize for International Integrity. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  22. ^ "Allard Prize 2015 Award Ceremony". Allard Prize YouTube Channel. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  23. ^ "Allard Prize for International Integrity 2017 Award Ceremony". Allard Prize YouTube Channel. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  24. ^ a b "2020 Allard Prize Ceremony". Allard Prize for International Integrity. Allard Prize Foundation. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  25. ^ Reid, RJ (26 September 2013). "Anna Hazare wins inaugural Allard Prize at UBC". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 4 March 2018.[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ "Allard Prize 2013 Ceremony". Allard Prize YouTube Channel. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  27. ^ Amos, Heather (25 September 2015). "Retired Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire to receive honorary degree from UBC". UBC News. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  28. ^ "Allard Prize 2015 Ceremony". Allard Prize YouTube Channel. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  29. ^ "Anna Hazare". Allard Prize. Peter A. Allard School of Law at University of British Columbia. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  30. ^ Moore, Dene (26 September 2013). "Indian corruption fighter wins UBC's first integrity award". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  31. ^ a b c Todd, Douglas (25 September 2013). "India's anti-corruption guru awarded $100,000 prize in Vancouver". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  32. ^ a b Dhillon, Sunny (1 October 2015). "Winners of UBC's integrity award on fighting corruption in Africa". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  33. ^ a b "John Githongo & Rafael Marques de Morais". Allard Prize for International Integrity. 2015. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  34. ^ "Indonesia Corruption Watch". Allard Prize for International Integrity. 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  35. ^ "Past Winners and Honourees of the Allard Prize". Allard Prize For International Integrity. Allard Prize Foundation. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  36. ^ a b c d "Howard Wilkinson and Daphne Caruana Galizia Jointly Awarded 2020 Allard Prize". Allard Prize For International Integrity. Allard Prize Foundation. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  37. ^ Pablo, Carlito (28 September 2017). "Barristers object to nomination of controversial Brazil anti-corruption squad for UBC prize". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  38. ^ "2017 Allard Prize Finalist Q&A Session". Allard Prize YouTube channel. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  39. ^ a b Allard Prize for International Integrity. "Photography Competition". allardprize.org. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  40. ^ a b Allard Prize for International Integrity. "Video Competition". allardprize.org. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  41. ^ Allard Prize for International Integrity (November 2018). "November 2018: Justice for Daphne". allardprize.org. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
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