PREAMBLE
The Wau Holland Foundation, Whistleblower-Netzwerk, taz Panter Foundation, and The Reva and David Logan Foundation (collectively known as the founding organizations) have come together to establish the International Ellsberg Whistleblower Award.
Purpose of the Award
In the early 1970s, Daniel Ellsberg, with the support of his family, released the Pentagon Papers, revealing that four U.S. Administrations had deceived the public about crucial aspects and objectives of the Vietnam War. The disclosure accelerated the end of the war, yet Daniel Ellsberg was subjected to a fierce campaign of federal prosecution and character defamation.
His experience clearly shows that whistleblowers and their supporters make an important contribution to the common good, but are often at grave personal and professional risk for doing so. They are often labeled as traitors and subjected to reprisals. They suffer severely from both economic and psychosocial consequences
With the International Ellsberg Whistleblower Award, our aim is to acknowledge the challenges whistleblowers and their supporters face, and to focus public discourse on the wrongdoing they have brought to light. The award is meant to demonstrate that safeguarding and supporting whistleblowers is imperative and in the best interest of society. It is intended to encourage others to follow the example of Daniel Ellsberg and his family.
The Award
The International Ellsberg Whistleblower Award will be a 10,000.00 € prize presented every other year at a public award ceremony along with a designed sculpture and a certificate.
The founding organizations will endeavor to provide award recipients with additional financial, legal and pastoral support to manage the repercussions of their whistleblowing, and raise the profile of the honorees, and whistleblowing in general, by running campaigns and engaging in public relations efforts.
Selection criteria
The International Ellsberg Whistleblower Award may be presented to individuals and organizations worldwide whose efforts have helped disclose information that significantly enhances free public or scientific debate to bolster democracy and the public’s right to know. The award recipients will have acted primarily out of altruistic motives, aware of the substantial hardships in their professional, economic, and personal situation. Whistleblowers, as well as individuals or organizations that have supported them, are eligible for the award.
ORGANIZATION
Committees
- Executive Board
- Associated Organizations
- Advisory Board
- Jury
- Patrons Patricia, Michael and Robert Ellsberg
The Executive Board
ensures the implementation of the goals and objectives of the charter, particularly by
- regularly presenting the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award at a public award ceremony along with corresponding public relations efforts;
- appointing a management board for day-to-day business;
- providing support to the award winners;
- determining the awards strategic direction (e.g. regional or thematic focus of the upcoming Ellsberg Whistleblower Award);
- attracting new members and organizing regular meetings of the committees;
- financial planning, monitoring and fundraising;
- preparing an annual report.
The Associated Members Organizations
actively contribute to the implementation of the goals and objectives of the charter, particularly by
- identifying and nominating suitable candidates for the award from their respective home regions;
- providing support to the award winners to the extent possible for said organizations;
- engaging in the ongoing development of the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award and contributing to decisions on its strategic direction;
- demonstrating commitment to the goals and objectives of the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award, for example, by establishing advisory and support structures for whistleblowers in their home regions. They can, in return, receive support from the management board, e.g. when setting up a whistleblower platform.
The Advisory Board Members
offer their expertise to the member organizations and committees of the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award and enhance the credibility and reputation of the award through their own standing.
The Jury
selects the winner(s) from the nominations received.
The Patrons
Patricia, Michael, and Robert Ellsberg may attend all meetings of the jury, the associated organizations, and the advisory board.
Membership Requirements
Only organizations/ individuals that meet the following criteria may become members of the support group:
- They are prepared to contribute actively or materially to the implementation of the goals and objectives of the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award.
- Admission of organizations to the executive board or the associated organizations is limited to non-profit organizations.
- Advisory board members should be public figures/ individuals with expertise relevant to the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award.
- The international character of the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award should be evident in the composition of the aforementioned committees. They should encompass individuals / organizations from various regions worldwide and experts with diverse backgrounds and identities.
Executive Board
The executive board, initially made up of the founding organizations (Wau Holland Foundation, Whistleblower Network, taz Panter Foundation, and the Reva and David Logan Foundation), may, by majority vote, decide to incorporate additional organizations (potentially for a limited period) into the executive board. This could be done, for instance, to enhance regional balance, or if the regional emphasis of the next award aligns with their home region.
Associated Members Organizations and Advisory Board
Admission as an associated organization and to the advisory board is granted through a majority vote of the relevant committee or the executive board. All members of the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award committees have the privilege to nominate new members. The duration of the membership is restricted to six years and may be extended thereafter.
Jury
The executive board appoints up to four members of the jury and the Chairperson of the jury, i.e. five members in total. The associated organizations may appoint up to four additional members of the jury with a majority vote. The office term of the jury members is limited to two years; reappointment is permitted. The jury should consist of representatives from various professional or scientific disciplines and nationalities.
Exclusion from the Support Group
If a member of the support group intentionally or through gross negligence violates the objectives of the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award or if their conduct is likely to cause serious damage to its reputation, they may be excluded from the respective committee by a three-quarter majority vote of the executive board, following prior consultation with the Associated Organizations.
Resolutions, meetings, rules of procedure
Unless otherwise specified, resolutions are adopted through a simple majority vote cast at the respective meeting (e.g. video/ telephone conference) or via a written vote (e.g. by email). Amendments to the charter require a two-third majority vote from both the executive board and the associated organizations.
The executive board shall convene a meeting of all bodies at least once a year, or upon the request of two-thirds of the associated organizations, facilitating participation through video conference.
Nomination and decision-making process
Nominations for the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award
The members of the above-mentioned committees may nominate individuals and/ or organizations for the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award. They are also welcome to invite the public to submit nominations or otherwise involve the public in their nomination process.
The nominations must be substantiated in writing. The justification of the nomination must fit the selection criteria of the Award.
Possible objections to the nominees, including concerns about their previous work, reputation, or the nature of their approach, should also be identified and assessed by the submitting party.
The submitted nominations and justifications must be accessible to all members of the jury. A jury shortlist can be discussed in an online forum and/ or video conference before the final decision.
The jury may request the nominee to submit further information and/ or conduct its own research in order to make a final decision.
Decision on the Award Winner
The award winner is chosen by a two-third majority vote of the jury during meetings (e.g., video/ teleconference) or by written vote (e.g. by email). The decision must be taken into the minutes of the meeting and made public in agreement with the executive board.
