The International Ellsberg Whistleblower Award (EWA)
The award will be presented to individuals and organizations worldwide whose efforts have helped disclose information that significantly enhances free public or scientific debate, strengthening the public’s right to know and thus democracy. Their revelations will give the public the chance to participate in debates and decision-making processes on key issues that often affect society as a whole.
“Daniel Ellsberg has been the father of modern whistleblowing. We want to honour his courage and we want to support people who are following in his footsteps and are strengthening democracy and human rights by bringing the truth into the public eye.“
Michael Sontheimer,
taz panther foundation
With this award, the international jury and awarding committees acknowledge the challenges whistleblowers and their allies face and shall help to make their voices heard. In the spirit of integrity and social, environmental, and political responsibility, the EWA is meant to demonstrate that safeguarding and supporting whistleblowers serves the public interest.
The award was named after Daniel Ellsberg. He was the first and most important whistleblower of his time. By disclosing the McNamara report on US decision making in Vietnam (1971), later publicly known as the “Pentagon Papers”, he exposed the lies of several US governments and contributed to ending the Vietnam War. His disclosure also resulted in a most significant Supreme Court decision for press freedom. The award was established in his memory and in the spirit of his legacy.
Daniel Ellsberg’s experience shows that whistleblowers and their supporters make invaluable contributions to the common good but are often at grave personal and professional risk for doing so, suffering from both economic and psychosocial consequences. It is therefore important that whistleblowers have networks of support that encourage them to act, assist them in the process of going public, and help them handle negative repercussions.
Therefore, alongside the award itself, the founding organizations aim to provide award recipients with additional support to navigate the aftermath of their whistleblowing and raise the profile of the honorees, and whistleblowing overall, through advocacy campaigns and public relations efforts. In doing so, they amplify the voices of those who courageously speak truth to power, fostering a culture that values transparency and accountability.
Our Mission and Vision
Our mission is to honour and support individuals and organizations who courageously disclose information that enhances public or scientific discourse, thereby strengthening democracy and upholding the public’s right to know. With this award we recognize the challenges faced by whistleblowers and their allies, focusing public attention on the critical issues they exposed. By providing practical support, we help them to manage the repercussions of their whistleblowing.
Our vision is to create a global culture that celebrates and protects whistleblowers as vital contributors to the common good. This award wants to foster a world where truth and transparency are valued and where those who speak out against wrongdoing are supported and safeguarded. By amplifying the voices of courageous whistleblowers and their supporters, we envision a society that prioritizes political, social, economic, and environmental integrity, inspired by the enduring legacy of Daniel Ellsberg and his family.
