Call for 2015 Voltaire nominations

Invitation to Liberty Victoria members to nominate proposed recipients

The Voltaire Award for free speech is given annually by Liberty Victoria.

The award honours the person or group considered to have done the most for the right of free speech in the previous 12 months. It recognises people or groups who in their work, interests or passions make an extraordinary contribution to these rights, whether it be through speaking out, writing, campaigning, whistle-blowing or defying authoritarianism. Those honoured have often gone beyond the call of duty or office by refusing to be cowed or silenced.
Liberty Victoria invites you as our valued member to nominate a person you believe deserving of our Voltaire Award for 2014.

The Voltaire Award is named for the author of the hilarious satirical novella Candide who is considered to be one of France's greatest writer.
Born François-Marie Arouet to an upper-middle class family in 1694, Voltaire was exiled in 1715 for mocking the Regent, Orleans. Returning to Paris two years later he was arrested and locked in the Bastille for a year. He was sent to the Bastille again in 1726, before being shipped off to England. In 1733, he fled to Lorraine where he wrote Candide. By 1778, the French public had begun to see him as a literary genius, and he returned to Paris a hero, dying that year.

Besides his great works on philosophy, he is perhaps best remembered for a quotation, which is probably not from him, but is apt: “I disagree with what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

The Voltaire Award honours the person or group considered to have done outstanding work for free speech. Journalists, authors, lawyers, critics, publishers, public servants and courageous whistleblowers have been among the recipients of this `Oscar’ for the right to speak without fear.

Please submit your nomination via our 2015 Voltaire nomination form.
Nominations close on 31 January 2015. The Award winner will be presented the Award at Liberty Victoria’s Voltaire Award Dinner in August.