WikiLeaks founder takes home top Sydney peace prize

Although the Peace Prize is awarded annually by the foundation, only three other people have been awarded the gold award for courage in pursuit of human rights: Assange has now joined the likes of Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Daisaku Ikeda, the Japanese Buddhist leader.

Foundation director Stuart Rees said: “By championing people’s right to know, WikiLeaks and Julian Assange have created the potential for a new order in journalism and in the free flow of information.”

Rees added Assange has challenged “centuries old practices of government secrecy.”