In 2020, three finalists for the Allard Prize for International Integrity were selected from 525 nominations from 80 countries around the world. The Allard Prize Committee is pleased to recognize the important contributions of the three honourees.
At the virtual ceremony, held on October 21, 2020, the Allard Prize was jointly awarded to the late investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and whistleblower Howard Wilkinson.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese blogger and investigative journalist. Her work was largely dedicated to investigating and uncovering corruption and criminality in Malta’s ruling class. She faced regular threats, harassment, and intimidation meant to stop her work, but she refused to be silenced. She was assassinated on October 16th, 2017. Her family and supporters continue to demand justice for her death
Howard Wilkinson worked at Danske Bank in Estonia when he discovered irregularities in banking records. Through investigation, Wilkinson uncovered a money laundering scheme worth over 200 billion Euros, one of the largest such operations ever discovered. The resulting scandal led to criminal charges across Europe, the resignation of Danske Bank’s CEO, and Dankse Bank closing operations in Estonia.
The ceremony also recognized the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) with an Honourable Mention award. CICIG was created through a joint agreement between the United Nations and the Guatemalan government to strengthen Guatemala’s judicial institutions and help root out pervasive corruption. After 12 years in Guatemala, CICIG was forced to cease operations.
Chris Hedges, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author delivered the keynote address. Peter A. Allard, Q.C., founder of the Allard Prize for International Integrity also spoke at the ceremony, expressing his hopes that the honourees will inspire us all to act with integrity and courage when faced with injustice.
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