Snowden Honored with 2013 Whistleblower Prize from Transparency International and Partners

[Catherina]

Snowden Honored with 2013 Whistleblower Prize from Transparency International and Partners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2013
5:17 PM

CONTACT: Government Accountability Project
Dylan Blaylock
202.408.0034 ext. 137
[e-mail]

Snowden Honored with 2013 Whistleblower Prize from Transparency International and Partners

WASHINGTON - August 8 - In a move that further cements Edward Snowden's credentials as a whistleblower in the eyes of the world, he has been awarded the 2013 Whistleblower Prize by a coalition which includes Transparency International Germany.

The 2013 award is particularly significant as it marks the first year of involvement by anti-corruption organization Transparency International. Given in partnership with the German chapter of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA) and the Federation of German Scientists (FGS, the German Pugwash Group), the award carries a prize of 3,000 Euros.

The Whistleblower Prize was founded in 1999 and is awarded every two years to individuals who reveal significant threats to society, peace and the environment. Specifically, Snowden's revelations of pervasive surveillance and the storage of communications data by the US government suggest a violation of Article 10 of the Basic Law in Germany, as well as G10-law that regulates compliance of intelligence services with Article 10.

"Edward Snowden's whistleblowing did a great service to Germany and other EU member states," commented IALANA's German section Otto Jaeckel. "We should compete to take him in out of conviction, but also out of gratitude."

Stated Government Accountability Project (GAP) Executive Director Bea Edwards, "This award honors the actions of whistleblower Edward Snowden. Scientific and transparency organizations in Germany are disturbed and angered by the intrusive surveillance of Europeans by the NSA. They represent a society that has suffered protracted repression at the hands of totalitarian governments, and they recognize the courage required to bring illegal government actions to the attention of the public."

GAP champions government and corporate accountability and transparency by advancing occupational free speech, defending whistleblowers, and empowering citizen activists. Since its founding in 1977, GAP has fought to make large bureaucratic institutions accountable through the effective exercise of conscience.

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The Government Accountability Project (GAP) is a 30-year-old nonprofit public interest group that promotes government and corporate accountability by advancing occupational free speech, defending whistleblowers, and empowering citizen activists. We pursue this mission through our Nuclear Safety, International Reform, Corporate Accountability, Food & Drug Safety, and Federal Employee/National Security programs. GAP is the nation's leading whistleblower protection organization.

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2013/08/08-6

[AppleBottom]

1. Well earned award.