VOTING IS NOW OPEN
Vote for your favourite photo for Amnesty International Australia's inaugural Photography Competition, by January 31 2023.
Explore the shortlist
A protestor at a rally in Homebush, Sydney in November 2022.
They’re holding the Cyrus Cylinder (of Cyrus the Great, a Persian King) – the first human rights declaration. The protestor is wearing the lion and sun flag of Iran (a flag that dates back 1400 years) in support of human rights, secularism and freedom for the people of Iran.
'Insect Man' was part of an Extinction Rebellion ACT protest.
The protest aimed to raise awareness of the catastrophic biodiversity loss, caused by the climate crisis. The future of human civilisation itself is endangered by environmental degradation caused by fossil fuel use. Insect Man represents the little creatures we drive right past without seeing.
Refugee activists protested in front of the infamous Park Hotel in Melbourne.
At the time, there were nearly thirty refugees detained at the Park Hotel APOD (Alternative places of detention.) Protesters attended here regularly, demanding their release. Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic was held at the facility when this photo was taken, bringing national and international attention to the issue.
All refugees have since been released, but their fight for permanent solutions continues.
A protest can be a march of thousands, or it can be a single act of solidarity and defiance.
Timor-Leste struggled and won its independence from Indonesia in 1999, but our brothers and sisters in West Papua still fight for their freedom today. Our liberation movements are entwined together.
This is the very definition of protest.
A woman holds a fistful of her chopped off hair in the middle of a crowd in Melbourne.
The Iran protests, and the solidarity actions that have taken place (this image was taken at a solidarity protest for Iran in Melbourne in September 2022) represent people in mass numbers taking a stand against repression, and standing up for their human rights.
Taken at the Sydney Cricket Ground for Mardis Gras 2022.
This image shows how far Sydney’s Mardi Gras has come, since a small group of protesters first marched in 1978. It’s an example of how protest movements can develop, becoming larger and more visible, driving change and awareness of critical social issues.
How does the competition work?
All entries will be assessed initially for eligibility by representatives of Amnesty International Australia, who will shortlist finalists. Winners will then be decided by the general public.
The 2022 Amnesty International Photography Competition aims to celebrate our right to PROTEST, and award and recognise the talented photographers who capture this power.
This competition is open to professional photographers, amateurs and enthusiasts.
Entrants are invited to submit a photograph they have taken that encapsulates the theme of PROTEST. Your photo must have been captured in 2022.
All entries will be assessed by the Story & Content team of Amnesty International Australia, who will shortlist finalists. Finalists will be announced in January 2023, and voting will commence. Voting will be open to Amnesty International supporters, members, and the general public.
Winners will be announced in January 2023. Prizes will be allocated to First, Second and Third place. Prizes will be announced soon.
Your entry must:
- Be your original work (standard sub-editing procedures are allowed)
- Have been taken between 1 January and 31 December 2022
- Encapsulate the theme of PROTEST
Full details of entry criteria can be found in the Terms & Conditions. Please note that in creating this competition, Amnesty International does not necessarily endorse the substance, methodology or opinions of the entrants.
What is the 2022 competition theme?
This year, to coincide with Write for Rights the theme of the competition will be PROTEST.
Across Australia and around the globe, our right to protest is under attack.
In recent years we have seen some of the biggest protest mobilizations for decades. Black Lives Matter, MeToo, and the climate change movements have inspired millions the world over to take to the streets and online to demand racial and climate justice, equity and livelihoods, and an end to gender violence and discrimination. Elsewhere, people have stood up in their thousands against police violence and killings, state repression and oppression
Almost without exception, this wave of mass protest has been met with obstructive, repressive and often violent responses by state authorities. Instead of facilitating the right to protest, governments are going to ever greater lengths to quash it
In 2022 alone, we’ve seen states around Australia introduce dangerous anti-protest laws. In NSW, protesters now face up to two years in jail and $22,000 fines for protesting in any manner deemed to be ‘disruptive’ by the state. Tasmania have passed similar laws, that see protesters cop $11,000 fines – double that for a second offence – plus up to two and a half years in jail. In Victoria, laws targeting environmental protesters sees those attempting to prevent native forest logging face fines of up to $21,000 and 12 months in jail.
Many of the rights we now take for granted were born in protest. From the 8 hour working day in the 19th century, to the civil rights movement in the 60s, all the way up to the marriage equality victory in 2017. Protesting is how we hold those in power to account, when all other avenues fail. Our right to protest must be protected.
What is Write For Rights?
For over 20 years, Amnesty International’s annual Write for Rights campaign has transformed the lives of people whose rights have been wronged. Using the power of their words, Write for Rights supporters have united behind a common purpose: together, we can change lives for the better. This year, Write For Rights will focus on the cases of brave individuals from 10 different countries, who have all paid a great price for speaking truth to power. Learn more about Write For Rights here.
When will the winner(s) be announced?
Winners of the 2022 Photo Competition will be announced in January 2023.
All entries will be assessed by the Story & Content team of Amnesty International Australia, who will shortlist finalists. Finalists will be announced in January 2023, and voting will commence. Voting will be open to Amnesty International supporters, members, and the general public. Prizes will be allocated to First, Second and Third place. Prizes will be announced soon.
Terms & Conditions
Terms & Conditions for entry into the 2022 Photography competition
Entry into the Amnesty International Australia 2022 Photography Competition is subject to the acceptance of these terms and conditions.
Entries open – Monday 14 November 2022
Entries close – Saturday 31 December 2022
- This photography competition is conducted by Amnesty International Australia (‘AIA’; ABN 64 002 806 233).
- All entries must be received by 11:59 pm AEDT on 31 December 2022. Entries received after this closing date will not be accepted. No responsibility is taken for entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason.
- Photos must have been taken between 1 January and 31 December 2022.
- The shortlisted submissions will be judged by +/- 250,000 AIA supporters will receive the shortlisted images by email. Supporters will be asked to vote on the image that best encapsulates the ‘Right to Protest’ theme.
- The first, second and third prize winners will receive a photography-related prize up to the value of $200*.
- You need to be residing in Australia to enter the competition. Entrants will need to supply their postcode when entering the competition.
- Entrants under 18 years of age must have the written consent of their parent or guardian provided to AIA with their entry submission.
- The competition is open to professional photographers, amateurs and enthusiasts.
- All entrants must supply a written declaration with their submission that clearly outlines that anyone featured in their submission has approved of and consented to their image being taken and how it will be used.
- You must certify that your entry is your original work, although it may have undergone standard sub-editing procedures, and that it complies with all copyright and privacy requirements.
- All entrants must certify that their entry was produced in an ethical and legal manner, adhering to the best photojournalistic principles.
- Photos may have had minor adjustments such as cropping; dodging; burning; eliminating dust on camera sensors or scratches on negatives; conversion to greyscale; or tone and colour adjustments necessary for accurate reproduction. Photojournalism entries may not have had an addition, rearranging or repetition of elements within the frame; removal of objects or shadows from the frame; correction of blemishes or photographic errors such as flares or red eyes; or deliberate or misleading photo manipulation.
- On your entry form, you must disclose if there have been any legal actions relating to your entry, including defamation and/or contempt of court, and/or any suppression orders made, and/or claims of plagiarism or inaccuracy or breach of copyright.
- Entrants are to submit one entry only.
- AIA reserves the right to reproduce your entry for the purposes of sharing with AIA’s supporters who will be judging all entries and acknowledging winning entries or promoting the Annual Photography Competition and by entering into the competition, you agree to AIA reproducing and/or publishing your entry across a variety of media in Australia and internationally.
- AIA reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, this competition with or without prior notice due to reasons outside their control.
- AIA reserves the right at any time to change these terms and conditions.
- AIA reserves the right to verify the validity of all entries and reserves the right to disqualify any entrant at our sole discretion.
- Winners will be announced in January 2023 and winners’ names will be published with the winners’ consent.
All personal data will be collected and stored in accordance with Amnesty International Australia’s Privacy Policy
Submit your entry now
Submissions are now closed.