Prosecute; don’t perpetrate is overjoyed that a portrait by Australian painter Marieka Hambledon of our founder campaign architect, Susan Hutchinson has been selected as a finalist for the Kennedy Art Prize.

The Kennedy Prize is awarded to works that “embody, comment on or celebrate beauty” either internally or externally. Hambledon said, “Ms Hutchinson, her work, and her story, fit that bill precisely. Susan’s beauty radiates through her inexhaustible, selfless ambition to make the world a better place.”

After decades working in human rights, conflict and development, Ms Hutchinson founded the prosecute; don’t perpetrate campaign in 2016 to help end impunity for the rampant sexual violence experienced by women in wartime.

There were tens of thousands of foreign fighters travelling to Syria and Iraq to fight with ISIS. “We knew they were committing sexual violence as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Unlike other in conflicts, these perpetrators were from countries where the law criminalises these actions and the state has the capacity to respond. I decided to set up a campaign to ensure justice was done.”

Hutchinson has met with politicians of all persuasions and had both houses of parliament announce their commitment to investigate and prosecute. But more work still needs to be done. So far, not a single ISIS fighter has been prosecuted for these crimes in any court in the world.

Ms Hutchinson lives with a chronic disabling illness called myalgic encephalomyelitis that leaves her with extreme physical and cognitive fatigue. She often uses a wheelchair to get around in public and sometimes has trouble with words. But the prosecute; don’t perpetrate campaign is an important way for her to continue fighting for global women’s rights within the confines of her condition. “When I saw Marieka had named the portrait ‘The Inexhaustable’ I cried. It was a really significant moment for me.”

The “Beauty” exhibition, featuring all the Kennedy Award finalists will be held in Adelaide, from Saturday August 31 to Sunday 15 September at Royal South Australian Society of Arts, Level One, in the State Library Building.

For more information or interview opportunities, contact Susan Hutchinson, campaign architect: