The Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty, named in honor of perhaps the greatest champion of liberty in the 20th century, is presented every other year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to advance human freedom. Previous winners of the prize are the late British economist Peter Bauer in 2002, the Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto in 2004, the former prime minister of Estonia Mart Laar in 2006, and Yon Goicoechea, leader of the pro-democracy student movement in Venezuela, in 2008.

The prize, a cash award of $500,000, will be presented to the winner on May 13, 2010, at the Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty’s Biennial Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C.

The prize will go to an individual who has made a significant contribution to advancing human freedom. Nominees may be from any and all walks of life. Scholars, activists, and political leaders have been among the hundreds of nominations submitted for the first three prizes. The International Selection Committee vote by ballot for the winner.

Nominations for the 2010 Friedman Prize are now being accepted. To place a nomination, click here.

Officers, directors and employees of the Cato Institute are not eligible.

For further information about the Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty's Biennial Dinner, please contact Lesley Albanese at lalbanese@cato.org or 202-789-5223; or Yana Vinnikov at yvinnikov@cato.org or 202.218.4617.

The selection committee members for the 2010 prize are:

Previous members of the International Selection Committee have included Rose D. Friedman, co-founder of the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation for School Choice; former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher; Václav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic; Francisco Gil Diaz, former Mexican finance minister; John Blundell, director general and Ralph Harris fellow of the Institute of Economic Affairs; Antonio Martino, former Italian defense minister; and Frederick W. Smith, chairman and CEO, FedEx Corporation.