Friday, December 12, 2008

Australian Human Rights Medal Les Malezer 2008

Australian Human Rights Commission
everyone, everywhere, everyday
10 December 2008

Bonanza field of human rights advocates leads to hotly contested awards

The prestigious 2008 Human Rights Medal has been awarded to formidable international and domestic Indigenous advocate, Les Malezer.
Mr Malezer was presented with his Medal by federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland at the Australian Human Rights Commission’s annual Human Rights Medals and Awards Ceremony in Sydney today.
Commission President, Catherine Branson QC, said deciding on the Medal winner from a quality field of human rights advocates was a difficult but inspiring task.
“We received nominations from around Australia from people committed to a fair go for all, who worked to overcome inequality,” Ms Branson said.
“This is something of which we can all be proud – especially today as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the International Declaration of Human Rights.
“Les’ efforts stood out for his sheer capacity to overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers in improving access to justice and human rights for Indigenous peoples worldwide.”
Mr McClelland also presented the Highly Commended certificate for the Human Rights Medal to the Director of the University of Technology, Sydney, Anti Slavery Project and law lecturer, Jennifer Burn.
The Young People’s Human Rights Medal was awarded for the first time this year to University of Queensland medical student, Alan Huynh, for his tireless work in multicultural community development, youth engagement and global health issues. A Highly Commended certificate was presented to Alan Wu. …
[Full article at http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2008/151_08.html]
“These awardees are truly an inspiration and motivation for us all in building the sort of Australia we want to live in – where respect for the individual is recognised as precious and where everyone is valued – whether they are male or female, young or old, an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, whatever their faith and whether or not they have a disability,” Ms Branson said.
“We congratulate each winner, highly commended and shortlisted recipient at the 2008 awards along with the efforts of all Australians to overcome social injustice, inequality and discrimination.”
Media contact: Louise McDermott (02) 9284 9851 or 0419 258 597
Copyright © Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

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Censored News is published by censored journalist Brenda Norrell. A journalist for 27 years, Brenda lived on the Navajo Nation for 18 years, writing for Navajo Times, AP, USA Today, Lakota Times and other American Indian publications. After being censored and then terminated by Indian Country Today in 2006, she began the Censored Blog to document the most censored issues. She currently serves as human rights editor for the U.N. OBSERVER & International Report at the Hague and contributor to Sri Lanka Guardian, Narco News and CounterPunch. She was cohost of the 5-month Longest Walk Talk Radio across America, with Earthcycles Producer Govinda Dalton in 2008: www.earthcycles.net/
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