Nominate for Human Rights Award

The Australian Human Rights Commission is calling for nominations for the 2017 Human Rights Awards.

The new Human Rights Commission president, Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher said: “We all know someone, or perhaps a business or organisation, that deserves to be recognised for their inspiring work; for their devotion to making Australia a better place and their commitment to ensuring our rights and freedoms are enjoyed by all, on an equal basis.

“Although I’m only a few days into my role as president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, I’m looking forward to finding out about the great human rights work that you, and others you know, are doing.”

Previous winners of the Human Rights Medal include Pat Anderson, Peter Greste, Eddie Mabo, Malcolm Fraser, Ian Thorpe, Jeremy Jones, Professor Fred Hollows, Sister Clare Condon and Dorothy Hoddinott.

On 4 September, nominations close for all eight award categories:

• Human Rights Medal
• Young People’s Human Rights Medal
• Business Award
• Racism. It Stops With Me Award
• Media Award
• Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Community Individual Award
• Community Organisation Award
• Law Award.

In 2016 the winners included:

• Human Rights Medal: Pat Anderson AO. Anderson is an Alyawarre woman and advocate for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly in regards to education, health, early childhood development, and violence against women and children.
• Young People’s Human Rights Medal: Arash Bordbar. Since arriving in Australia as a refugee, Bordbar has volunteered for a number of local and international organisations on asylum seeker issues.

• Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Community Individual Award: Jane Rosengrave. Rosengrave is a jYorta Yorta woman with an intellectual disability and a passionate advocate for people with disability.
• Community Organisation Award: Bus Stop Films. For approximately eight years Bus Stop Films has provided film studies and film-making opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as advocating for inclusion in the film industry.
• Racism. It Stops With Me Award: National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters Council, the peak organisation of ethnic community broadcasters in Australia.

Details and nomination forms are online here.