Finalists in Young People’s Human Rights Medal

Human Rights President Gillian Triggs has announced the finalists for the 2015 Young People’s Human Rights Medal.

“It is testimony to the critical role that young people play in human rights that each year the number of nominees for the Young People’s Medal continues to grow,” Professor Triggs said.

“In schools, universities, and right across Australia young people are making a difference on issues ranging from racism and LGBTIQ discrimination to indigenous affairs and mental health.”

This year’s finalists are:

• Justice King (QLD). Seventeen year old King is an Aboriginal Australian woman from Mt Isa. King has made an outstanding contribution to human rights by speaking out about youth mental health issues. She has written about her experiences with depression and produced the innovative “Raise your Cards” campaign that encourages the sharing of stories by survivors of mental illness.

• Drisana Levitzke-Gray (WA) is a committed advocate for the rights of the deaf community. She has campaigned for the rights of deaf children and their families to access Auslan and has worked to change community attitudes and to change the sense of isolation felt by many Deaf children. She has been recognised as the 2015 Young Australian of the Year.

• Prudence Melom (QLD) is an advocate focused on racial equality. She has helped to create E-Raced, a series of workshops held in small towns that are about erasing racism through storytelling. Melom has used the story of the struggle of her family while escaping conflict in her home country of Chad to promote harmony and respect in regional Australia.

• Yen Eriksen (ACT) is a campaigner on LGBTIQ issues. She has fought for safety and respect for LGBTIQ students and influenced change through her role on the ACT Government Ministerial Council for LGBTIQ. She has fostered inclusion for vulnerable members of the LGBTIQ community through founding a radio show for LGBTIQ women and a gender inclusive roller derby league.

• Adam Schwartz (NSW) has been selected to recognise his work de-stigmatising depression and providing counsel to young people and their families.  He has done this through speaking out about his experiences with depression in his book, "Mum, I Wish I Were Dead".

The Human Rights Awards will be presented on Thursday December 10 in Sydney. The event will feature an address by President Gillian Triggs on “The Future of Human Rights in Australia”.