30 November 2000
Visit to Australia of the Rev Dr Barney Pityana
The Rev Dr Nyameko Barney Pityana, Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, is in Australia to promote the World Conference Against Racism to be held in South Africa in August and September next year.
2001 has been designated the International Year of Mobilisation against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
Dr Pityana has a number of engagements in Australia and New Zealand over the next few weeks and will be available for interviews about the World Conference. Tomorrow, 1st December, he will be one of the opening speakers at the Diversity Conference 2000, to be held at University Hall, Harris Street, University of Technology Sydney and will be available for interviews following his speech.
He will also be the keynote speaker at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's Human Rights Medal and Awards ceremony on Human Rights Day, Sunday, December 10 at Star Court Darling Harbour in Sydney.
Dr Pityana is a lawyer and theologian with a lifetime commitment to human rights. Barred from legal practice under the apartheid government in South Africa during the 1970's, he left South Africa to study at Kings College London and later trained for the priesthood. He returned to South Africa in 1993 and was belatedly admitted as Attorney of the High Court of South Africa in February 1996. He has been Chair of the South African Human Rights Commission since 1995.
For a copy of Dr Pityana's resume, contact Ronan McHugh on: (02) 9284 9618
For further information and interviews, contact Janine MacDonald: (02) 9284 9880 or 0412 783 631.
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and Equal Opportunity Commission. Last updated 2 December 2001.
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