Friday, 16 July 2010
Nominate a human rights hero in your community
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda, is calling on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples around Australia to nominate themselves or others for the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2010 Human Rights Medals and Awards.
Commissioner Gooda said the Medals and Awards recognised and rewarded efforts to protect human rights in Australia.
“Improving the life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remains one of the biggest human rights challenges for Australia,” Commissioner Gooda said.
“The Commission’s Human Rights Medals and Awards is one day of the year where we can celebrate the achievements of those who put their daily efforts into protecting and promoting the human rights of others.
“Indigenous communities throughout Australia deal with some of the most pressing human rights concerns of all, including access to justice, health, housing, employment and education,” he said.
“In each of these communities, human rights heroes are going about their work - why not nominate them this year as a way of saying thanks?”
Nominations can be made for the Human Rights Medal and Young People’s Human Rights Medal and seven Award categories: Law, Community (Organisation), Community (Individual), Literature (non-fiction), Print Media, Television and Radio.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has a web-section containing all the information about the 2010 Human Rights Medals and Awards, including Award categories, how to enter, judging criteria, previous winners and how to buy a ticket to the awards ceremony.
There’s also a section for media, with the latest news releases, and information about the sponsors for this year’s Award ceremony, which are: Rio Tinto; the Department of Immigration and Citizenship; the Law Council of Australia; iHR Australia; Avant Card; Trophyland; The Co-op Bookshop; Online Opinion and Vibe Australia.
Nominations close at 5pm on Monday, 4 October, 2010. Winners will be presented with their Medals and Awards at a ceremony to be held on Human Rights Day, Friday, 10 December 2010 at the Sheraton on the Park in Sydney.
Nomination forms/ information: www.humanrights.gov.au/hr_awards or Ph: 02 9284 9618 or hrawards@humanrights.gov.au.
Tickets to awards: Ph: 02 9284 9618 or hrawards@humanrights.gov.au ($80 or $50 concession includes two course luncheon, drinks and entertainment.)
Mailing list for updates: Subscribe at www.humanrights.gov.au/hr_awards/index.html
Media contact: Louise McDermott 02 9284 9851 or 0419 258 597
