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Nominations
Each year we receive outstanding nominations for the Human Rights Medals and award categories. Nominees may have made a contribution within their communities or through the practice of law, through writing books about human rights issues or through their work in the media.
Nominees compete in either general categories or media categories.
General categories include the Human Rights Medal, Young People’s Human Rights Medals, Law Business, Community (Individual), Community (Organisation). Media categories include Literature (Non-fiction) Print and Online Media, Radio and Television.
General Categories
Media Categories
I was stunned when my name was read out. It was such a shock but also an incredible honour to be recognised in this way. The Awards are a really important opportunity for various human rights advocates to come together and be reminded of the wide array of ways in which individuals in Australia are campaigning through the human rights framework.
Human rights advocates can, at times, find themselves working in isolation, and this is such an important event to allow those individuals to connect with others and to reflect on the value of this collective work.
Nina Funnell
Winner of the 2010 Community Award (individual)
Awards Categories
Human Rights Medal (sponsored by Rio Tinto)
The Human Rights Medal is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of human rights in Australia. The medal has a rich history of prestigious winners.
- The entry should provide at least two, and no more than five, pages outlining specific examples of why the nominee's should be recognised.
Young People’s Human Rights Medal
The Young People’s Human Rights Medal is awarded to an individual who is, on the 6 June 2011, under the age of 25 years and who has made an outstanding contribution to advancing human rights in Australia.
- The entry should provide at least two, and no more than five, pages outlining specific examples of why the nominee should be recognised.
Law Award
Awarded to an individual or an organisation with a proven track record in promoting and advancing human rights in Australia through the practice of law.
- The entry should provide at least two, and no more than five, pages outlining specific examples of the nominee’s efforts.
Community Award – Individual: Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Award
Awarded to an individual with a proven track record in promoting and advancing human rights in the Australian community on a not-for-profit basis.
The entry should provide at least two, and no more than five, pages outlining specific examples of the nominee's efforts.
Literature (non-fiction) Award
Awarded for a non-fiction work (including social history, social commentary, biography or documentary) published in Australia between 5 October 2010 and 9 September 2011.
The nominated entry must expose, investigate or propel thought and action on a contemporary and compelling human rights issue in Australia.
Three copies of the material (hard copy book or film documentary on DVD) must accompany the entry.
Print and Online Media Award (sponsored by Vibe Australia)
Awarded for work published in Australian magazines, metropolitan or regional newspapers and websites between 5 October 2010 and 9 September 2011.
The nominated entry must expose, investigate or propel thought and action on a contemporary and compelling human rights issue in Australia.
Three copies of the material (newspaper, magazine clippings or website articles) must accompany the entry.
Television Award (sponsored by Avant Card)
Awarded for a TV drama, news or current affairs program or documentary, broadcast in Australia between 5 October 2010 and 9 September 2011.
The nominated entry must expose, investigate or propel thought and action on a contemporary and compelling human rights issue in Australia.
Three copies of the material (on video or DVD) must accompany the entry.
Business Award
Awarded to a business with a proven track record in promoting and advancing human rights in the Australian community.
A business is a profit-seeking enterprise (a person, partnership, or corporation) engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service. For the purposes of the Human Rights Awards, businesses in the legal profession should nominate for the Law Award, not the Business Award.
- The entry should provide at least two, and no more than five, pages outlining specific examples of the nominee's efforts.
Community Award – Organisation
Awarded to a non-government or community-based organisation with a proven track record in promoting and advancing human rights in the Australian community.
A community organisation is a self-funded not-for-profit organisation that operates within a single local community or as a subset of a wider group of not-for-profit organisations.
The entry should provide at least two, and no more than five, pages outlining specific examples of the nominee's efforts.
Radio Award
Awarded for a news or current affairs program or documentary of no more than one hour duration (either one program, a series or a compilation of highlights), broadcast in Australia between 5 October 2010 and 9 September 2011.
The nominated entry must expose, investigate or propel thought and action on a contemporary and compelling human rights issue in Australia.
Three copies of the material (on audio tapes or CD) must accompany the entry.
