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8 Jul, 2015

New Australian award created to combat racism

Canberra, (AHRC media release) 7 July 2015 – The Australian Human Rights Commission is proud to announce the creation of the ‘Racism. It Stops With Me’ Award. “The new Award recognises an organisation which has made an extraordinary contribution to reducing or preventing racism in Australia,” said President Gillian Triggs.

The Racism. It Stops With Me Award is a new category in the annual Human Rights Awards, to be presented on December 10. The event celebrates International Human Rights Day.

“The ‘Racism. It Stops With Me’ campaign is part of the Government’s National Anti-Racism Strategy which began in 2012.

“The campaign is a key part of the Commission’s work, and aims to help Australians take practical action against racism,” said Race Discrimination Commissioner Dr Tim Soutphommasane.

Nominations for all seven categories in the Human Rights Awards are now open.

Previous winners of the prestigious Human Rights Medal include Ian Thorpe, Eddie Mabo, Malcolm Fraser, Sister Clare Condon and Dorothy Hoddinott.

Now it’s time to add to that list by nominating an inspiring individual or organisation for a 2015 Human Rights Award.

“For twenty-eight years the Awards have celebrated the people and organisations that help make Australia a fairer place. This year we have a particular focus on anti-racism as the terrorist threat continues to test our commitment to social cohesion,” Professor Triggs said.

Nominations are sought for seven award categories. They are the Human Rights Medal; Young People’s Human Rights Medal; Business Award; Racism. It Stops With Me Award; Media Award; Tony Fitzgerald Community Award and the Law Award

Nominations close on 11 September 2015.

Details and nomination forms are online at http://hrawards.humanrights.gov.au