Human Rights Week

Human Rights Week in Tasmania

Award winners 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” (Article 1, Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

“Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

“Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

“Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations . . .

From the Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Every 10 December people around the world commemorate the day that the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. Translated into a world record of more than 360 languages, the UDHR sets out those rights and freedoms that many of us take for granted.

10 December, the United Nations Day for Human Rights, is a day to raise public awareness and knowledge of why human rights matter, both amongst people who are lucky enough to enjoy their rights, and those who are not so lucky, who have little freedom and few rights.

It’s a day to focus on core human values reflected in the UDHR: a commitment to inherent human dignity, non-discrimination, equality, fairness and universality .

It’s a day to consider what any one of us can do to defend our rights, and help others find and protect theirs.

Tasmania – Human Rights Week

In Tasmania we go one better, and each December we celebrate Human Rights Week as well as commemorating the UN Day for Human Rights. Activities during the week are designed to make us more aware of our own rights and where they could be at risk, and to provide insight into people and issues from around the world, and what we can do to support their efforts to achieve social justice and the fulfilment of their human rights.

The Human Rights Week Organising Committee, which includes representatives from various organisations as well as individuals, co-ordinates the programme. This usually includes public discussions, performances, Amnesty International’s March for Human Rights and other activities. If you have suggestions for an activity that could be included contact the Committee.

The Tasmanian Human Rights Awards are presented during the week. For this year's Human Rights Week events go to our Events Diary.

Human Rights Week in Tasmania and the Organising Committee are supported by the Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, which can be contacted for information.

The theme for Human Rights Day 2011 was paying tribute to human rights defenders: m ore information can be found on-line.

There was also a lovely range of downloadable logos and pre-designed badges for use on the day.

The Week is also supported by the Hobart City Council.

Tasmanian Human Rights Awards

Australia, like many other countries, has chosen to honour people who’ve made a special contribution to human rights. Since 1991 Tasmania has also paid tribute to individuals, organisations and schools that are based in Tasmania, by presenting Tasmanian Human Rights Awards.

Anyone can nominate an eligible person or group they think deserves to be recognised and who satisfies the criteria for an award. Nominations must be on the official nomination form, and provide a description of why this person or organisation deserves to be chosen, backed up by the names of referees, and any appropriate documentary support. Nominations for awards usually close in early November.

There are awards for individuals, organisations, youth and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse community focussed activity, for print journalism and a school award.

Angus Downie Print Journalism Award
(In recognition of the extraordinary commitment of the late Angus Downie AM, 1943–2010, to human rights protection across Australia and internationally.)
For eligibility, criteria and a nomination form go to Human Rights Awards.

School Award
For eligibility, criteria and a nomination form go to Human Rights School Award.

Individual, organisation, youth and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
community focussed activity
For eligibility, criteria and nomination form go to Human Rights Awards.

And the 2011 winners are ...

The 2011 winners were presented with their awards at a ceremony at Parliament House Hobart on Friday 2nd December 2012. Speaking at the launch, Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks, said, ‘Every year, Tasmania celebrates International Human Rights Day - 10 December - with a week of human rights events. In doing this it is unique in Australia. At today’s launch we have, through the human rights awards ceremony, recognised the particular contribution of individuals and organisations to the promotion of human rights awareness through advocacy and activities.’ This year’s award winners cover the spectrum of our community. Some have been active for many years taking actions in Tasmania or internationally to improve the human rights protections for others.

Photo: Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

School Award: Jordan River Learning Federation: Gagebrook Primary Campus

For the whole school's ongoing commitment to learning about and educating the broader school community about a broad range of human rights issues.

Gagebrook Primary is located in a high-needs area and in 2005 embarked on a program of ‘self help’, starting with enGage, a social skills program. In 2008, the ruMAD? (Are You Making A Difference?) Program also became a part of the change. Since then, the students have completed many projects of their own design that have made a difference in their school and in the wider community. These have included, raising awareness of the victims of landmines in Cambodia (and raising funds for a village fish pond), working at Hazelwood School for children with special needs, visiting the local eldercare home, and creating a community toy library.

Read more about Gagebrook's many projects to make a difference here.

Highly Commended: Cygnet Primary School for the great work the students are doing in learning about diversity and acceptance and setting themselves the goal of making a difference.

Highly Commended: Riverside Primary School for its broad range of projects that are educating the whole school about human rights and the inventive ways they share their passion about human rights.

Photo: Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning Chair, Mary Dickens, with students, Sussannah Mannie and Brianna Pearce, and teacher, Petrina Randazzo, from Gagebrook Primary Campus, Jordan River Learning Federation. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

Individual Award: Anna Crotty

For her lifelong commitment to human rights and addressing discrimination and in particular for her leadership and determination in setting up Tents4Peace.

Anna is a retired human rights lawyer who has worked in the equal opportunity and discrimination field for many years. She also has a background in nursing, volunteer aid work and Amnesty International. Throughout her life Anna has served on many boards and committees related to conflict resolution, environmental issues and discrimination.

Anna founded Tents4Peace, which is supported by local communities across Australia. Tents4Peace is a grass roots community group that relies on the work of volunteers without major infrastructure or corporate support. As a result, the organisation has been able to mobilise quickly and effectively in the initial stages of disasters and critical situations worldwide in order to supply emergency life-saving shelter. In some instances the organisation has been able to operate in distressed areas before major aid organisations have been able to mobilise.

Tents4Peace has no religious or political affiliations and maintains sensitivity to the need to honour the cultural integrity of all those that they assist whilst encouraging ethical sustainability and self determination. Whilst the main focus of the organisation is to provide short-term emergency shelter for those who have been left homeless due to war or natural disaster, Tents4Peace also works towards providing basic infrastructure such as orphanages, schools and sponsorship for those in affected areas.

Tents4Peace has achieved international recognition and support due to their practical method of providing basic emergency aid. The organisation claims to have saved over 11 000 lives since its establishment in 2005.

Highly Commended: Aaron Everett for his engagement with the Tasmanian community in telling the history and stories of Tasmanian Aboriginals and in particular of the importance of the Kutalayna site.

Photo: Community Services Minister, The Hon Cassy O’Connor with Anna Crotty. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

Organisation Award: Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning

For the Centre's many years of educating young Tasmanians about human rights and the action they can take to make a difference for themselves and others.

The Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning (TCGL) was set up in response to a Tasmanian demand for knowledge regarding international development. Since its establishment in 1985, the Centre has been a small yet creative community-based organisation strongly committed to contributing to a positive world future. It has been consistently involved in education both within schools and in the wider community in the areas of global interdependence, peace and conflict resolution, sustainability, social justice, and human rights.

For the past 27 years the Centre has contributed to the development of Tasmania's education system by working with Tasmanian schools and educators, providing resources and presenting a positive and achievable view of the future. In recent years this work has evolved through the ruMAD? (Are You Making A Difference?) Program which has assisted thousands of Tasmanian students to deal with local problems as well as understand complex global issues.

The Centre has also been successful in facilitating the involvement of Tasmanian organisations in awareness-raising activities and continues to be Tasmania's leading independent centre for the promotion of education for social justice and human rights.

Read more about the Centre's work and projects here.

Highly Commended: Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre for its work to protect the Kutalayna site and in promoting discussion about Tasmanian Aboriginals’ rights in the Tasmanian media and community.

Photo: Community Services Minister, The Hon Cassy O’Connor with Jeremy Picone and Helen Hortle of the Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

Print Journalism Award: Greg Barns

For his many years of defending the human rights of all Tasmanians, promoting community debate and giving a voice in the media to those not often heard.

Greg Barns is a Tasmanian barrister, author and political commentator. He is also a media advocate for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers within Australia, at one stage turning down Liberal pre-selection because of the Howard Government's policy on asylum seekers in detention.

Within Tasmania, Greg heads the Prison Action and Reform Group, an independent coalition of individuals formed in response to community concerns awakened by the deaths of five people in Tasmanian prison institutions between August 1999 and January 2000. This work involves maintaining constant contact with prisoners in order to understand their difficulties and allowing him to effectively advocate for their rights to the Tasmanian Government.

Furthering his support of the rights of Tasmanian prisoners, Greg has also worked as counsel on a pro bono basis in an action on behalf of a Tasmanian prisoner against the State Government: an action which brought to an end a brutal behavioural management unit in the jail.

Greg is a director of human rights group, Rights Australia, has written three books on Australian politics, is a Director of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, and a member of the Australian Defence Lawyers Alliance.

Commended: Rebecca Fitzgibbon for her articles in The Mercury promoting and encouraging social equality and respect in the community.

Commended: Emma Hope for her articles in The Mercury drawing attention to the injustice of racism and conveying to readers the importance of respect.

Photo: Human Rights Awards Judge Wayne Crawford and Greg Barns. Photo credit: Pen Tayler.

CALD Focussed Activity Award: Fayia Isaiah Lahai

For his advocacy and awareness raising of issues facing people from African backgrounds living in Tasmania and his continuing involvement in rights through his volunteering at Amnesty International.

Photo: Her Excellency Governor General Quentin Bryce with Fayia Isaiah Lahai and his wife, Lovet Mangay Lahai. Photo credit: Pen Tayler.

Youth Award: Amy Fogarty

For the commitment she has shown to educating the Tasmanian community about global poverty and human rights abuses around the world and encouraging others to take action.

2010 winners ...

All 2010 winners were presented with their awards by Robin Banks (Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner) and Graeme Innes (Australian Human Rights Commissioner). All winners received a tree donated by the Hobart City Council nursery. The School award winners also received a cheque for $500 donated by AC & EA Peacock.

School Award: Huonville High School SWAP (Students Working Against Poverty)

In March 2010, 22 students and 3 staff from Huonville High School, along with a member of the local business community, travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia. Partly the trip was to experience different cultures but its main objective was to support a small school near Siem Riep. On the last day of their trip they visited an organisation called Cambodian Orphan Save Organisation (COSO), which they discovered was soon to be evicted from its home.

On their return the students formed the SWAP group with the aim of fundraising to help COSO buy land and build a new orphanage. So far they have raised $15,000 with the help of the Huon Valley community and a small shop they have opened to sell Cambodian handicrafts.

Students from Huonville Primary School have now joined the SWAP group and for Anti-Poverty Week 2010 they jointly organised a "Flight Against Poverty", at which the students flew home-made kites embellished with anti-poverty messages..

The activities of the SWAP group have engaged and inspired not only those at the school, but the whole Huon Valley community. Another trip to Cambodia is planned for 2011. This time travellers will include Huon Council officials, business leaders, medical staff, and youth workers. They will be led by 2 teachers and 2 students who made the last trip.

Organisation Award: Tascare Society for Children

The selection panel chose Tascare Society for Children for its long-term commitment to working with and promoting human rights for people with disabilities in Tasmania. Tascare supports people with disabilities and their families and works to ensure children and young people with disabilities have the greatest possible independence and opportunities to participate in all aspects of community life.

Individual Awards: Jo Goodman and James Newton

Jo Goodman was selected for an individual award as a result of her work over the last 5 years promoting and defending the human rights of the sexual and gender diverse community. Jo is Chair of the Tasmanian Council for Sexual & Gender Diverse People Inc which develops local management plans in partnership with local government to provide strategies to allow LGBTI people in the region to "come out with pride" and live in their community with dignity as fully participating members.

James Newton received an award for his tireless work supporting and encouraging people with disabilities in northern Tasmania, particularly through opening up opportunities for people with disability to both enjoy and participate in creative artistic endeavours in his project Access Arts, in conjunction with the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston.

Individual Youth Award: Brayden Witcombe-Keep

The panel selected Brayden Witcombe-Keep for an individual award because of his work promoting the rights of GLTBI in the Rosny College community. They commended him on his contribution to the National GLBTI Conference and encouraged him to continue his work in the broader community.

2009 winner ...

In 2009, only the School Award was made, here is their story.

Hobart Campus Students Against Racism

Human Rights School Award: for reaching out to build understanding of people from different cultures.

The Hobart Campus Students Against Racism (from the Tasmanian Academy and the Tasmanian Polytechnic) are all from refugee backgrounds and have developed a powerful, live presentation called Living in Between to explain why they left their homelands, the journey that brought them to Australia and their lives now.

The students’ proactive approach to tackling racism through building understanding has been welcomed enthusiastically by the Tasmanian community. Living in Between has been performed at school assemblies, teacher workshops and at the University. Performances have also been given at the Justice Action Day school conference, the Migrant Resource Centre Cultural Awareness Day, and at a national Diversity Conference held in Launceston.

The inspiring activities of the Hobart Campus Students Against Racism have not only impacted on many students and people in the Tasmanian community, but have contributed to creating a fairer world.

2008 winners ...

On December 1st 2008, three Human Rights Awards were presented: one to an individual, one to an organisation and the third to a school group.

These winners have all made a huge difference in the Tasmanian community, and further afield, putting in a lot of their own time working for what they believe in. Their activities cover a wide scope, and they are remarkably modest about their own achievements, believing that anyone can do what they have done, if only they want to.

Please read their stories and be inspired.

Justice Action Network

Inaugural Human Rights School Award: for inspiring students over more than a decade to be activists for human rights.

The Network brings together students from Catholic, state and independent schools to organise and run activities that raise awareness of human rights issues around the globe.

Some of the things the Network has done in 2008 include protests on Parliament House Lawns, lobbying politicians and organising and running Justice Action Day for 500 secondary students. Read more about the Justice Action Network...

Janette Miller

For her long-standing commitment to people with disabilities and in particular her outstanding contribution to Print Radio Tasmania.

Janette was instrumental in establishing and operating the Print Radio Tasmania service which reads print material to others who would otherwise be unable to access it.

More about Janette coming soon...

The Volunteer English Tutor Program

For its dedicated assistance and support to humanitarian entrants and migrants in developing and enhancing English language skills

The volunteers of this program give additional support to program participants in the form of job-seeking, family support, friendship and celebrations.

2007 winners ...

In December 2007 four Tasmanians were presented with awards at Parliament House. Their activities cover a wide scope,
and they are remarkably modest about their own achievements, believing that anyone can do what they have done, if only they want to.

Each has a special story to tell. They are, in alphabetical order:

Benedict Bartl

For the incredible scope and impact of his contribution to social justice and rights of the disadvantaged in the community.

This Young Australian Lawyer of the Year (2007) has consistently been involved in human rights activities since his student days. Involved in many successful community campaigns, often with a touch of theatrical fun added, he works hard for the underprivileged, including animals and the environment. He works by day with the Hobart Community Legal Service, and volunteers significant time to helping disadvantaged groups, promoting human rights and equal opportunity, and law reform. More about Ben ....

Ansumana Koroma

For his work in giving hope and direction to new African Tasmanians with their settlement and future.

Experience of civil war, and life in a refugee camp would discourage many, but has strengthened the commitment of this gentle man from Sierra Leone who works tirelessly for his community and family. His experience with the International Rescue Committee and Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Africa, his work with traumatised youth, and re-integration of child soldiers have helped him in his current major role assisting new African settlers to re-integrate in Tasmania, and to meet the enormous challenges they face. More about Ansumana ...

Rev Dr Christopher Newell AM

For service to people with disability over many years, particularly through advocacy and research.

He has lived with a variety of disabilities all his life, including severe and disabling pain, spent long periods in hospital and was several times was expected to die. Yet he earned several degrees and fellowships to become a great teacher, Anglican priest and ethicist. He continues to put his knowledge at the service of the community, to challenge accepted thinking, and fight to improve the lives of those who are treated by our society as “not normal”, or “other”. More about Christopher...

Eamonn Pollard

For his dedication to the promotion of human rights and the motivation of young people, the next generation of human rights activists.

Spurred on by his hatred of suffering, poverty and injustice Eamonn believes that, as a human being and as a Christian, working for a better world is non-negotiable. He spent two or three years ‘finding his focus’, including time in a monastic environment, and working in a hill school in India. A teacher and Director of Ministry at Guilford Young College in Hobart he volunteers much of his own time working for social justice human dignity and respect. Many young people have been inspired by him, and benefited greatly from his support and encouragement. More about Eamonn ...