The prestigious Australian Human Rights Medal was awarded to the Hon. Justice Michael Kirby AC, CMG in recognition of his consistent and outstanding contribution over many years to the promotion, observance and understanding of human rights.
Sir Ronald Wilson described Justice Kirby as 'an extremely warm and caring person who has devoted the major part of his life, both on a professional and private level, to the promotion, recognition and observance of individual rights. His effective advocacy and his integrity have been responsible for influencing many people both here in Australia and on the international scene'. His tireless advocacy of human rights causes both in Australia and on the international scene'. His tireless advocacy of human rights causes both in Australia and overseas was also attested to in a personal tribute from former Prime Minister Mr Gough Whitlam.
Throughout the past decade, Justice Kirby has been a prolific speaker and writer on such issues as privacy, criminal procedure, equal opportunity, freedom of speech, indigenous rights and the domestic application of international human rights treaties. He is currently a Commissioner of the World Health Organisation Global Commission on AIDS, where he is promoting the rights of HIV/AIDS sufferers against discrimination and fighting oppressive and impractical measures such as compulsory screening, detention and segregation.
Human rights medal
Winner
