One of the state’s most prominent social justice advocates has been honoured with a room named after him at the Queensland Human Rights Commission’s office in Brisbane.
Campaigner Terry O’Gorman was recognised as a Human Rights Hero last Thursday at a ceremony which also saluted former High Court of Australia Justice Michael Kirby.
The two men were among more than 18 heroes to receive a room-naming honour in a Commission initiative designed to recognise those who have helped prevent discrimination and promote human rights locally and globally.
Other recipients included Nelson Mandela, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jessie Street and Merle Thornton; indigenous advocates Lloyd Clive McDermott (Mullenjaiwakka), Henrietta Marrie, Cec Fisher and Faith Bandler; and multicultural advocates Anjelina Akuac and Habib Jamal.
At the ceremony, Terry spoke of the strong leadership provided by the state’s inaugural Human Rights Commissioner, Scott McDougall, whose seven-year term expires next month.
“Mr McDougall has demonstrated the importance of a Human Rights Commissions operating in Queensland by having the Commission play an important role in working with the Queensland Police Service to improve working conditions and treatment of women in the Queensland Police Service,” he said.
Terry also commended Australian Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay for her efforts in dealing with an upsurge in antisemitism and Islamophobia in the wake of the current Gaza catastrophe.
He said Human Rights Commissions in Australia played an important role in dealing with issues spanning the spectrum of the left/right political divide “including work on critical issues such as modern slavery, asylum seekers and refugees, business and human rights and the impact of technology on human rights”.
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