The Australian Human Rights Commission has awarded their 2008 Human Rights Medal to Cultural Survival board member and Indigenous Peoples Caucus chair Les Malezer. The commission president, Catherine Branson, said the candidates for this year's medal were all strong but that "Les' efforts stood out for his sheer capacity to overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers in improving access to justice and human rights for indigenous peoples worldwide." Cultural Survival Executive Director Ellen Lutz also cited Malezer's many accomplishments and his barnacle-like tenacity: "Les Malezer was the leader, catalyst, and source of inspiration for the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus and the indigenous rights movement during the final push for passage of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In the last year, when it seemed that the declaration would stall in the UN General Assembly, he moved from Australia to the YMCA in midtown Manhattan to shepherd it through the complex political maze that was impeding its adoption. We owe it to Les that the declaration is today a reality. But to truly honor his efforts, we must redouble our own to ensure that it is implemented wherever Indigenous Peoples live." For the Australian Commission's full press release about he award, go to http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2008/151_08.htm...
