A Muslim woman who has devoted more than 25 years to helping women and multicultural communities has received this year's New South Wales Human Rights Award in a ceremony attended by Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello.
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“The award gives special recognition to a person who has made lasting and meaningful contributions to the advancement of human rights in NSW,” Dominello said during the event to honor Maha Krayem Abdo OAM, a post on his Facebook page read on Thursday, August 7.
“Krayem Abdo is a most deserving winner of this award. The judging panel found her to be a standout among a field of high-caliber candidates, commending her as a champion of multiculturalism and advocate for the elimination of racial and gender discrimination.”
Krayem Abdo, Executive Officer of the Muslim Women’s Association, was honored as the winner of this year’s NSW Human Rights Award during a ceremony at State Parliament.
During the ceremony Dominello presented Ms Krayem Abdo with a specially-struck medal and a $5,000 cash prize.
He has also praised her work over quarter a century to empower young women and promote harmony.
“She is a renowned Muslim leader and mentor and has worked tirelessly over the past 25 years to empower young women and promote harmony between multicultural communities,” the minister said.
“She has taken a leading role in working with religious leaders from other communities in NSW to support inter-faith initiatives which foster greater understanding and tolerance.
“In recent years Krayem Abdo has been a highly effective community advocate on a number of complex issues including facial identification, female genital mutilation, human trafficking and underage forced marriage.
After decades in Australia, Krayem Abdo proved to be a successful example for Muslim integration in the community.
“Krayem Abdo, who migrated to Australia from Lebanon during the 1960s, established the Muslim Women’s Support Centre, a refuge for women escaping family and domestic violence,” minister Dominello said.
“In 2008 she was awarded an Order of Australia medal for her work in this field.
“She will serve as Human Rights Ambassador for 12 months and through the Community Relations Commission, the NSW Government is proud to support her work to promote human rights issues at events, schools and conferences,” Dominello added.
Attendees included Federal Race Discrimination Commissioner Dr Tim Soutphommasane, 2013 winner and Australian Indigenous Education Foundation CEO Andrew Penfold AM, State MPs and Consuls General.
This year’s judging panel consisted of Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Vic Alhadeff, CEO, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and Ainslie van Onselen, Chief of Staff, Australian Financial Services, Westpac Banking Corporation.
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.7 percent of its 20-million population.
Islam is the country's second largest religion after Christianity.
