5 Oct 2017

Detainee advocate receives award

9:03 pm on 5 October 2017

For his services to refugees and asylum seekers detained by Australia, Daniel Webb, the director of legal advocacy at the Human Rights Law Centre, is the inaugural recipient of the Global Pluralism Award.

A Manus detainee holds a sign marking Mr Webb's award.

A Manus detainee holds a sign marking Mr Webb's award. Photo: supplied

An international jury selected Mr Webb from over 200 nominees in 43 countries

The award was bestowed by the former prime minister of Canada Joe Clark, who said by shifting the public conversation from one of deterrence to welcome, Mr Webb was paving the way for other global leaders.

Mr Clark also described Australia's offshore detention of refugees and asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea and Nauru as "horrendous."

Mr Webb said men were dying on Manus while unaccompanied children, infants and pregnant women had been indefinitely imprisoned on Nauru.

He said Australians had lost their moral compass and he hoped the award would be a wake up call.

Mr Webb currently assists over 380 refugees and asylum seekers in Australia including women sexually assaulted on Nauru, men attacked on Manus and children traumatised by offshore detention.

Daniel Webb.

Daniel Webb. Photo: Global Centre for Pluralism

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