Sydney, December 28, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian-born Australian human rights advocate Ramnik Singh Walia has been awarded the Australian Human Rights Award – Community Category, one of Australia’s highest national honours, recognising leadership in advancing human rights and social inclusion.
Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the award recognises Mr Walia’s work supporting older Australians, people with disability, and First Nations communities, particularly in remote and regional regions of the Northern Territory, Australia. His advocacy focuses on dignity, access, and fairness for communities whose voices are often unheard.
Ramnik is now recognised as one of Australia’s leading advocates for seniors and disability rights. He moved from India to Australia in 2007 as an international student and has completed multiple studies in sociology, public policy, journalism, and community services. Before entering seniors and disability rights advocacy in 2021, Ramnik spent seven years working in community services, gaining hands-on experience supporting vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Since beginning his advocacy career, he has been involved in high-profile human rights cases, championing fairness, inclusion, and systemic change. Throughout his career, Ramnik has focused on creating a meaningful impact for underserved communities, ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights are protected.
Ramnik says the values of his Sikh faith strongly shape how he approaches his work.“Sikh teachings remind us to live honestly, work with purpose, and take responsibility for the community around us,” Ramnik says. “Advocacy is about ensuring people are treated with dignity and systems remain fair.”
Ramnik also draws inspiration from Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the Indian social reformer widely regarded as the father of modern India. Roy believed that actual progress comes when societies challenge inequality, promote education, and protect their most vulnerable members.
“Raja Ram Mohan Roy showed us that social reform requires courage and compassion,” Ramnik says. “That belief guides my work — whether advocating for seniors, people with disability, or First Nations communities.”
Like Roy, Ramnik believes that meaningful change comes from reforming systems, not silence, and that inclusion is essential for human progress.
This national honour follows Ramnik’s 2024 Northern Territory Human Rights Award, highlighting an advocacy journey that has delivered tangible outcomes at both local and national levels.
In his acceptance speech, Ramnik reflected on Australia’s proud role in helping shape the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, describing it as a legacy that continues to inspire action today.
Ramnik noted that while laws and policies provide an important foundation, human rights are ultimately strengthened through everyday actions — when people take shared responsibility, stand up for one another, and work together with respect and dignity.
At the core of Ramnik’s work is a clear belief that inclusion for all is a responsibility, not a favour. He says that when people are included, communities thrive, trust grows, and human dignity is protected, a belief that guides his advocacy every day.
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