Rio Tinto congratulates Mr Ron Merkel QC for winning the 2011 Human Rights Medal that was presented as part of the Australian Human Rights Commission's annual awards. This is the second year Rio Tinto has sponsored the medal.

Ron Merkel QC was awarded the medal in recognition of his 40 years of leadership and dedication as a legal practitioner in the areas of human rights, civil liberties, the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, migration law, equal opportunity and anti-discrimination law.

Mr Merkel joins previous recipients of the medal including Thérèse Rein, joint winners Phillip Adams and Father Chris Riley, Malcolm Fraser and Dr Faith Bandler.

Rio Tinto managing director Australia Mr David Peever said that Rio Tinto is proud to support the 2011 Human Rights Medal which recognizes exceptional efforts to uphold the values of integrity, equality and appreciation of diversity which are also shared by Rio Tinto.

Mr Peever said that "I congratulate Ron Merkel QC for his achievement. Mr Merkel runs a significant pro bono legal practice and is active in human rights advocacy for Indigenous Australians. He has held a number of important positions including Founding Member of the Aboriginal Legal Service, Founding Trustee of the Koori Aboriginal Heritage Service and President of the Victorian and Australian Councils of Civil Liberties.”