Demetrio Zema

“Human rights have no boundaries… they are an integral part of today’s society.”

Demetrio has a strong passion for encouraging multicultural and multifaith interaction and conversation in Australia as well as promoting greater awareness and understanding of human rights among diverse communities.

“In my community and the wider community there is a large multicultural/multifaith society,” says Demetrio. “It’s important that people from all walks of life are treated equally and nobody is of greater superiority or better than others.”

Demetrio currently studies Law and International Relations at La Trobe University. He is the Chairperson of the Victorian Multifaith Multicultural Youth Network and participated in World Youth Day 2008.

“Being a Human Rights Youth Ambassador is a huge honour - it’s a privilege to be able to be a representative for youth and an advocate for human rights,” says Demetrio.

During his appointment as an ambassador, Demetrio hopes to spread the word about human rights to young people and older generations, focusing on the key human rights concepts of freedom, respect, equality and dignity. He is particularly interested in spreading the message to newly arrived migrants in Australia who are unsure of their human rights and responsibilities.

Demetrio was nominated by the Victorian Multifaith Multicultural Youth Network.