Whether it is climate change, conflict resolution or global inequality, His Holiness’s most recent visit to Australia will have left thousands more Australians pondering the importance of his teachings to the great challenges of our times.

On 10 December, 20th Anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize, His Holiness’s attention was drawn to an issue never far from the minds of both Australians and Tibetans. And speaking alongside Professor Larissa Behrendt, a prominent indigenous writer and academic, His Holiness once again gave cause to believe that we can solve even the world’s most entrenched injustices.

Earlier this year Australia Tibet Council teamed up with Amnesty International to begin organizing an event to mark the 20th anniversary of His Holiness’s Nobel Peace Prize. After much debate and discussion the organizing committee settled on the theme of “Peace Through Justice” and invited His Holiness to speak on the importance of truth, human rights and justice in the lasting resolution of conflict.

Reflecting on the many great changes in the world in the twenty years since His Holiness was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, all agreed on the need for an event that, while acknowledging the enduring challenges in Tibet, celebrated the work of His Holiness and the cause of human rights more generally. Amnesty International sought to use the occasion to promote their Demand Dignity campaign and proposed Professor Larissa Behrendt as the event’s second speaker. As the months rolled on we began to understand the commonalities between Tibet, the work of Amnesty International, and the plight of indigenous peoples the world over, including of course in Australia. Finally we had all the ingredients for an event befitting of such an important occasion.

After a traditional indigenous “Welcome to Country” by Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, Professor Behrendt spoke strongly against the Northern Territory Intervention and the Government’s failure to fully reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act. She said this has left some of Australia’s most impoverished and vulnerable - Indigenous peoples - unprotected. Professor Behrendt said Indigenous peoples must be included in developing policy and programs that affect them, in order to end poverty and discrimination. She called for Australia to adopt overarching human rights protection.

The Dalai Lama began his address by reflecting on what he had heard from Larissa about indigenous Australia. Some may remember that His Holiness was among the first people to congratulate Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on his apology to aboriginal Australia and that he had spoken out on the rights of indigenous Australians during his 2007 visit. Nonetheless, His Holiness appeared genuinely surprised and saddened by the information that Larissa had so eloquently shared.

His Holiness continued by drawing attention to the many great achievements in human rights protection over the last century while noting the great disadvantage still faced by many of the world’s indigenous peoples. His Holiness spoke passionately about the importance of the world’s many unique and ancient cultures, urging all minority and indigenous peoples to make strong efforts to preserve their identity and culture.

Finally, His Holiness addressed the situation facing his own people. For most of us it is hard to understand how the Dalai Lama can maintain such patience, faith and resolve in the face of such injustice. Nonetheless, hearing His Holiness share again his ever hopeful, pragmatic and long-term perspective and reiterate his core messages of inner peace, compassion and universal responsibility, can leave almost anyone feeling optimistic about the future of Tibet and the world at large.