London: Labor senator Kimberley Kitching, who suddenly died on Thursday night, has been lauded as a “brave justice warrior”, with human rights campaigners from around the world vowing to carry on her work.
Kitching, a senator for Victoria since 2016, died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 52.
Businessman Bill Browder with Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching at the Sergei Magnitsky Human Rights Award ceremony in 2021.Credit:Sean Pollock
When she entered parliament, Kitching ferociously campaigned for a Magnitsky Act so that Australia could join its allies – the United Kingdom, United States and Canada – in imposing sanctions on human rights violators.
Businessman Bill Browder, who spearheaded the global movement for human rights-based sanctions, let the tributes. The Act was named after Browder’s accountant Sergei Magnitsky who was persecuted and killed by the Russian regime.
“Losing Kimberley is a terrible tragedy for her family, her friends, Australia and the world,” Browder said.
“Kimberley was a brave justice warrior who never stood down or was intimidated by the evil regimes she advocated against.
“She deeply believed in justice and truth and was ready to take risks to help the dispossessed.
“Her most recent accomplishment was getting the Magnitsky Act passed in Australia and we had all sorts of plans to do more for victims of human rights abuse.
“We will carry on in her memory and I hope others will too,” Browder said.
Three months ago, Browder honoured Kitching with the Sergei Magnitsky Human Rights award at a ceremony in London.
Australian woman Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who was detained in Iran, said Kitching’s human rights work set her apart from other politicians.
Senator Kimberley Kitching at a hearing in May 2021.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“Unlike many politicians, Kitching made a very real contribution to something bigger than herself,” Moore-Gilbert said.
“She leaves behind a meaningful legacy, which would have undoubtedly been more impactful still had her life not been tragically brought to an end all too soon.”
Kitching was the Australian co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a cross-party organisation consisting of MPs from around the world united in their stance that governments take a tougher line on China.
Members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) held a virtual meeting shortly after news of Kitching’s death filtered out. Sources said everyone on the call was “absolutely gutted” by the loss of their colleague.
Kitching was one of the founding members of IPAC in 2020, and was a co-chair for Australia.
The IPAC said it was “united in mourning” the Australian Senator who had worked “tirelessly and fearlessly” for the rights of oppressed peoples in Tibet, the Uighur region, Hong Kong and China.
“We have lost a beloved colleague and a true friend,” the IPAC said in a statement.
“Kimberley devoted her work to the upholding of democracy and human rights internationally.”
“We join with her family, friends and colleagues from across the world in grieving her loss, and commit ourselves once again to working towards the causes she held so dear.”
IPAC’s founder Iain Duncan Smith said he will miss “her determination and infectious smile”.
Elaine Person from Human Rights Watch said Kitching was a passionate supporter of human rights.
“She tirelessly pushed the government for years to adopt a Magnitsky law,” she said.
“And she was approachable, responsive and kind. I will miss her. I can’t believe she is gone.”
Across the world, in Israel, former Israeli Ambassador to Australia Yuval Rotem and most recently the Director-General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Kitching was a “special, good and honest voice in the Australian parliament.”
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