Tragedy as young lawyer Sophie Trevitt, 32 – who campaigned for human rights – dies after battle with brain cancer… as loved ones share her powerful life lessons every Australian should read

The heartbroken family of a dedicated young human rights lawyer paid a moving tribute to her after she lost her nine-month battle with brain cancer on Thursday.

Sophie Trevitt, 32, from Canberra, worked tirelessly on the campaign to keep indigenous children out of detention, even as she fought for her own life.

In June, she won the 2023 Liberty Victoria Voltaire Human Rights Award for her work to raise the age of criminal responsibility for children.

But on Friday, in heartbreaking posts on Twitter, her loved ones revealed that she had finally succumbed to her incurable cancer.

Along with a series of snapshots from throughout their lives, they posted: ‘Be kind, be brave. Fight for justice. Fight for people to be safe.

‘Today and every tomorrow, ask yourself: what would Sophie do?’

Ms Trevitt, from Canberra, worked tirelessly on the campaign to keep indigenous children out of detention, even as she fought for her own life (pictured in hospital earlier this month)

In June, she won the 2023 Liberty Victoria Voltaire Human Rights Award for her work to raise the age of criminal responsibility for children.

Ms Trevitt turned her back on a promising career in Canberra politics to move to the Northern Territory after seeing the plight of First Nations children in the criminal justice system.

She admitted in 2019: “I never felt fear like I do for the children locked up in Alice Springs.”

Their tireless fight won a commitment from the ACT, Northern Territory, Tasmanian and Victorian governments to raise the minimum age of arrest or the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

In an interview with ABC in June, her voice affected by cancer, she added: “These kids are locked up but they don’t get any help.

“We are simply putting human beings in cages because we decide they are too harsh, or as a government, we don’t care enough about them to change that.

“I was a little overwhelmed by the angst of that.

‘We want these children to receive proper care so that we can all share in that safe and happy future. And that’s what we don’t have now.

Announcing her death, her family called her “the kindest, the bravest” and a legend and hero who had inspired many others.

“To the countless everyone who loved her and was inspired by her: this little legend, this total legend, the kindest, the bravest, the most ridiculous, the best, our heroine, our most precious,” they posted.

‘Sophie Jessica Trevitt, in the quiet moments of the morning of July 27, after nine months of battling horrific brain cancer with the wisdom of a sage, breathed her last and peacefully passed into nothing more than our memories of she.

“Tape-headed and concerned about others, even in her most difficult times, she would want little fuss, except if she could somehow inspire you to make a difference to the world and the people in it.”

She had been executive director of the Change the Record campaign, as well as co-chair of the Australian Lawyers for Human Rights ACT.

“Not caging children under the age of 14 is the least we can do to avoid torturing children,” he said.

“Banning spit bells (and) raising the age of criminal responsibility are the first steps in supporting our children.”

On Friday, in a series of heartbreaking posts on Twitter, her family revealed that Sophie Trevitt had finally succumbed to her incurable cancer.

Ms Trevitt turned her back on a promising career in Canberra politics to move to the Northern Territory after seeing the plight of First Nations children in the criminal justice system.

Friends and supporters shared their grief with the family in dozens of online tributes to Sophie.

Her work was also recognized in 2020 when she won the ACT Youth Coalition’s Yogies Award.

“She has brought her passion, impressive experience and skills to this campaign and worked primarily behind the scenes to coordinate, report and advocate,” the judges said.

‘Her dedication and effort have impressed all of us who have had the pleasure of working with her.

“It’s his genuine display of integrity, doing what he knows is right and fair because it’s valuable in itself and continues to be inspiring.”

Friends and supporters shared their grief with the family online.

“Nothing but respect and sadness for this terrible loss,” said Professor George Newhouse, a human rights lawyer. We are all handicapped by his untimely death.

“Sophie was a special person, a fighter, advocate and change agent,” one posted.

Another added: ‘The kindest, bravest and most compassionate woman, who has left a huge mark in the arenas of injustice.’

‘Such a profound loss. His fighting spirit will live on,’ said one more.

A memorial for her in Canberra will be announced at a later date.