Alicia Keys has been recognised for her human rights advocacy as she was awarded Amnesty International’s highest honour for human rights work.

Keys shared the 2017 Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award with a group of Indigenous Canadian activists

At the ceremony in Montreal, former leader of the Black Panthers Party, Ericka Huggins, presented the award to Keys and praised her for using her platform to fight for the marginalised and encourage young people to raise their voices.

In her acceptance speech, Keys highlighted the work needed to be done to erase inequality in North America. “We are free and equal on paper, but not in reality. Women are still paid less than men. Children go without food, without healthcare. Our LGBTQ sisters and brothers are victims of hate crimes. And the colour of our skin determines whether we make it home alive after a routine traffic stop.”

She then called on people to stand up for human rights: “Can we depend on each other to speak up any way we can? Because who do we count on to support the fight for freedom, the promise of dignity and equality, if not us?”

Amnesty award the Ambassador of Conscience Award to “individuals and groups who have shown exceptional courage standing up to injustice, used their talents to inspire others and who have furthered the cause of human rights.” Past winners include figures like Ai Weiwei, Harry Belafonte, Joan Baez, Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela.