Karen I. Tse, Human Rights Advocate, is Recipient
of the 2008 International Human Rights Award

Award to be Presented at New York City Luncheon Featuring Legal Correspondent Dan Abrams

CHICAGO, May 28, 2008 – Karen I. Tse of Geneva, Switzerland, will receive the annual International Human Rights Award from the American Bar Association Section of Litigation for her contributions as an international human rights lawyer and as the founder of International Bridges to Justice during the ABA Annual Meeting in New York City, Aug. 7 - 12.

ABA Section of Litigation Chair Judith A. Miller, San Francisco, will present the award at the International Human Rights Award and Passing of the Gavel Luncheon on Friday, Aug. 8.  The keynote speaker at the luncheon will be Dan Abrams, chief legal correspondent for NBC News.

The luncheon is scheduled from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. and will be held in the Grand Salon at the Jumeirah Essex House Hotel, the headquarters for the section’s sessions. 

Since its inception in 1991, the International Human Rights Award has honored and recognized individuals who have made special contributions in the area of human rights in a foreign jurisdiction.

The award was created in response to the knowledge that in many countries with repressive regimes, the regime is less likely to take retaliatory action against a human rights advocate if the advocate has received international recognition. The recipients have often fought for basic human rights for others, even when it may not be in their personal self-interest, and have made extraordinary contributions to the cause of human rights, the rule of law, and the promotion of access to justice. The award builds awareness of the courageous work being done by lawyers and judges around the world in the face of adversity.

This year’s award recognizes Tse, who founded International Bridges to Justice in 2000 and serves as its CEO.  IBJ is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental organization that strives to protect due process and achieve fair trials for the accused throughout the world and is dedicated to the mission of protecting basic legal rights for ordinary citizens in developing countries.  Tse’s accomplishments include efforts to implement measures to ensure judicial reform, the development of institutionalized defender practices and the promotion of rights awareness to help ordinary citizens gain knowledge of, and access to, legal rights. IBJ now operates in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Burundi and will be expanding into other parts of the world in response to urgent requests for legal aid.

In announcing the award, Section Chair Miller said, “Karen Tse has demonstrated her commitment to the rule of law and this award is being presented to her in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to access to justice and human rights. Over the years, her efforts have demonstrated that one person can make a difference by standing up to fight injustice.  She has been a leader in efforts to ensure that victims of torture and unjust legal proceedings can be heard and represented.  Her work with the IBJ is proof that someone dedicated to a cause, with a clear vision, can achieve success against all odds.”

Tse is a graduate of the Harvard University School of Divinity where she received a master’s degree and is a Unitarian Universalist minister.  She received her juris doctor from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Scripps College. Tse has also studied at the Tianjin Foreign Languages Institute and the London University School of Oriental and African Studies.

Prior to her work with IBJ, Tse was affiliated with the United Nations Center for Human Rights in Cambodia and the Cambodian Defenders Project.  After law school, she worked in Contra Costa County, California, as a public defender; she later joined the Office of the Public Defender in San Francisco.  In 1994 she moved to Cambodia to train the country’s first core group of public defenders. She served as a United Nations Judicial Mentor and trained judges and prosecutors to establish the first arraignment court of Cambodia.

She is the recipient of numerous awards from national and international organizations for her dedication and vision and her demonstrated success as an advocate for human and legal rights.

At the conclusion of the luncheon, Miller will pass the gavel to Robert L. Rothman of Atlanta who will serve as chair of the section for the 2008-09 year.

With more than 76,000 members, the ABA Section of Litigation includes trial lawyers, judges and others involved in all aspects of litigation and the dispute resolution process.  The Section of Litigation is dedicated to promoting justice both domestically and internationally, as well as enhancing public understanding of and respect for the legal profession. For more information on the International Human Rights Award, visit the section web site at www.abanet.org/litigation/committees/international/ihr.html. More information on the IBJ can be found at www.ibj.org.

With more than 413,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

Editor’s Note: For more information on the International Human Rights Award, contact Debbie Weixl, ABA Media Relations, at 312/988-6126 or visit the section web site at www.abanet.org/litigation.  Reporters are invited to cover the luncheon and presentation and all other events at the ABA’s 2008 Annual Meeting in New York City. For more information on the Annual Meeting, contact the ABA at 202/662-1090 or 312/988-6171.  The on site press room will be at the New York Hilton and will be open for media registration beginning at noon on Aug. 7, and will remain open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will close one hour after the adjournment of the House of Delegates on Aug. 12.

Archived Releases | Media Relations Home | ABA Home Page