Quick Facts
Biography
Karen I. Tse is a human rights defender and social entrepreneur.
An international human rights attorney and ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, Reverend Karen I. Tse works with Rule of Law initiatives across the globe. Tse received her Master's degree from Harvard University School of Divinity, and received her J.D. degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law. She obtained her Bachelor's degree from Scripps College.
In 2000, Tse founded International Bridges to Justice, a non-profit organization which aims to eradicate torture in the 21st century and protect due process rights for accused people throughout the world. BJ is dedicated to protecting the legal rights of everyday citizens in developing countries, and has a special focus on the indigent accused. The organization focuses on institutionalizing defender practices by training public defenders, or legal aid lawyers, in countries where their help is needed. IBJ has expanded to countries throughout Africa and Asia, including Rwanda, Burundi, China, Cambodia, India, and Zimbabwe.
As a social entrepreneur, Tse is supported by the Skoll, Echoing Green and Ashoka foundations.
Karen is speaking at conferences, amongst others at the WINConference in 2002, 2011, 2014 and 2015to find supporters and engagement for International Bridges of Justice. At the WINconference in 2014, Karen received the WIN Inspiring Women Worldwide Award, an award that recognizes women who model values of global leadership, authentic contribution and integration of noble values, for her contributions to humanity.,