BWJP Welcomes Cheryl Thomas, as the new Senior Attorney Advisor fot The Center on Global Rights for Women
Cheryl has worked with partners around the world to promote women’s human rights and achieve systemic and legal reform to…
BWJP Welcomes Cheryl Thomas, as the new Senior Attorney Advisor fot The Center on Global Rights for Women
Cheryl has worked with partners around the world to promote women’s human rights and achieve systemic and legal reform to end violence against women and girls since 1993. She has participated in the drafting of laws on violence against women and girls and led training to enforce such laws in dozens of countries. Cheryl Thomas is the founding Director of Global Rights for Women and has worked with the United Nations on many initiatives including co-leading an Expert Group Meeting to draft the United Nations Handbook for Legislation on Violence against Women. In 2011, she was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of 150 Women Who Shake the World. In 2021, she received the Arabella Babb Mansfield Award from the National Association of Women Lawyers. Former positions include Director of the Women's Rights Program at The Advocates for Human Rights, Special Assistant Attorney General and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School.
Cheryl's dedication and knowledge in global human rights makes her a strong addition to BWJP. We cannot wait to see her accomplishments through this new center. - Amy J. Sánchez, CEO BWJP
Meet Cheryl:
Q: What brought you into the field of gender-based violence?
I was drawn to the efforts to end gender based violence when I saw the opportunity to advocate for the first global legal norms that included women’s rights as human rights and identified GBV as a human rights violence. I knew that creating and enforcing new laws to prohibit GBV around the world would be transformational.
Q: What drew you to BWJP?
BWJP has been an outstanding leader in systemic and legal reform to end GBV and I have always deeply admired the expertise on the BWJP staff and the deep and broad impact of BWJP.
Q: What are you most looking forward to working at BWJP?
Being part of an impactful community of passionate advocates and experts. Learning, collaborating and sharing my own knowledge.
Q: How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
Traveling, hiking, swimming in the ocean. Being with my husband, three sons and their partners!
