Title: 2009 Gleitsman International Activist Award (Part 2)

" Thank you and welcome to everybody tonight I am really delighted to be able to -- it wanted introduced. And I since 1990. When she was in I core. Profit management. And I'm that he knows that. I require all of my students to affiliate in profit again is there. Analytical work -- nonprofit in here and had a project. She was at the -- she was asked registering. And yet this project. And I am going to do. This which turned out to be -- today. Black. We. Come when did you begin minister. -- that's their professors of divinity school monitored daily guessing out there so disappointed in me. At any rate she's stuck with it but I I AM I am very proud that I had the efforts need to work with her so early and and with their kind of that the creation of this incredible thing. I'm and it take a few moments just -- what. International bridges suggest this is not -- are being really clear about what she's accomplished in in the last ten years. Founded in 2000. -- BJ -- promotes systematic global change the administration of criminal justice by working to usher at the end of arbitrary detainment used to torture. And that denied access to counsel. And to -- the receipt of a fair trial due process and confident representation. As as -- actually cause this is drudgery. Is is actually implementing -- lies that are actually. Block. I -- we think we think she's a hero and she thinks it's and that some of -- that stuff. As kind of updated their legal system to provide these basic human rights. Cheney has worked to ensure that the cultural understanding. And implement practice at these new rights actually happens. I -- eight trains and supports criminal defense lawyers. Establishes defender resource centers creates professional associations and trained advocates and catches. I -- has programs in six countries in Africa Asia and obviously -- com. In addition elections and so far is is going on line. To create a network that -- many more people who are interested in this in this arena. I mean many more people. Yet. Trained well over 10000. 500 legal aid centers. Has conducted the first criminal defense training in Vietnam. And is continuously building defender resource planners. -- that this is aware that we're celebrating tonight. I'm gonna tell you a little bit about Karen and I've gotten a few tips for all friends. Because some of the things I didn't actually. -- about. She learned very early age to practice service -- others. As one of three children born to immigrants from Los Angeles Chapman found herself helping her brother and the two of them developed a a habit of a study group apparently that continued fairly deepened their respective academic careers. Like many first generation Americans here is trying to study of La out of a sense that the opportunity and promise that brought them here. And as much human potential throughout our history was in a fundamental. Grounded in straight at institution's history equity at all under the rule of law. -- earliest work as a public defender and county of Los Angeles. Learned first hand the critical importance of adequate representation. Not just to protect their rights. For criminal defendants but to -- a system of jurisprudence that makes respect for the rule of law a reality. Across all sectors of society. She first developed for interests in this on the cross section of criminal line human rights as honest and fellow. Which -- shortly after she graduated from college. After observing Asian refugee detained and local prisons without trial. This is this is kind of neat epiphany she writes it remembered hearing her -- talking deployed in detained and tortured. He was just a boy who would try to steal a bicycle he would not want to defend him. Instead epiphany Karen has worked all legal systems accountable. And our employers implement existing laws. That outlet torture and other system systematic abuses. And asked the United Nations. Pioneers of life initiatives and establish the first arraignment court in Cambodia. Later serving as that you and judicial center and training country's first or group a public defenders. Went to use the weight loss last below and then later on after her time in Cambodia that the divinity school. And very interesting I am. Take unease these two experienced last school of divinity school. And she wasn't just repenting infinity school or going to Alaska. As she as by going Abbas school they had followed the advice of Martin Luther King. And -- they have. After returning from Cambodia it was time to concentrate on the tender our. In law school. That I thought it was about being adversarial and being competitive and being the best. Sounds like -- we now. But I can't climb and she'd forgotten everything around her and about the things that really mattered community. The larger world your birthday. So she went to divinity school became an ordain minister. And in the process found -- I'd be today. The chronology is no accident it was Kennedy school. That I began to understand that the hope for the human world lies in the human heart. How well at the divinity law she'd lived out exactly what we always hope for a professional students here at at Harvard. Net should be to be directed. On to bear and man to. To Aybar and harvest everything you possibly can while you're here on this campus. And she knew. She knew she wanted to build this thing that became I BJ and get an idea about where where to start on where the biggest challenges or. And so he spent some time I didn't organize with with Marshall scans communication with -- dancing here. And notice there's several faculty here for the divinity school that she was learning about this. But she was really practical how you create an international Ngo. -- create partnerships with industry bar association's lakers' ministries of justice and -- How do you make pathways -- the doors of the kinds of people who -- not only guide your course but come along for the ride. And on the lucky ones that has come along with her and dragged from -- time. Keep -- to hear it more and more prestigious places. But these awards. -- The divinity school student -- I'm actually isn't mentioned on out resorts is all around the university and took several classes here. And on and in claiming in a partial ownership. For here. We believe that she bit down very real way the race that we hold up my -- now ask what you can do. Now finally -- Quote a non. A letter from president Kennedy. In transmitting the legislation sent to congress which -- it became a criminal justice act of 1963. He said in a typical criminal case the resources of government are pitted against those of the individual. To guarantee a fair trial under such circumstances. Requires that each accused person had ample opportunity to gather evidence and prepare and present their class. It is this simple. Simple. Be frank -- is attempting to accomplish across the across the world now. How this that professional side appearance activities I'm gonna share some observations about her from. The person who nominated her for the -- the award Frances Jones chief for the justice unit at the United Nations integrated office and Randy. -- marvelous. Answer nations back here. Here today is an exceptional woman she as the ability to charm the most hardened hearts. Channel has changed how perceptions. And quite literally move mountains. Karen has an outstanding record of accomplishment but they're -- apart who truly yes. -- inside one must simply talk with their one and see firsthand. The power an individual and have another profession and society and culture and the world. That when individuals -- we can and is making a difference in the lives of the war forgotten you press. Barack Obama writes about the audacity Paul. Caron has the -- city to end torture in the 21 century. This little person. A dreamer as Ford's magazine called her now. Rather -- certified minister lawyer activist. Mother. Alumni of my course. Firmly grounded in a belief that torture at hand and that it is in -- people that it makes. And here is how we're going to do it. As surgeon on call that dean of China -- practitioners in -- law professor once told me. And this is still France's -- Here -- ability. Sox -- in our government official. And indeed -- had in 2000. Karen was able to -- at. Unheard of memorandum of understanding with the people's republic. Ministry of justice legal aid -- To start -- know your rights campaign. And to train a new generation of Chinese criminal defense lawyers. This is a man who at the last minute when Karen was literally on the way to his office decided he was too busy to hear. And he she she persisted and persisted with his assistant and she followed him around town it sounds like. And he finally agreed this year -- had dinner with their. And at the end of the dinner he said I don't know why but I'm going to work with you. So this is her this is her and -- Don't let go and go after what you believe them. We. You're terrific Kennedy school are on. Behind a long line -- awards that parent has gotten a beginning after college. Her on the matter -- scripts how much is given her two awards I mention Thomas -- knowledge at. She was awarded a defender program defender program of the year award. Official commendation from the minister of justice of Cambodia. Echoing green fellow young lion award show that balance both well first decade award. The American bar association's. 2008 international human rights award. And well she's received accolades for war and is as -- I just said -- he has struggled mightily. To raise the relatively few dollars that is taken. To launch this worldwide movement. This is this is truly the definition of leverage because the amount of dollars. Is amazing when you think about the breadth of impact that she is hand. But wanted to pitches intimate and is is that you know it ask not what here and can do for. Ask what you can do for here. It is the most important that those of us who are hire her biggest fans and supporters. Figure out ways of helping her and so -- deputy I think everybody in the home to help you out in your quest. Let's remember that her purpose is just getting machines to implement this. Their own lives it is all about implementation. And so we need to support her and it's a finite."