International Bridges to Justice works to protect basic legal rights of citizens of developing countries. The thin wedge of this narrowly defined mission has opened the door to increasing human rights: for instance, to reducing the use of torture as a means of obtaining confessions from prisoners.

The daughter of Asian emigrants, from childhood Karen Tse heard horrifying stories of rights abuses. She began as a college student to write letters on behalf of political dissidents and she began to find ways to work more directly against injustices. What she could not find was a large organization that shared her vision. When she moved forward on her own, no one believed she could take on rights abuses in China. But she has.

And because a number of Asian countries have now signed documents averring their support of human rights the organization she founded, International Bridges to Justice, is making use of a unique window of opportunity. This story teaches practical lessons about doggedness and creativity, but the greatest lesson might be that the passionate commitment of one person can move mountains.

This video at YouTube describes Karen Tse’s work in Cambodia that helped to bring about the end of torturing prisoners. Read a Forbes article (a link at the top of the page allows you to “skip this welcome screen”) about her crusade for justice and visit the website of International Bridges to Justice.