Ellison receives Journey of Hope Award

The Advocates for Human Rights announces that staff attorney Mary C. Ellison has been recognized by the Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project (BWLAP) with the 2009 Journey of Hope Award. Gloria Fressia, managing partner at BWLAP, says Ellison received the award "for her outstanding and dedicated legal advocacy on behalf of victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking in Minnesota and around the world."

BWLAP presented the award to Ellison on Oct. 15, at the third annual Journey of Hope, a benefit event for BWLAP. During the last three years, BWLAP has been presenting the Journey of Hope Award to three professionals (Advocate, Attorney, Community Server) whose achievements have shown a major commitment to BWLAP's mission and values. Fressia says that she is "convinced that domestic violence and human trafficking is a continuum of the same reality abuse of the most vulnerable."

With this award, BWLAP wants to "appreciate Mary's extraordinary achievements researching the reality of sex trafficking in Minnesota, collaborating in the publishing of The Advocates For Human Rights' report Sex Trafficking Needs Assessment for the State of Minnesota, and getting legislation passed in Minnesota that increases substantially sex trafficking offenders' penalties while protecting the victim."

Freesia said, "Mary does all that work while educating advocates, attorneys, judges and prosecutors worldwide on the issues of battered women and victims of sex trafficking."

About Mary Ellison

Mary is the daughter of Toby and Marian Ellison of Menomonie. She graduated from Menomonie High School and, in addition to her law degree, holds a bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College and a master of arts degree from Colorado State University.

She is a published poet and essayist and the editor of two oral history collections. Prior to law school, she was a consultant to Columbia University's development office, a principal gifts fundraiser for St. Olaf College, and the manger of training services at SunGard BSR, Inc.

Ellison is a staff attorney in the Women's Human Rights Program at The Advocates. She received her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in June 2007 and is admitted to practice in Minnesota.

Since joining the Women's Human Rights Program, Mary co-authored the "Sex Trafficking Needs Assessment for the State of Minnesota;" assisted in conducting two days of meetings in Yerevan, Armenia in June 2008 on "Advocacy and Lobbying for a Domestic Violence Law in Armenia;" advocated for and passed amendments to Minnesota's Sex Trafficking Law in May 2009; and visited Astana, Kazakhstan to deliver a presentation entitled "Best Practices in Legal Reform on Domestic Violence" in June 2009; among other accomplishments.

About The Advocates

The mission of The Advocates for Human Rights is to implement international human rights standards in order to promote civil society and reinforce the rule of law. By involving volunteers in research, education, and advocacy, The Advocates builds broad constituencies in the United States and around the world. To advance that purpose, The Advocates has worked with hundreds of members of the Minnesota legal community to protect human rights in our communities. The Advocates appreciates the many dedicated individuals who have offered pro bono services in the form of research and legal representation for asylum seekers, immigrants, and others whose rights are at risk.

About the Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project

The Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project is a Minnesota statewide organization, founded 13 years ago to be the voice of battered women and children, particularly those who are the most vulnerable because of race, origin, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, isolation, age, and disability. The mission of BWLAP is to promote justice for battered women and children. BWLAP achieves its mission by advocating for system change, advocating to secure access to justice for all, and advocating to improve the legal systems response to battered women and children.




source: http://www.dunnconnect.com/articles/2009/11/06/variety/doc4af4b10bbee17341607412.txt