Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN (March 9, 2011) – The Advocates for Human Rights is proud to announce that Cheryl Thomas, Director of the Women’s Human Rights Program, has been named one of 150 “Women Who Shake the World” by Newsweek. The honor was announced in the March 14, 2011 print edition of Newsweek and on the magazine’s website at www.newsweek.com/2011/03/06/150-women-who-shake-the-world.html.

Newsweek praised Thomas for her work with local partners around the world writing laws that better protect women and girls. For the last two decades, she has improved legal protections for women suffering from domestic abuse and other forms of violence in places as diverse as Central and Eastern Europe, South Asia and the former Soviet Union, and Morocco.

Thomas said, “I am deeply honored to be included on this list.  Really, it is a tribute to the work of the entire Women's Program team at The Advocates for Human Rights that I am included.  I am grateful to Newsweek for highlighting the courageous work of women’s advocates around the world and stating so forcefully what we all know – that development and peace are not possible without putting an end to the widespread subjugation of women that is occurring in the world today through brutal violence and discrimination.”

Robin Phillips, Executive Director of The Advocates for Human Rights, added, "It is extremely gratifying to see Cheryl get the recognition she deserves for her vision, talent and hard work. While it is not surprising, we are thrilled that the rest of the world will see what we have known for a long time."

Thomas is an attorney and Director of the Women's Human Rights Program at The Advocates for Human Rights, a program she founded in 1993. She was honored as a 2005 Changemaker by Minnesota Women’s Press and in 2008 was selected to be one of 15 experts from around the world to participate in a United Nations Expert Group Meeting on good practices in legislation on violence against women.

After receiving her law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1983, Thomas practiced law at the Minnesota Attorney General's office and was a partner at the law firm of Briggs and Morgan. From 1996 to 2002 she was an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, where she taught Women’s International Human Rights. From 1999 to 2001 she served as Executive Director of WATCH, a court monitoring organization focused on cases of violence against women and children.