Together, we can end gender-based violence against women and girls.
Global Rights for Women provides legal reform and systems change support through a survivor-centered coordinated community response that prioritizes equality and safety.
Our Team
Cheryl Thomas
Founder and Executive Director
Since 1993, Cheryl has worked with partners around the world to promote women’s human rights and achieve effective reform on violence against women.
Vayuna Gupta
Senior Legal and Policy Advisor
Vayuna Gupta serves as the Senior Legal and Policy Advisor at GRW, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing GRW’s mission to drive systemic legal and policy reforms to end violence against women and girls.
Program Manager
Mingyu recently graduated with a Master of Public Policy degree concentrating on gender policy and international education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She holds a great interest in empowering underprivileged women in vulnerable situations through enhancing their exposure to educational and economic opportunities.
Communications Manager
Patricia’s career has been focused on working with mission-driven organizations seeking to tell their stories through partnership and collaboration.
Olivia Reed
Administration and Operations Coordinator
Olivia is a dedicated nonprofit professional with a strong background in philanthropy, project management, and database administration.
Finance Director
Christy has a Finance Degree and worked with high net worth clients and their businesses at U.S. Bank Private Client Group and before that in Credit Administration at Marquette Bank.
help end violence for women and girls
Join the team
At least 1 in 3 women in the world are victims of domestic and sexual assault.
WHO, Violence against women prevalence estimates, 2018.
An organization dedicated exclusively to a woman’s human right to be free from violence.
This injustice and so many others convinced our founder and Executive Director, Cheryl Thomas, acclaimed human rights attorney, that women need an organization dedicated exclusively to their human right to be free from violence. Where survivor’s voices and experiences are the basis for legal reform and systemic change.
Since 2014, our global partnerships include 60+ women’s nongovernmental organizations, government agencies and U.S. Embassies, the United Nations, and global and local experts on violence against women. These trusted partnerships have advanced laws, values and practices aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls.
Together, we’ve impacted more than 65 million women with improved laws, policies and practices, and we will continue our work until all women are provided the human right to live free from gender-based violence.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lynn Anderson, President, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Holiday Companies
Rebecca J. Bentzinger, Certified Clinical Pastoral Educator, UnityPoint Health
Kari Bjorhus, Development and Communications Committee Chair
Jane Blaney, Associate, Foley & Lardner LLP
Kathryn Goodwin Brackney, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair
Holly Eng, Vice President, VP Global Law: Business Operations, Sustainability & Communications, Cargill
Richard Ihrig, Lawyer, Private Practice
Imrana Jalal, Special Project Facilitator, Asian Development Bank
Kelley Lindes, Board Member
Rachel Pollock, Governance Committee Chair, Associate General Counsel, Meritex
Steve Quam, Eminent Domain Lawyer, Fredrikson & Byron
Christina Ruhinda, Executive Director, Tanzania Network of Legal Aid Providers
Julie Sprau, Principal, Raven Ridge Consulting
Becky Thorson, Lawyer
In Memoriam
Bob Hamilton, Chief Operating Officer, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. (1957-2023)
Ann Newhall, Chief Operating Officer, Rural Cellular Corporation (1951-2015)
Join the movement
Join the global movement to end gender-based violence.
Get updates from the Global Rights for Women team about the work around the world to ensure justice for survivors and how you can advocate for ending gender-based violence in your community.