A tribute to Arvonne Fraser, women's rights visionary

We express our sorrow at the loss of Arvonne Fraser, who died on August 7.  Fraser was a visionary, a leader and a friend to the human rights community in Minnesota and around the world. Ambassador Arvonne Fraser was a founder of the Center on Women and Public Policy at the Humphrey School of the University of Minnesota, the nation’s first teaching, research and outreach center devoted to women and public policy.  Ambassador Fraser also organized and co-directed the International Women’s Rights Action Watch, a non-governmental organization working to implement women’s rights worldwide. Fraser served as U.S. representative to the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women with the rank of Ambassador from 1993 to 1994, and she was a member of the U.S. delegations to the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights.

In addition to these accomplishments, Arvonne Fraser was a role model and mentor for generations of human rights activists.  Barbara Frey, director of the Human Rights Program, observed, “Arvonne’s steadfast moral leadership through every phase of her life inspired us deeply, here in Minnesota and around the world.”

In May 2018, the Human Rights Program inaugurated the Don and Arvonne Fraser Fellowships to support undergraduates with opportunities to gain field experience in human rights organizations as a way of complementing their academic studies.  The inaugural Arvonne Fraser Fellow, Anishaa Kamesh, is working with ECPAT-USA in New York City, one of the leading policy organizations in the United States seeking to end the commercial, sexual exploitation of children.

Frey stated, “It is so special for us to have this human rights fellowship in Arvonne’s name.  It will continue to support emerging human rights leaders and will carry on Arvonne’s legacy and deep commitment to women’s human rights for years to come.”