CJA was founded to help survivors of torture and other severe human rights abuses hold their perpetrators accountable in the courts. CJA’s Annual Dinner, initiated in 2007, is a vehicle for the massive community that has given their time, energy and passion to CJA to come together and celebrate our victories in the movement for global justice. The CJA community includes individual and institutional donors, pro bono law firm partners, refugee and survivor groups, doctors, mental health professionals, law school clinics, military and forensic experts, and other human rights non-government organizations. More information on honorees and sponsors of past CJA annual dinners, as well as photos, are available below.
The Judith Lee Stronach Human Rights Award
Each year at our annual dinner, CJA honors an individual or organization who has made an outstanding contribution to the movement for global justice with The Judith Lee Stronach Human Rights Award. The inspiration for this award is Judith Lee Stronach (1943 – 2002), a committed human rights activist who was instrumental in the founding of CJA. Judith’s appreciation of the need for justice combined with her empathy for survivors who had suffered torture or whose loved ones had been killed or disappeared, made her one of CJA’s most outstanding and valued supporters. CJA’s work continues to be animated by her spirit. More on Judith and the award is available here.
CJA’s 2010 Annual Dinner
Celebrating our Victories in the Movement for Global Justice
April 28, 2010
The City Club of San Francisco
Featuring: Keynote speaker Alberto Mora, former General Counsel to the U.S. Navy. Read Mr. Mora’s eloquent speech on the legal and diplomatic consequences of the use of cruelty in the
interrogation of detainees in the so-called War on Terror.
The presentation of the 2010 Judith Lee Stronach Human Rights
Award to Helen Mack Chang on behalf of the Myrna Mack Foundation, for tireless dedication to ending impunity for human rights abuses in Guatemala.
The presentation of the 2010 Partner in Justice Award to Robert Vieth, partner at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP in recognition of his and Cooley’s pro-bono
co-counsel in CJA’s Somalia cases.
Abukar Hassan Ahmed, CJA client in Ahmed v. Magan and a former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience.
CJA’s 10th Anniversary Dinner
March 17, 2009
The City Club of San Francisco
Featuring: Paul Farmer, MD, PhD: world-renowned medical anthropologist, physician and founder of Partners In Health.
The presentation of the 2009 Judith Lee Stronach Human Rights Award to Haitian NGO Bureau Des Avocats Internationaux.
Dr. Juan Romagoza Arce: Salvadoran survivor and CJA plaintiff in Romagoza Arce v. Garcia.
CJA’s 2008 Annual Dinner
May 13, 2008
The City Club of San Francisco
Click here for photos and more information on the honorees and sponsors.
Featuring: The presentation of the 2008 Judith Lee Stronach Human Rights Award to Harold Hongju Koh, Dean of Yale Law School and former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights & Labor.
Francisco Soberón Garrido: founder of the Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos en Peru and driving force behind the criminal prosecution of Alberto Fujimori.
Cecilia Moran Santos: Salvadoran survivor and CJA plaintiff in Chavez v. Carranza.
CJA’s 2007 Annual Dinner
May 10, 2007
The Argent Hotel, San Francisco
Click here for photos and more information on the honorees and sponsors.
Featuring: Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum, legendary Quiche Indian activitst and CJA partner in the Guatemala Genocide Case.
The presentation of the 2007 Judith Lee Stronach Human Rights Award to leading U.S. human rights attorney and CJA co-founder Paul Hoffman.
Lexiuste Cajuste: Haitian survivor and CJA plaintiff, Jean v. Dorelien.
Zenaida Velásquez Rodriguez: Honduran human rights activist, CJA client, Reyes v. Lopez Grijalba.
