Board of Directors

Ms.
Name: 
Jane T. Olson
Chair, Programs Committee
Chair of the Board of Directors (ret.), Human Rights Watch
Pasadena, CA
United States

A former member of the Pacific Council on International Policy’s Board of Directors, Ms. Jane Olson is former Chair (2004-2010) of the Board of Trustees of Human Rights Watch, the largest US-based international human rights organization. She also chaired the Board of Directors of the Landmine Survivors Network and served as co-chair of the Women's Refugee Commission in the 1990s. Ms. Olson co-founded and served as Co-Chair of the California Committee of Human Rights Watch from its inception in 1989 until 2000. Ms. Olson has been on many missions to the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, South America, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa to look at problems associated with refugees, human rights, HIV/AIDS, and landmines. She and her husband, Mr. Ron Olson, received the 2000 Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice in Los Angeles. Ms. Olson also received the inaugural 2005 Eleanor Roosevelt Award from Feminist Majority; the Community Achievement Award from Public Counsel; the Corita Kent Peace Award from Immaculate Heart College Center; and the Silver Achievement Award from the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles. Human Rights Watch presented her its Allison Des Forges award for Extraordinary Activism in 2010. She holds an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from California Lutheran University. Ms. Olson is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and The Trusteeship. She serves on the Board of Directors for Direct Relief International (Santa Barbara).

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