Announcement of the award comes exactly one year after Wang was detained and jailed by Chinese authorities in what was the beginning of China’s latest crackdown on hundreds of Chinese lawyers and human rights advocates. Wang, who is still incarcerated for her work in support of human rights and awaiting trial on charges of anti-state activity, will receive the ABA award in absentia.

Wang’s selection as the recipient of the inaugural ABA International Human Rights Award recognizes her substantial contributions in the areas of civil rights and civil liberties in China.

“This very special ABA award highlights the important role that lawyers play in upholding human rights and the rule of law,” ABA President Brown said. “In honoring Wang Yu, we pay tribute to her steadfast commitment to doing this essential work in China. We recognize her important work to protect human rights and to advocate that the Chinese government respect the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession and observe fair trial and due process standards—all principles guaranteed under Chinese and international law and critical to sustaining progress toward rule of law.”

Wang has committed herself to the representation of some of China’s most underserved and marginalized communities in their struggle to access justice, and she has also worked to expand legal pathways to justice for women and girls.

The ABA International Human Rights Award was established to honor and give public recognition to an individual or an entity that has made an exceptional contribution to the advancement of human rights outside of the United States. The recipient is selected jointly by the ABA’s Center for Human Rights, the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, the Section of International Law, Section of Litigation and the Rule of Law Initiative.

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