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International human rights lawyer Treva (Téa) Braun has been named Alumna of the Year by the University of Essex.

The award is usually awarded at the annual Graduation ceremonies, but due to work commitments Téa is receiving her award at next year’s Graduation.

Téa, who has been Legal Director of the Human Dignity Trust in London since 2012, said her time at Essex had been “inspirational” and added: “It is an honour and a privilege to be awarded Alumna of the Year. I could never have got the knowledge I have been able to apply ever since without such a robust and in-depth programme of study. It has also meant long lasting friendships and memories. It was an absolutely influential part of my life.”

As an international human rights lawyer Téa over the past 10 years has worked with governments, civil society and local communities in all regions of the world to promote and protect the right to equality. She has worked to tackle discrimination against women, indigenous people and sexual minorities.

She graduated with an LLM International Human Rights Law in 2005 after several years practising as a barrister before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of British Columbia in Canada. She was inspired to come to study at Essex’s Human Rights Centre after becoming aware of the level of “stigmatization, marginalisation and persecution” in the world.

During her time at Essex she received the prestigious Chevening Scholarship.

After graduating Téa managed a legal and human rights programme for the UK-based Forest Peoples Programme, worked as Gender Equality Adviser at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and then became Human Rights Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat.