Country of Origin: India (Tibetan)

Main focus: Tibetan Rights Advocacy, Human Rights, Refugee Rights, Social Work

Learn More: Podcast, Video and RAN Canada

Tsering Norzom Thonsur, a Tibetan-Canadian activist born in India, is driven by her heritage and her parents' exile from Tibet at the start of China's occupation in 1959. Although she has never been able to visit her homeland, she has dedicated her life to voicing the plight of Tibetans.

In 1995, Tsering courageously participated in a protest at the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. The group successfully showed a video documentary, "Voices in Exile," to conference attendees, overcoming opposition from the Chinese hosts. They also influenced the Conference's 'Platform for Action' to reflect the situation in occupied Tibet.

Tsering's activism continued in Canada, where she moved in 2005. Utilizing her Master's degrees in Political Science and Social Work, Tsering now works as the manager of the Settlement Program at Parkdale Intercultural Association. Her responsibilities include resettlement support, settlement planning, counseling, and advocating for accessible services to newcomers and refugees.

In addition to her professional work, Tsering has volunteered with several organizations, such as the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, South Asian Women's Centre, Parkdale Community Health Centre, and St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto. She also serves as an advisor to the Refugee Advisory Network of Canada (RAN Canada).

Tsering continues to be a strong advocate for Tibetans inside Tibet, fighting against the denial of fundamental human rights, religious and civil rights, and cultural and socio-political rights by the Communist Chinese Party.