UConn's Thomas J. Dodd Research Center for human rights gives the award every two years to recognize a significant effort to advance international justice and human rights around the world.
It is being awarded this year to Clinton and Tostan, a human rights group based in Senegal which has been a leader in fighting against genital mutilation and the forced marriage of girls in West Africa.
The group is supported by the Clinton Global Initiative.
Clinton will be the keynote speaker at the awards ceremony today. The school said he is not being paid for his visit.
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