Subseries 1 - International Ban Asbestos Secretariat

The International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) was established in 2000 to provide a conduit for the exchange of information between groups and individuals working to achieve a global asbestos ban and to alleviate the damage caused by widespread asbestos use. It channels the views of a network of victims' groups, medical and legal professionals and concerned individuals. It was co-ordinated by Laurie Kazan-Allen.

Laurie Kazan-Allen studied history at Brandeis University (BA 1969). She was the founding editor, in 1990, of the 'British asbestos newsletter' (BAN), a quarterly publication distributed to victim support groups, environmentalists, solicitors, academics, medical personnel and research bodies in over thirty countries. Since 1999, Kazan-Allen was the coordinator of the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat. Kazan-Allen has been the recipient of awards in recognition of her work in raising awareness of asbestos disease, and contributing to the ban of the substance. Awards include: the 'Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Voice of the Victims, Tribute of Unity Award', April 2005; the 'Emeritus Professor Eric G. Saint Memorial Award, 2012'; the 'Construction Safety Campaign, Robert Tressel Award for services to working people', in 2013; and the 'Rachel LEE Jung-Lim Award', awarded by a confederation of Asian ban asbestos groups, 2013. Laurie Kazan-Allen's brother, Steven Kazan, was an American asbestos litigator.