A pastor and human rights activist, Torli was instrumental in lobbying with US congressmen and policymakers to increase the quota of refugees from Africa being allowed into the US. He has also worked tirelessly in the New England region and beyond to champion the rights of refugees and immigrants. His organization, Universal Human Rights International, worked with thousands of immigrants from 40 different countries over the span of 30 years. He has been honored by the National Peace Corps Association , City of Boston and the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild.