AJWS Blog

The AJWS community has a lot to say about what's happening in the world. Read our insights about the struggle for justice and human rights around the globe — and meet the activists on the frontlines of the fight to build a better world.

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Guardians of Zoka: Inside the Fight to Save a Ugandan Rainforest

In the Adjumani district of Northern Uganda stands the Zoka Forest Reserve, one of the country’s magnificent rainforests. Its canopy provides shade to an extraordinarily biodiverse population. Rare butterflies, flying squirrels, primates, old-growth mahogany trees and hundreds of plant species make Zoka a place worth protecting at all costs. And to the native communities who …

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Stories of Hope: December 2025

As we enter the season of light, many members of the AJWS community cannot escape feeling mired in darkness. But — taking inspiration from the name of this newsletter — we move forward in hope that our vision of human rights for the most oppressed will prevail. In that spirit, it’s a pleasure to be …

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Fighting for — and winning — protection under the law: Landmark progress for LGBTQI+ Kenyans

In June 2019, Shieys Chepkosgei was arrested in Eldoret, Kenya, and charged with impersonating a woman. During her detention, police and prison officials subjected Chepkosgei to a battery of unlawful and invasive tests and examinations, all while ruthlessly mocking her identity as a trans woman. Chepkosgei refused to accept this abuse without fighting back. Upon …

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