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.
When we decide what to include in Stories of Hope each month, we look for stories about activists and the work AJWS supports around the world that give all of us—our donors, staff, and grantees alike—a boost of optimism. As you know, fighting for human rights in 2026 is not an easy battle to wage. …
Women’s bodily autonomy is under attack around the world—reading headlines here in Kenya provides too many reminders of this fight. But last month in Nairobi, as I stood amidst hundreds of brave people standing up for our rights, I felt hope I hadn’t experienced in awhile. My name is Elizabeth Okumu, an AJWS program officer …
Rita and their classmates take a walk after school wraps. These young activists have already shifted local attitudes towards LGBTQI+ people. Photo by Luke Duggelby. “We all want justice. We all want a future that is fair. But we live in fear of being kicked out of our homes, being ostracized. We’re all looking around wondering who will …
In 2024, schoolteacher Joyseph Sseruwagi fled their hometown in Uganda and crossed into Kenya, fearing they’d be arrested and sentenced to decades in prison. Joyseph’s crime? Their sexual orientation, which is severely criminalized under Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act. Joyseph now lives in Kenya, where they lead an organization supported by AJWS partner Jinsiangu, helping other LGBTQI+ …
When we think of refugees—we think of war. But around the world, people are driven from their homes by other forces that rarely make the headlines. Today, nearly 70 countries criminalize homosexuality and queerness, with punishments ranging from imprisonment to the death penalty. These laws, and the social stigma and violence that they provoke, force …
Since 2011, AJWS partner organization Y’en a Marre has been working to save Senegal’s democracy. In 2024, they began saving lives as well. That’s when Y’en a Marre opened KARIBU — a safe house for activists from nearby African countries who were forced into exile. KARIBU (named after the Swahili word for “welcome”) not only …
