Press Releases

AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE ANNOUNCES 2025 GLOBAL JUSTICE FELLOWS 

 The fellows include seven rabbis and one cantor who will travel to the Dominican Republic to meet grassroots activists and later to Washington, D.C. to advocate for U.S. foreign policies that champion human rights in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.  American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading Jewish organization committed to promoting global human …

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AJWS Denounces “Stop Work” Order that Freezes All Foreign Assistance and the Reinstituting of the Global Gag Rule

As the dust settles around the Trump administration’s first week, American Jewish World Service stands with our partners in civil society here in the United States and worldwide against the costly decision to freeze nearly all U.S. foreign assistance. For almost 80 years, U.S. aid has delivered enormous influence around the world. Beyond its humanitarian …

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AJWS Statement on the Need to Extend Temporary Protected Status and Humanitarian Parole

AJWS applauds the Biden administration for extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people from Ukraine, Venezuela, Sudan and El Salvador last week. But this extension is not enough. AJWS supports grassroots activists in Haiti and Nicaragua, where the human rights crises are dire—Haiti’s government has collapsed, with gangs violently ruling the country. In Nicaragua, the …

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AJWS Statement on the Dominican Republic’s Mass Deportations to Haiti

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) strongly opposes the Dominican Republic’s recent wave of inhumane mass deportations to Haiti.   Even before Dominican President Luis Abinader announced on October 2 plans to expel up to 10,000 people per week, his administration was carrying out deportations in ways that violated the country’s own protocols and laws.  There …

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Civil Society Organizations Call on Biden Administration to Address Human Rights Concerns about the International Force in Haiti 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, 18 organizations with decades of experience tackling injustice and inequities in Haiti joined in calling on the Biden Administration to address human rights concerns regarding the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS).  In an open letter to the U.S. Department of State, the group called on the U.S. as lead funder and …

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Katherine Haynes Elected as Chair of the Board of Trustees at American Jewish World Service

American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading global Jewish human rights organization, has elected Katherine Haynes as Chair of AJWS’s Board of Trustees. A seasoned strategist and researcher, Ms. Haynes brings deep knowledge and experience in advancing equity to her new role.    “Katherine becomes Board Chair at a time when formidable obstacles throughout the world push …

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kristen kendrick Named Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Racial Justice at American Jewish World Service  

kendrick looks forward to deepening learnings among the global staff about tackling white supremacy culture and colonialism.  New York, NY — Today, American Jewish World Service President and CEO Robert Bank together with Executive Vice President Venus Devnani announce the promotion of kristen kendrick into a new leadership position, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion …

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Peter Taback Named Vice President for Marketing and Communications   

New head of marketing and communications seeks to elevate marginalized global human rights voices in an ever evolving, competitive media landscape.    New York, NY — Today, Venus Devnani, Executive Vice President of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading global Jewish human rights organization, announced Peter Taback as the new Vice President for Marketing …

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