Press Releases

March 16, 2018

American Jewish World Service Mourns the Death and Honors the Legacy of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter

“American Jewish World Service is deeply saddened by the loss of Congresswoman Louis Slaughter, age 88. Congresswoman Slaughter served for 30 years in the United States House of Representatives, where she demonstrated powerful leadership through her steadfast commitment to human rights and justice for women, girls and LGBTI people here in the U.S. and around the world. Congresswoman Slaughter’s work to promote and protect programs to advance sexual and reproductive health within U.S. foreign policy and aid programs has played a crucial role in the 19 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean where AJWS works—bringing us closer to achieving gender equality worldwide. May her memory be an inspiration and a call to action until gender equality is a reality worldwide with no exceptions.”

March 7, 2018

American Jewish World Service Praises Holocaust Museum Decision to Rescind Elie Wiesel Award to Aung San Suu Kyi

We applaud the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on its principled decision to rescind its first ever Elie Wiesel Award from Aung San Suu Kyi, the civilian leader of Burma (Myanmar). She has forfeited her right to be honored in the name of the Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and human rights advocate, as well as in the memory of those murdered during the Holocaust and other genocides and atrocities in world history.

February 12, 2018

AJWS: President Trump’s Budget Poses Grave Threats to Human Rights and Dignity

American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading American Jewish human rights and development organization, voiced grave concerns over President Trump’s proposed FY19 budget, citing cuts to crucial aid and development programs and institutions critical to upholding the dignity of people experiencing violations of their human rights.

January 16, 2018

Statement on President Trump’s Hateful Remarks about Other Countries and Their People

Statement by Robert Bank, President and CEO of American Jewish World Service: “As the leader of an American Jewish organization which works in solidarity with people in 19 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean to advance human rights and end poverty, I offer my apologies for the hurtful and hateful words of …

January 8, 2018

Thirteen American Rabbis Visit Guatemala To Support Local Advocates for Human Rights

Thirteen American rabbis will visit Guatemala from January 14th to January 21st, 2018, as part of a cohort working to advance human rights for some of the most oppressed people in the developing world. Their visit is part of the Global Justice Fellowship of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading Jewish organization supporting local advocates for change in 19 developing countries across the world. The fellowship program empowers American Jewish leaders to advocate in support of international policies that advance the human rights and well-being of the world’s poorest and most oppressed communities.

December 21, 2017

Sanctions on Burmese Military Leader Must Be Expanded to Others Responsible for Crimes against the Rohingya

“As the leading global Jewish human rights organization, which has been supporting advocates for the human rights of ethnic minorities in Burma since 2002, AJWS welcomes the U.S. State Department’s announcement today that it is imposing sanctions on one of the Burmese military leaders responsible for the horrific violence against the Rohingya people in Burma,” said Robert Bank, President and CEO of AJWS.

December 5, 2017

American Jewish World Service Names Margo Bloom Vice President for Development

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) named Margo Bloom—a nonprofit professional with a long and impressive history of leadership in fundraising, management and Jewish communal life—as its Vice President for Development. Bloom, who was most recently the Senior Division Director of Development at NYU Langone Medical Center and who has led major Jewish communal organizations, brings a deep commitment to advancing AJWS’s mission as this global human rights and development organization embarks upon its next stage of growth and impact.

November 27, 2017

The Pope Must Say the Name of the “Rohingya People” and Insist on Justice for Them

We are Jews who believe deeply in the dignity and human rights of every person and who have long admired you, your Holiness, for your life-long commitment to the most vulnerable people on our planet. We have also supported ethnic minorities in Burma, including the Rohingya, in their quest to live in peace and dignity.

November 3, 2017

American Jewish World Service Strongly Supports Bipartisan Burma Act of 2017

“The mass murder and displacement of the Rohingya people by the Burmese military demands nothing less than a strong and swift response by the United States. The bipartisan Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2017 represents a critical step in that direction to address the crisis. Additionally, it would re-establish an official U.S. policy on Burma that prioritizes the advancement of human rights, support for religious freedom, the bolstering of civil society and implementation of democratic reforms.

October 31, 2017

Global Surveys of Intersex and Trans Groups Reveal Critical Funding Gap

Today, American Jewish World Service (AJWS), Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice (Astraea) and Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE) released the findings of their global surveys of intersex and trans organizations in 107 countries engaged in advocacy, services and education in two new reports, The State of Intersex Organizing and The State of Trans Organizing.