Press Releases

November 4, 2016

American Jewish World Service to Honor Ruth W. Messinger, Champion of Dignity, Justice and Equality at Upcoming “Messinger of Hope” Gala

Inaugural Ruth W. Messinger Award to be Presented to Channsitha Mark, Coordinator of the Workers’ Information Center in Cambodia WHO: Ruth W. Messinger, Former President and Current Global Ambassador of American Jewish World Service Channsitha Mark, Coordinator, Workers’ Information Center, Cambodia WHAT: Messinger of Hope: A Gala Honoring Ruth W. Messinger for her 18 years …

October 26, 2016

American Jewish World Service Lauds the U.S. Agency for International Development for Banning Discrimination in International Aid Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

AJWS President and CEO Robert Bank Urges Administration to Extend Full Non-Discrimination Clauses in Contracting, Grantmaking and Procurement Policies to Other Agencies WASHINGTON, D.C. – American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading Jewish international development and human rights organization, applauds the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Administrator Gayle Smith for ensuring that …

October 14, 2016

Leading Jewish Organization to Provide Emergency Hurricane Funding to Local Partners in Haiti

Locally-Driven Recovery Efforts Most Effective Means to Rebuild the Country in the Wake of Hurricane Matthew NEW YORK – American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading Jewish international development organization, is raising funds for and working with local organizations in Haiti to support their response to the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. …

September 29, 2016

American Faith-Based Leaders: We Must Stop Americans Who Export Hate Against LGBTI Communities in the Developing World

Coalition of 250+ faith leaders and faith-based organizations, mobilized by American Jewish World Service, urges faith communities to support LGBTI communities under attack NEW YORK – In response to hateful anti-LGBTI attacks by American “faith leaders” at the recent World Congress of Families in Kenya, American Jewish World Service (AJWS), 250+ faith leaders and dozens …

September 8, 2016

To Guarantee Justice for Ethnic Minorities in Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi Must Intensify Efforts and U.S. Must Maintain Sanctions

Statement of Robert Bank, President and CEO of American Jewish World Service, in advance of Aung San Suu Kyi’s Visit to the United States NEW YORK—“To many Americans, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is an historic figure who represents the cause of freedom and human rights in Myanmar. We call upon Suu Kyi to build …

August 9, 2016

Statement by Robert Bank, President and CEO of American Jewish World Service (AJWS) on Holding the Ugandan Government and Police Accountable for Human Rights Violations

Background NEW YORK—On Thursday, August 4, police in Uganda raided a nightclub where an annual LGBTI pride celebration was taking place. In addition to brutalizing participants in the pride event, the police detained leaders of civil society organizations who are engaged in advocacy for the LGBTI community. This attack is part of an overall …

July 2, 2016

Statement by Robert Bank, President and CEO of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), on the Death of Elie Wiesel, a Founding Board Member of AJWS

NEW YORK— Nobel Laureate, Holocaust survivor and author, Elie Wiesel, died today at age 87. Wiesel was a tireless advocate for the memory of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, as well as for the human rights of persecuted people worldwide. Doggedly committed to applying the central moral lesson of the Holocaust to …

June 27, 2016

Human Rights Advocate Robert Bank to Assume Presidency of American Jewish World Service on July 1

Bank to succeed Ruth Messinger; after a remarkable 18-year presidency, Messinger to take on new role for AJWS as its first-ever Global Ambassador NEW YORK—Effective July 1, Robert Bank, the current Executive Vice President of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), will officially assume the role of President at AJWS, the leading Jewish international human rights …

June 14, 2016

In the Wake of Tragedy in Orlando, LGBT Communities Around the World Condemn Hatred and Violence

American Jewish World Service and Its Partners Around the World Call for Justice for Those Murdered in Orlando, and for LGBT Communities Worldwide NEW YORK – American Jewish World Service (AJWS) and the human rights organizations it funds around the world mourn the loss of life in the attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando. …

May 19, 2016

U.N. Must Include Gay Men, Trans People, Sex Workers and People Who Inject Drugs in AIDS Conference

U.N. Decision to Exclude Organizations Representing Most At-Risk Populations from the U.N. AIDS Conference Is a “Narrow-Minded Decision that Places Politics and Prejudice above Public Health and Human Rights”; AIDS Epidemic Will Not End Unless Affected Populations Have a Seat at the Table Statement by Robert Bank, Incoming President of American Jewish World Service, in …