In Liberia, years of persistent patriarchal values and religion have given rise to archaic laws that segregate and discriminate against LGBTQI+ people and sex workers. Consensual same-sex relationships are criminalized in the country, and these communities face widespread violence and limited access to health services. When crises like Ebola outbreaks strike, these minorities are the first to be blamed. To defend their rights, AJWS supports our partners to grow grassroots movements, conduct legal advocacy, and engage law enforcement to ensure their safety.
Additionally, AJWS supports rural and Indigenous communities to resist the rampant expansion of palm oil, logging and other industries that lead to deforestation with no regard for the wellbeing of local communities or global warming. Recently, our partners waged a successful advocacy campaign that led to the passage of a historic law acknowledging the right of local communities to own their ancestral lands.
