Search Results for "intern"
As a brutal civil war rages in Burma, the citizen’s movement for peace carries on
Burma’s humanitarian crisis has reached staggering levels of suffering — with millions of people fleeing their homes and resettling across the border in Bangladesh or in camps within the country, while a civil war between the Burmese military and resistance armed militant groups rages. But a movement of passionate activists continues to operate under the …
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June Charoensiri
Sirikan “June” Charoensiri is Executive Advisor, and attorney of the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), a non-governmental organization which she co-founded immediately after the May 2014 military coup in Thailand. TLHR documents human rights violations and provides free legal support to people whose civil and political rights have been violated. June studied her LL.B. …
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Against All Odds: The Legal Warriors Defending Uganda’s LGBTQI+ Community
Since the passage of the Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) in 2023, the ability of LGBTQI+ people to live freely, openly and safely has been shattered. The draconian law criminalizes consensual same-sex relationships, punishing certain offences with life in prison and even the death penalty. After a similar law was repealed over a decade ago, this …
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Advocating for human rights, while responding to natural disasters in Haiti
In Haiti, the struggles of the capital, Port-au-Prince, radiate outwards. Though the city is the epicenter of the country’s compounding problems — a collapsed government that has given way to the take-over of violent street gangs, following multiple natural disasters — the fallout stretches well into Haiti’s more remote regions, where people lack any form …
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American Jewish World Service Condemns Drastic Changes to the Human Rights Reports and Calls on Congress to Safeguard Global Human Rights
American Jewish World Service (AJWS) strongly condemns the U.S. State Department for drastically limiting their reporting on human rights abuses documented in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and calls on Congress to act to safeguard global human rights. Expected reductions in the content of these reports narrowly define who is entitled to …
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How we fight fundamentalist “family values” movements in Africa — and how you can, too
To the unwavering American donors and AJWS community members, I’m writing you from my home in Uganda with an important message. I’m one of AJWS’s human rights experts here in East Africa, supporting our partners fighting for the sexual health and rights of women, girls and LGBTQI+ people. For my security (and the continuation of …
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Stories of Hope: June 2025
Around the world, AJWS partners and grantees are celebrating Pride this month — and we’re dedicating this edition of Stories of Hope to these amazing, brave activists. It should come as no surprise that Pride in 2025 feels especially powerful, and even bittersweet. Here in the United States and in many countries where AJWS works, …
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“Love yourself as much as you can”: The journey of a Thai LGBTQI+ rights defender
Methawee Pannon (Sai) grew up in Khon Kaen, Thailand, understanding exactly what was expected of her. Outside of Thailand’s metropolitan, progressive capital of Bangkok, traditional, conservative gender values can be completely destabilizing for queer people, especially in rural regions like northeastern Isaan. “Women are meant to be the pride and joy of our parents and …
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Jill Minneman Elected Board Chair at American Jewish World Service
NEW YORK — American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the leading global Jewish human rights organization, has elected Jill Minneman to lead its Board of Trustees. A long-time trustee and advocate for social change, Ms. Minneman steps into this leadership role at a critical moment for human rights advocates worldwide. “Jill becomes our Board Chair at an …
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A win for Indigenous rights in Mexico with a major constitutional reform
When Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, there were many different groups living on its land: Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Mexicans descended from enslaved Africans, Spanish descendants, and Spaniards. To form a cohesive nation, they all became unified as Mexicans. But not all Mexicans have been treated equally. Under Spanish colonial rule, native peoples were expected …
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