AJWS Blog
The AJWS community has a lot to say about what's happening in the world. Read our insights about the struggle for justice and human rights around the globe — and meet the activists on the frontlines of the fight to build a better world.
Tell Congress That East Africa Needs Our Help!
The current famine in East Africa demonstrates, more than ever, the importance of U.S. food aid in a time of crisis. But did you know that Congress is trying to cut this vital humanitarian aid? It’s true, and it’s dangerous. Fiscal responsibility is important, but when human lives are at stake, we cannot make trade-offs. …
Coalitions, Collaboration, and Our Visit to the White House
Originally posted on Pursue: Action for a Just World. As the Pursue Program Officer in San Francisco for the past two and a half years, one of the biggest lessons I learned was the importance of collaboration among Jewish communal organizations. Operating with limited resources, targeting similar demographics, and striving toward similar goals as many …
A Win for Human Rights in the DRC!
On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we have something to celebrate. Fifteen years after signing the UN convention, the DRC has taken a major step forward in advancing human rights. After months of delay, the DRC finally changed its penal code and adopted a law criminalizing torture on July 13th. Local …
Drought = Hunger? Not an Inevitable Equation
Originally posted on AlertNet. Headlines tell us that a severe drought in the Horn of Africa is responsible for creating “the most severe food security emergency in the world today.” But is it? Images of emaciated children and desperate parents have flooded the news. More than 10 million people in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are …