Latest News

The power of performance arts in legal education in Africa

Legal education is often reserved for the elite, but our work in Uganda incorporates varied methods of education to steer legal education into a new, inclusive era.

A day in the life of a paralegal: Moses Dola in Kenya

Life as a paralegal beyond the prison gates is an honour. Moses Dola serves his community and gains a better understanding of the law with every case he works on. Here is a look into a day in his life.

An inside look into how we launched our work in The Gambia

Our Director of Growth Matteo Cassini how we launched our work in a new country, with new partners, during a pandemic.

The transformational power of legal education in prison.

Our law degree programme is trailblazing. Education Leads Milly and Brenda explain how we’re unlocking talent and educating a new, unlikely generation of justice defenders.

A break in the clouds: silver linings from 2021

Justice Defenders Founder and CEO Alexander McLean reflects on the successes from our year. He shines a light on how the team inside and outside of prison have overcome adversity through bravery, humility and solidarity. 

Carol Service 2021

A virtual Christmas celebration with our communities in Uganda, Kenya, The Gambia, UK and USA. Watch the service below. Then learn how you can help us expand to respond to the global awakening for justice.

Celebrating Black academic excellence

This month, as we celebrate with our 28 University of London students who have recently received their exam results, it gives us pause to reflect.

Our manifesto: responding to the grassroots need for justice in the US and beyond

As we respond to the mandate of the people, we remain grounded by our values of solidarity, humility, and bravery. To navigate the immense opportunities to scale our work, we are listening deeply to the grassroots need.

Voices from our paralegals: “Justice means to me…”

Ahead of World Day for International Justice on Saturday 17 July 2021, we asked our trained paralegals in prisons across Kenya and Uganda what justice means to them.‍

Catching up with paralegals in The Gambia one year on.

Hear from three of our paralegals in The Gambia, as we celebrate a year of our work in the country.

Poem: A call to bridge the path towards justice.

A message of hope in Uganda from Alex Byamukama.

A day in the life of a Justice Defenders Legal Officer: Kenneth Kugonza in Uganda

Kenneth Kugoza works in mid-central Uganda, helping those facing injustice. He shares how he spends his day across multiple prisons.

Allyship beyond perceived differences.

Three prison officers overcome perceived differences in service of those in prison. This unique show of solidarity is truly what makes the fabric of our community a unique tapestry of allies.

Reforming the Sexual Offences Act: securing proportionate sentencing.

Success as Justice Defenders paralegals ensure judges are able to use their discretion to sentence people convicted of sexual offences.

The unlikely activists. Reforming the criminal justice system from behind prison bars.

Success as Justice Defenders paralegals secure rights for suspects with mental disabilities.

Fighting for the rights of mothers with postpartum depression.

Rose, like many mothers across the world, experienced depression. With a lack of medical care, she was treated unfairly by the law. Thanks to our work, she is reunited with her daughter.

From death row to presidential palaces. One woman’s incredible fight for justice.

Having graduated with a law degree while incarcerated, Susan now travels the world campaigning against the death sentence.

Punitive sentencing for petty offences; vestiges of colonial times.

In East Africa young people are persistently caught up in drug trafficking, loitering and pickpocketing charges, resulting in long periods in prison. Here Draconian laws still apply, yet to be reviewed for the 21st Century. So laws often criminalise and marginalise the people with least in society.