Latest News

From the Margins, New Life: An Easter Reflection

From the margins of prison to the promise of resurrection, we witness hope rising in the hardest places. This Easter, we stand and reflect with all who wait in the dark—trusting that new life will come.

Our Christmas celebrations 2023

We’ve served more than 100,000 clients with quality legal services. You made this possible. We hope you’ll enjoy watching our video, join us in celebrating this milestone and feel proud of the impact you’ve helped make this happen.

Justice Defenders recognised by Nairobi Legal Awards

The annual event, honoring excellence in legal practice, awarded Justice Defenders the first runner-up position in the Civil Society Organisation of the Year category.

Building bridges with magistrates and judges across the Commonwealth.

Country Director of The Gambia Tim Bisong spoke at the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association in Cardiff, UK in September. 

How patriarchal justice systems are failing single-parent families.

The law can be harsh and sometimes discriminatory. Around the world, people in defenceless communities cannot access justice and often don't get a fair hearing. Single mothers are particularly at risk.

"The participants are as passionate about learning as we are about teaching."

Having trained some of our paralegals in July, NITA Executive Director Wendy McCormack and Mindy Thomas, Director of Membership at the Tennessee Bar, share their experience of our work.

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.

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.

“My 13-year imprisonment was a setup. They never wanted us to get married.”

Despite having the paperwork to prove Emily’s age and his innocence, Simon was convicted of aggravated defilement. No court would hear his appeal, so Simon spent 13 years in prison for a crime he, and Emily, says he didn’t commit. 

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.

The law: Enforcing it, breaking it, studying it. One man's journey

When he used to work as a police officer, Gilbert would take people to prison with little thought about fair trials or sentencing. Until he found himself in conflict with the law he once administered. 

What's the impact of a university degree, if you still have many years left in prison?

Degrees mean extra responsibilities. Four students and graduates in Kenya and Uganda have been promoted to the highly trusted position of 'trusteeship'.

Reconciliation of self and community

Amateur chef Pepe Ivan Matovu recalls how he found hope, healing and restoration in one of Uganda’s most populous prisons.

Adapting to the pandemic: Reconnecting people in prisons with their loved ones.

For people in prison, visits from family used to offer a moment of reassurance. Connection with the outside world. But during the Covid-19 pandemic, visitations are paused. Isolating many from those they love. Until recently. We’ve worked to repurpose our technology and reconnect families in Kenya.

“You are successful when you remember that somewhere, someone gave you a gift.”

Sentenced to death for robbery, Joyce tried not to let her sentence define her. While in prison, she found a new love for making clothes.