All Updates

Voice of America – Kenyan Aid Group Hopes to Bring Justice Closer to the Defenceless
Just two months ago, Isaac Ndegwa was behind bars serving a 14-year sentence for a robbery and violent crime. Now released, he speaks to Voice of America as a Justice Defenders legal intern.
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Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom – Alexander McLean on providing greater access to justice and the rule of law throughout Africa and beyond
Alexander McLean discusses justice across the world with American music executive Jason Flom.
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CNN – One lawyer's mission helping the incarcerated inspires global movement
CNN's Anderson Cooper introduces Alexander McLean as a Champion for Change. A programme shining a spotlight on the innovators, changemakers and pioneers who are challenging the status quo to improve the lives of others.
Read MoreBBC World Service – Morris Kabeira discusses the death penalty
From death row to Justice Defender legal officer. Following the abolishment of the death penalty in Sierra Leone, Morris Kabeira discusses the need for capital punishment to end across Africa.
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Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams talks mental health with Alexander McLean
Justice Defenders Founder and CEO Alexander McLean chats with Rowan Williams during the Never Alone Global Mental Health Summit.
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CNN Full Circle – Alexander McLean talks with Anderson Cooper
Justice Defenders Founder Alexander McLean explains how technology has helped the fight for justice during the pandemic.
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Authority Magazine – Alexander McLean’s Big Idea That Might Change The World
As a part of a series about “Big Ideas That Might Change The World In The Next Few Years” Alexander McLean shares his audacious plan for justice.
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"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.
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Our Christmas celebrations 2022
2022 has been a year of continued growth and learning at Justice Defenders. Through both hardship and triumph, we have grown as a community and organisation. We invite you to join our Christmas celebrations.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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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'.
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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.
Read MorEAdapting 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.
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