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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.

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.

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.

“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. 

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.

A family confronting adversity

James’s story brings home the devastating impact of injustice. Arrested along with his mother and brother, their freedom wasn’t the only thing that was taken from them. The family lost their land. A valuable resource which enabled James to feed his children.