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12 days, 12 prison communities.

Prisons are mostly hidden places, unseen and rarely talked about. So we want to take you inside 12 of the prison communities where our defenders live and work. When you look into these prisons, you will see stark realities. But also resilience, courage, and untapped potential. Like leadership skills in the prison staff room. And determination on death row. Our hope is for a world where each of us is equally accountable to and protected by the law.

2020 Virtual Carol Service

In 2020, we celebrated our annual carol service virtually with our communities in Uganda, Kenya, the U.S., and UK.

A chapter of progress, despite the pain.

In a world that seems more connected and divided than ever before, our defenders are using this unique chapter in history to keep the wheels of justice turning.

Black Lives Matter: the role of Justice Defenders in advancing racial equality

Reflections from our founder on our work, the ethos of BLM, and our global reckoning of the costs of racial inequality.

Covid-19 response: a three-part plan

Our response to the pandemic will be three-fold: a fines fund, tech advocacy, and sanitation partnerships.

Covid-19 response: reflections on the lockdown

We’re asking ourselves: what does it look like to radically decongest prisons at this time?

Covid-19 response: a message for our community

Hear from our Founder, Alexander McLean, on how we're navigating this COVID-19 pandemic.

Welcome to our 2020 Secondees!

A warm welcome to our 2020 Secondees, senior African justice officials who join us from Kenya and Uganda for a 3-month professional development programme, in partnership with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.

World Day Against The Death Penalty 2019: a day of solidarity

This year, 10th October 2019, marked the 17th World Day Against the Death Penalty.There are not many occasions when a representative from the Vatican sits to break bread with criminalized individuals. And yet, last month, our team in Uganda hosted a Solidarity Visit to the condemn section at Luzira Upper Prison, Uganda, to mark this date as part of EU global outreach. Amongst those attending were a . The delegation was led by EU Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Attilio Pacifici, and included Ambassadors and representatives from Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Iceland, Norway and the Vatican.

Jane's story: From death row, to paralegal officer

As one of our trained paralegals in Langata Women's Prison in Kenya, Jane is enabling fellow incarcerated women to access essential legal services. Fostering hope for a more just world.

The ripple effect of individual impact

When defenceless individuals in conflict with the law get a fair hearing, impact spreads to families, communities, prisons, court systems, and society as a whole.

Voices from Uganda

We've expanded our compassionate release campaign reach into Uganda. Hundreds of nonviolent offenders await your support.

Compassionate release campaign update

We're making progress on decongesting prisons during the pandemic. Many more await your support.

Gilbert Wanami

Gilbert is a first-year LLB student, released 12 May 2020 into the arms of his wife, Maureen.

Release: Joseph Karanja, pioneer and free man

Joseph Karanja has spent 20 years in prison. He was arrested in 2000 and sentenced to death at his trial in 2001. However, in 2009 he was one of 4,000 prisoners whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.

Pascal Kakuru

Pascal began studying law whilst on death row. He became APP’s first student to receive a Law Degree (LLB) from the University of London in September 2017 and is continuing to study for his Masters (LLM).

Gilbert Niwamanya

Gilbert, aged 36, is the Welfare and Rehabilitation Officer at Luzira Maximum Security Prison, Kampala, where he’s worked for the past 5 years.

Sarah Karaba

I’m 40 now. It’s my 18th year in prison. I was arrested back in 2002 and since then, I’ve been behind bars. Sentenced to the death penalty in 2005, my sentence was commuted to life in 2009.