Focus Campaigns
Welcome to Our 2020 Fall Intern, Yousra Hasona
Yousra Hasona is a lawyer and researcher from Palestine. She have a master degree in criminal law, and currently a master student at conflict management and humanitarian work program, she is working mainly on the issue of child soldiers and restorative justice especially in the Arab Spring countries.
AFJN Welcomes New Fellow: Rev. John Bosco Lugonja
Please join us as we welcome Rev. John Bosco Lugonja to the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) as our newest fellow.
Tell Senate to Support a Global Strategy to fight COVID-19
To prevent and stop the global economy from further collapsing, as was the case in 2008, to protect further losses of U.S. jobs, and to save lives the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) is asking the Senate to support the issuance of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The SDRs are special bonds to member nations and SDRs do not cost the U.S. anything. We are also asking for debt relief and additional foreign aid to respond to humanitarian crises and COVID-19 related challenges.
Faith Based Organization Call on US Senate to Act on COVID-19 Global Response
On September 17, Africa faith and Justice Network was one of 17 faith based organization which sent the letter below urging Senators to act on a global response to COVOD-19 to save lives, protect the global economy and jobs in the US and abroad. We are calling on every Senator to support: the issuance of 2 trillion in IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR), expanding debt relief, Twenty billion in foreign aid. Why is this relevant to the American people? Part of the answer is in the July 9, 2020 letter by twenty nine Senators to the Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer in which they said: “it is clear that no matter how successful we are at fighting COVID-19 here at home, we will never stop its spread – or prevent it from rebounding back to our shores – if we are not also fighting it around the world. U.S. global leadership in combatting COVID-19 is directly tied to protecting the health, security, and economic interests of all Americans.”
In the News: AFJN cosponsored event featured in Vanguard
On August 11, 2020, the Africa Faith and Justice Network’s co-sponsored event on AGRA was featured in…
Online Event 8/6/20: AGRA’s Failed Promises – Liberating our Agriculture
A recently released report by a coalition of German and African civil society groups, “False Promises,” shows that the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is failing on its own terms. Based partly on a research paper by Timothy A. Wise, the report underscores the destructive work of AGRA and similar models of agriculture in Africa.
Groups Representing Tens of Millions of Americans Applaud Passage of Amendment to Allocate Trillions in Relief to Crisis-Hit Developing Countries
The Africa Faith and Justice Network was one of several organizations calling on Congress to pass an amendment allocating trillions of additional dollars in relief to crisis-hit developing countries. Read the Press Release below:
AFJN featured in America Magazine on gender based violence work in Nigeria
On August 3, 2020, the work of the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) in Nigeria was featured in America Magazine. In the article “The Catholic Church’s fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria” Patrick Egwu talks about the increased need for the government’s declaration of a state of emergency due to the protests following the rape and murder of a 22-year old student. The article features the work of AFJN to educate the local population, especially the youth via online workshops and radio programs. Egwu noted that this was made possible by funds covering the costs of the workshops and to pay for data for the youth.
AFJN in the News: AFJN on advocacy against gender-based violence in Nigeria
On August 3, 2020, the Africa Faith and Justice Network and Africa Faith and Justice Network –…
“When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” – African Proverb
Inspired by the African Proverb, on June 22nd and 23rd, Nigerian youth gathered online to unite in an effort to combat sexual violence. The two-day workshop, Voices for Change, sponsored by the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) Nigeria, had over 68 youth participants who ranged from high school freshmen to university graduate students. During the workshop participants learned how to identify sexual violence, participated in advocacy training, and took action.
The US is Not a Safe Haven for Foreign Human Rights Violators
The US has laws intended to ensure human rights abusers, like Correa, do not have a safe haven on its territory. Correa could face the death penalty or up to life in prison based on the guidelines of the 1994 Torture Statue. This statute requires for any person residing in the US, regardless of nationality, to be charged for torture abroad. Also, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 prevents criminals from seeking asylum. However, the most legally cut-forward way, majority of the time, for US officials to prosecute war criminals is through immigration violations. The ICE and the US Department of Justice Criminal Division actively work to prevent criminals from entering the US.
Press Release: Thousands protest nomination in defiance of stay-at-home orders in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Washington, DC – On thursday, thousands of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) citizens took to the streets in protest to the nomination of Mr. Ronsard Malonda to head the National Independent Election Commission (NIEC). In defiance of the government order forbidding protests due to the COVID-19 pandemic and organized by the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, the protesters came out in large numbers showing their disapproval of the system that had nominated Mr. Malonda who is currently the National Executive Secretary of the DRC NIEC.
Twenty Years Prison for Democratic Republic of Congo President’s Chief of Staff for Embezzlement
On June 20, 2020 a Judge in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sentenced one of the…
Coalition to Dept. of State: Democratic Republic of Congo’s Judiciary Reforms are Unconstitutional
On June 30, 2020, the Africa Faith and Justice Network was one of the signers of the…
Press Statement: The Judiciary Reform Bill in DRC is Unconstitutional
Washington, DC – (En Francais) A judiciary reform bill being considered in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Parliament is attempting to undermine the Judiciary’s autonomy. If passed, the Judiciary will be answerable to the Minister of Justice, a politically appointed position of the Executive Branch. The DRC’s Constitution states that each branch of the government is autonomous, so if passed the bill would be changing the essential structure of the Republic. Also constitutional revisions are illegal during a state of urgency, like the current COVID-19 pandemic. Many Congolese assert that if this bill passes, it would halt the progress made by the Judiciary and supported by DRC President Felix Tshisekedi with tackling corruption.
Le Projet de Loi sur la Réforme Judiciaire en RDC est Inconstitutionnel
Washington, DC – (English Version) Un projet de loi sur la réforme judiciaire en cours d’examen au Parlement de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) tente de saper l’autonomie du pouvoir judiciaire. S’il est adopté, le pouvoir judiciaire devra répondre au le ministre de la Justice, un poste politique du pouvoir exécutif. La Constitution de la RDC stipule que chaque branche du gouvernement est autonome. Par conséquent, s’il était adopté, le projet de loi modifierait la structure essentielle de la République. Les révisions constitutionnelles sont également illégales pendant un état d’urgence, comme la pandémie actuelle de COVID-19. De nombreux Congolais affirment que si ce projet de loi est adopté, il mettrait un terme aux progrès réalisés par le pouvoir judiciaire et soutenu par le président de la RDC, Felix Tshisekedi, pour lutter contre la corruption.
AFJN-Uganda on Jubilee Radio Talking About Domestic Violence Amid COVID-19
The Africa Faith and Justice Network Uganda Chapter of women religious have been talking about the domestic…
Join AFJN-Uganda Sisters on Jubilee Radio 105.6 Fridays (June 13-July 3)
Sisters in Uganda are using the radio to spread the message to end domestic violence. It has…
Africa Faith and Justice Network on Pope’s Statement Defending Sacredness of Life and Condemning Racism
Washington DC – Wednesday during his General Audience, Pope Francis spoke on the sacredness of every human life in response to protests, rioting, and global unrest following the death of George Floyd while in police custody. Floyd is only the most recent victim of years of institutionalized violence against black men and women. This tragedy has opened up wounds for many people of African descent and others who have experienced racism first-hand.
In the News: CALAR Declaration
The CALAR A Declaration: Africa Remember Who You Are has obtained media coverage around the globe. Read…
