THE AUTONOMY ISSUE
Sharing and caring for each other’s stories is a part of building the future we hope to achieve and nurture. Autonomy for all isn’t just a goal, but a reality that we must uphold together.
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In her review of the second season, Anna Luo illustrates how ‘Sexify’ is offering an empathetic story on sexuality and young adulthood.
This thoughtful piece explores the complex relationship between sexual autonomy, collective freedom and the economic forces that govern our daily lives.
Nia De indias takes us inside art museums around the world, as she wanders for an answer, fights against the cultural status quo, and rewrites queerness back into history through drag.
In this compelling piece, Björn Jóhann Ólafsson explores the exploitative nature of animal slaughterhouses, highlighting their devastating impact on human life.
This reported piece thoughtfully discusses the rich cultural history of Chiang Mai and the controversial tourist practices that have affected local people.
EDITOR’S PICKS
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After five years of platforming human rights stories, our team has made the difficult decision to close down the jfa. Thank you for being with us for half of a wonderful decade.
In her review of the second season, Anna Luo illustrates how ‘Sexify’ is offering an empathetic story on sexuality and young adulthood.
Nia De indias takes us inside art museums around the world, as she wanders for an answer, fights against the cultural status quo, and rewrites queerness back into history through drag.
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EMPATHY-DRIVEN
HUMAN-CENTreD
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In her review of the second season, Anna Luo illustrates how ‘Sexify’ is offering an empathetic story on sexuality and young adulthood.
This thoughtful piece explores the complex relationship between sexual autonomy, collective freedom and the economic forces that govern our daily lives.
This reported piece thoughtfully discusses the rich cultural history of Chiang Mai and the controversial tourist practices that have affected local people.
Read
Julie Reintjes details the stealthy war against journalism, diving into how spyware has endangered the security, privacy, and livelihoods of investigative journalists.
Communications Assistant Anna Luo writes on the real-world implications anti-Chinese narratives have.
Safa Ahmed
Editorial assistant Safa Ahmed examines the deadly consequences of Facebook’s algorithm, which has actively contributed to promoting hate speech and violence all over the globe.
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In this compelling piece, Björn Jóhann Ólafsson explores the exploitative nature of animal slaughterhouses, highlighting their devastating impact on human life.
Rita Borg
Before Covid-19, Outdoor swimming was seen as a niche hobby. Now, swimmers are championing for better environmental and access rights in the UK.
Alienor Hammer
Only rare success stories exist amidst the ever-increasing number of unresolved environmental issues threatening our planet. Every time an environment-related issue is identified, mitigation efforts are targeted at reducing the environmental hazard, but do not address the structural inequalities that place individuals in a position of vulnerability in the first place.
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Inspired by Caroline Hau’s moving debut novel, Tiempo Muerto, Maria Prieto reflects on the colonial legacy that pervades contemporary tourist practices in the Philippines.
Following Daryl Lim Wei Jie’s reflections on capitalism, this poem focuses on questions of excessive consumption, pollution and waste.
This poem explores the irony of the American dream and declaration of independence in 2022.
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Surina Venkat
Surina Venkat takes readers through the life and death of one of the most iconic figures of colonial India: Rani of Jhansi, freedom fighter and warrior queen.
Nahal Sheikh
Drawing upon archival research and historical sources, Nahal Sheikh re-examines narratives about the ‘glory’ of war surrounding the Indian Partition 1947. She explores the legacies of colonial rule, collective trauma and constructed societal divisions along religious lines which still impact the people and politics of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Kashmir to this day.
Lucy Warm
Lucy Warm presents a challenge to the popular historical memory of America’s Rock vs. Disco ‘war’. Encouraging us to reconceptualise this cultural phenomenon as an anti-disco movement, she explores how Rock n’ rollers committed acts of racially-motivated violence against minority groups sought safety and inclusion within discotheques.
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Nia De indias takes us inside art museums around the world, as she wanders for an answer, fights against the cultural status quo, and rewrites queerness back into history through drag.
In this captivating photo essay, Joy Martins interrogates the idea of the ‘good’ refugee and invites us to look towards a future where solidarity for all is the status quo.
Bukunmi Oyewole
In this striking photo collection, Bukunmi Oyewole walks us through Nigeria’s #EndSARS movement, with its vibrant participants seeking a brighter future in the face of systematic brutality.
Rebecca Robyns
In this photo collection, Rebecca Robyns charts the journey of feminist collective Marea Verde, who are paving the way for abortion rights in Mexico
Joy Martins
Close to 500 undocumented people in Brussels have been occupying the Béguinage church, the ULB, and the VUB since the end of January 2021. Joy Martins photographs the strikers as they demand for legal regularisation.
Angana Narula
A witness to Thailand’s unstable political climate from a very young age, our co-founder Angana Narula examines the pro-democracy protests that have been taking place in the country. In her photos, she reflects the drive pushing these protestors to risk prosecution and gather in defence of a common goal.
Stuart Tibaweswa
Over the last few decades, several events in Uganda have impacted the human rights of individuals who are part of the LGBTQI community. Stuart Tibaweswa spent time with these individuals, documenting their stories within their homes and housing they turned to for safety.
DeLovie Kwagala
Bernhard ‘Bery’ Glaser, was a German national who illegally operated ‘Bery’s Place’ in Kalangala, on Bugala island in Lake Victoria, Uganda for more than 10 years despite persistent rumours of abuse. DeLovie Kwagala spent time with around fifteen of his victims, documenting the survivors while they pursued legal action against him.
The Nude Abstract
This ideal, set in 1915, of female and femme presenting bodies, to have smooth, alabaster skin, was one of capitalistic opportunism. However, over the years, through perpetuation and amplifying media imagery, it has evolved into a defining characteristic of femininity itself.
William Keo
Since their exodus, the Rohingya refugees have been going through hell. Bangladesh represents a difficult stage in their quest for asylum. From the outset, the refugees seek humanitarian aid. Water, food, shelter and access to health care are their main concerns. However, areas where this aid is distributed can quickly become assembly points where the situations can take a turn for the worst.
Featured
Drawing inspiration from the streets of South and East London, this vibrant collage explores the juxtaposition of gentrification and the diverse cultures that are displaced as a result.
Sally Creates Things
This illustration by @sallycreatesthings is a visual representation of current political events in Thailand. Specifically, how Thai police are violently targeting protesters to death.
Sally Creates Things
Investigating dictatorship in Thailand through her art, this illustration by @sallycreatesthings was inspired by ongoing tactics to censor and suppress Thai people’s political opinions.
Land of Why
On International Day of Democracy, illustrator @landofwhy brings us a visual look into mismanagement, corruption and inequality in Thailand.
Zoe S.
Exploring the Direct Provision Centres through her artistic lens, Zoe illustrates how asylum seekers are often stuck in this system for years on end. These cramped spaces are especially troubling during Covid-19. Unable to socially-distance themselves from other residents, there have been multiple outbreaks in centres such as Kinsale Road, while data from the Irish Refugee Council also confirms that more than half of respondents reported feeling unsafe during the pandemic.
After five years of platforming human rights stories, our team has made the difficult decision to close down the jfa. Thank you for being with us for half of a wonderful decade.