At the end of May, PBI-USA held a National Gathering, bringing together PBI field volunteers and staff (current and former), members of our growing National Coordinating Committee, multiple colleagues from PBI Canada, as well as PBI supporters for a weekend of reconnecting, reimagining, and recommitting to the work of PBI-USA.
On June 24, 2025, former PBI Colombia staffers Moira Birss and Zia Candler linked up to produce a very timely article on the power of international protective accompaniment.
Developed in Central America during the civil wars of the 1980s, accompaniment strategies show how movements can reduce authoritarian attacks and resist state repression.
On May 26, PBI-Nicaragua posted:
“Last Friday [May 23], Nicaraguan human rights defenders in exile in San Jose organized an Emergency Vigil to demand the immediate release of people arbitrarily detained and in a condition of enforced disappearance.
As Pride month begins in the United States, we share updates from Honduras where PBI provides accompaniment to multiple LGBTQ organizations and the United States, where we continue to see alarming rates of murders and governmental actions targeting members of the LGBTQ community, particularly trans individuals and youth.
On March 31st, the International Trans Day of Visibility, PBI Honduras shared:
President Trump has quickly brought on a closing of civic space in the United States since taking office, signing over 150 executive orders in less than 120 days in office. To close civic space is to make the work of non-governmental organizations and other members of civil society difficult, limiting their ability to participate fully in public life.
Published by Brent Patterson on May 18, 2025
Published by Brent Patterson on May 15, 2025
Day One: Building Common Ground
Partners aligned on project goals, roles, and expectations, while team-building activities set a tone of trust and mutual respect. Sessions also covered financial systems, procurement standards, and compliance with both BMZ and national regulations, ensuring clarity from day one.
In the vibrant yet traditional community of Kilifi, Ruweida Muhammad, Executive Director of Desire Youth Initiative, is spearheading a quiet but powerful revolution. Growing up in an area where harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) were not just accepted but celebrated, Ruweida’s journey from a silent observer to a vocal advocate has been marked by both resistance and resilience.
As reported by CNN: “Personnel from the Department of Government Efficiency, accompanied by DC police officers, gained access to the US Institute of Peace Monday after being turned away last week.”