Art Works Projects’ mission is to use design and the arts to raise
awareness of and educate the public about significant human rights and
environmental issues. AWP provides visual advocacy tools which produce
action on human rights crises at the grassroots, media, and policy
levels. Conceptualized and created in conjunction with established
humanitarian and human rights advocacy organizations, AWP’s art and
In February 2017, authorities in Chechnya -- a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus -- arrested a man they suspected to be under the influence of a controlled substance. As is procedure, they searched his phone. According to a report from the Human Rights Watch, they found “explicit material” (most likely shared nude photos and gay pornography), and the contact details of dozens of gay men.