Announcements

From December 1st- December 10, 2012, AWID's activity Getting to Zero will feature young women’s initiatives on HIV and AIDS and the concrete ways in which young women around the world are contributing to advancing women’s rights and social justice. Every few days we will add a new profile.

"Today, November 29th, is International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, and the 5th day of the 16 Days of Activism against gender violence. We join you in paying tribute to the women across the world fighting for justice and a better life in the face of political violence, repression, stigma and full out war. We especially want to recognize the women activists and leaders targeted as a strategy of war in Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gaza, and the many women of Egypt who have returned to the streets to continue the fight for two revolutions: the country’s and women’s.

Muslim and Christian Religious leaders in Lebanon have endorsed key messages on the occasion of the “International 16 Days Campaign of Activism to End Violence Agaisnt Women (VAW) and Girls” in an intiative to denounce VAW in our communities. 

Hitting the airwaves just in time for 16 Days of Activism and World AIDS Day, Mahlabathe Speaks is a 13-part serial radio drama highlighting how HIV/AIDS and Gender Based Violence (GBV) are linked, in a way that is entertaining and understandable to the mostly rural target audiences. The drama is being aired across South Africa, with listening groups in four provinces - Eastern Cape; Northern Cape; KwaZulu-Natal; and Free State - though the drama is free to air to any station. 

"An international coalition of organizations dedicated to human rights celebrated yesterday’s historic vote in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to pass resolution A/C.3/67/L.36 condemning extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. The vote reversed the events of 2010 when the same body voted to strip the resolution of reference to 'sexual orientation'.

Mobility International USA (MIUSA) is pleased to announce the release of a new video, Creating A World As It Should Be®: The Power of Disabled Women Activists. The video documents the power of women leaders with disabilities in their quest to be included in international development programs. It will be available on YouTube on December 3rd, 2012 in honor of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 

International women activists and women’s organizations have issued a statement expressing grave concern over the health and wellbeing of ten female prisoners of conscience who started hunger strikes to protest illegal and inappropriate treatment in prison. Two-hundred and seventy five individuals and 22 organizations representing 35 countries, have called for the immediate release of these prisoners of conscience. They have also urged the Iranian authorities to ensure the rights of the women while in prison and have called upon the judiciary, security and prison officials to end their harassment of female prisoners of conscience.

The Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) strongly condemns the repeated efforts, now for the third time, to introduce the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda’s Parliament. We stand in solidarity with Ugandans who are calling for their government to withdraw this bill, once and for all, and respect the human rights of everyone.

ABAAD dialogues with religious leaders to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the Middle East

Regional Roundtable on “What Roles do Religious Leaders have in ending GBV?”

November 9 & 10, 2012-Beirut, Lebanon

AWID is excited to share with you the initial phase of our new online resource and learning hub: Transforming Economic Power to Advance Women's Rights and Justice. Building on the content generated by participants for the 2012 AWID Forum in Istanbul in April, the website aims to help you explore key issues and debates that came out of the Forum and learn more about some of the key elements of economic power and the connections with diverse women's rights issues and agendas.