WHRDs are self-identified women and lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LBTQI) people and others who defend rights and are subject to gender-specific risks and threats due to their human rights work and/or as a direct consequence of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
WHRDs are subject to systematic violence and discrimination due to their identities and unyielding struggles for rights, equality and justice.
The WHRD Program collaborates with international and regional partners as well as the AWID membership to raise awareness about these risks and threats, advocate for feminist and holistic measures of protection and safety, and actively promote a culture of self-care and collective well being in our movements.
Risks and threats targeting WHRDs
WHRDs are exposed to the same types of risks that all other defenders who defend human rights, communities, and the environment face. However, they are also exposed to gender-based violence and gender-specific risks because they challenge existing gender norms within their communities and societies.
By defending rights, WHRDs are at risk of:
Physical assault and death
Intimidation and harassment, including in online spaces
Judicial harassment and criminalization
Burnout
A collaborative, holistic approach to safety
We work collaboratively with international and regional networks and our membership
to raise awareness about human rights abuses and violations against WHRDs and the systemic violence and discrimination they experience
to strengthen protection mechanisms and ensure more effective and timely responses to WHRDs at risk
We work to promote a holistic approach to protection which includes:
emphasizing the importance of self-care and collective well being, and recognizing that what care and wellbeing mean may differ across cultures
documenting the violations targeting WHRDs using a feminist intersectional perspective;
promoting the social recognition and celebration of the work and resilience of WHRDs ; and
building civic spaces that are conducive to dismantling structural inequalities without restrictions or obstacles
Our Actions
We aim to contribute to a safer world for WHRDs, their families and communities. We believe that action for rights and justice should not put WHRDs at risk; it should be appreciated and celebrated.
Promoting collaboration and coordination among human rights and women’s rights organizations at the international level to strengthen responses concerning safety and wellbeing of WHRDs.
Supporting regional networks of WHRDs and their organizations, such as the Mesoamerican Initiative for WHRDs and the WHRD Middle East and North Africa Coalition, in promoting and strengthening collective action for protection - emphasizing the establishment of solidarity and protection networks, the promotion of self-care, and advocacy and mobilization for the safety of WHRDs;
Increasing the visibility and recognition of WHRDs and their struggles, as well as the risks that they encounter by documenting the attacks that they face, and researching, producing, and disseminating information on their struggles, strategies, and challenges:
Mobilizing urgent responses of international solidarity for WHRDs at risk through our international and regional networks, and our active membership.
The data from our tribute indicate that Mexico is a particularly dangerous country for defenders. Out of the 12 Mexican Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) we commemorate in this years’ Tribute, 11 were murdered. They were journalists, women’s rights advocates, trans* rights and social activists. Join us in remembering and honoring these WHRDs, their work and legacy by sharing the memes below and tweeting by using the hashtags #WHRDTribute and #16Days.
Please click on each image below to see a larger version and download as a file
Nous Sommes la Solution eleva y multiplica el liderazgo de las mujeres rurales que trabajan por soluciones realmente africanas para la soberanía alimentaria.
No me siento cómodx al compartir el nombre de mi agrupación o nuestra información de contacto con AWID, ¿aun así debería responder la encuesta?
Absolutamente; esas preguntas son opcionales y valoramos tu derecho a la anonimidad. Te pedimos que respondas la encuesta independientemente de tu decisión de compartir el nombre de tu agrupación, organización o movimiento y la información de contacto con AWID.
En nuestro Tributo Virtual 2015 a las defensoras de derechos humanos que ya no están con nosotros/as recordamos a cuatro mujeres del África subsahariana, tres de las cuales fueron asesinadas por el trabajo que realizaban y/o por su identidad de género y orientación sexual. Sus muertes ponen en evidencia la violencia que suelen enfrentar las personas LGBT en la región y en el mundo. Únete a AWID para honrar a estas defensoras de derechos humanos, su trabajo y su legado, compartiendo los memes aquí incluidos con tus colegas, amistades y redes; y tuiteando las etiquetas #WHRDTribute y #16Días.
Por favor, haz click en cada imagen de abajo para ver una versión más grande y para descargar como un archivo.
L’analyse des réponses nous permettra de tirer des conclusions et de définir des tendances. Les résultats seront présentés à l’occasion du 15e Forum international de l’AWID à Bangkok, et en ligne, en décembre 2024. Inscrivez-vous ici pour participer au Forum!
Abby was a pioneering feminist, human-rights activist and former McGill University epidemiologist.
Abby was renowned for championing social causes and for her insightful critiques of reproductive technologies and other medical topics. Specifically, she campaigned against what she called the "geneticization" of reproductive technologies, against hormone replacement therapy and for better, longer research before the approval of discoveries such as the vaccines against the human papillomavirus.
On the news of her passing, friends and colleagues described her fondly as an “ardent advocate” for women’s health.
Our individual and institutional members come from ALL regions of the world and 163 countries. Our latest members join us from France, South Sudan, the United Kingdom, and Lebanon. All of our members bring with them a rich and diverse array of perspectives, experiences, knowledge, energy and inspiration!
Did you know about our weekly member profiles?
One of the benefits of being an AWID member, is having your story featured on awid.org, in our newsletters which go out to 35,000 subscribers, and via our social media channels which have over 60,000 followers.
If you have any difficulties and require support with the sign-up process, please do not hesitate to contact us at membership@awid.org
What Our Members Say
"We have found AWID to be a very exciting network and we are involved in many of its platforms." - Engabu Za Tooro (AWID institutional member)
"I am looking forward to a fruitful engagement with the team. Feeling great. Thanks for accepting me as a member." - R. Chakraborty (AWID individual member)
"Thank you so much AWID, your work is tremendous. I really appreciated your efforts." - E. Khan (AWID individual member)
Snippet FEA 1 of 3 trans and travesti people (EN)
1 of 3 trans and travesti people in Argentina live in a poor household
Marielle fue una política brasileña feminista lesbiana y activista por los derechos humanos.
Criticó abiertamente la brutalidad policial y las ejecuciones extrajudiciales. Su política declaradamente feminista, negra, centrada en las favelas, fue una fuente de esperanza para los grupos marginados de Río de Janeiro, gobernados actualmente por un gobierno municipal conservador y un intendente evangélico.
El 14 de marzo de 2018, después de dar un discurso en Río de Janeiro, Franco y su chofer fueron asesinados a balazos. A partir de la noticia de su muerte, multitudes se volcaron a las calles al grito de «¡Marielle presente!», en demanda de justicia.
