Anit-Racism Movement (ARM) / Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Priority Areas
Supporting feminist, women’s rights and gender justice movements to thrive, to be a driving force in challenging systems of oppression, and to co-create feminist realities.
Around the world, feminist, women’s rights, and allied movements are confronting power and reimagining a politics of liberation. The contributions that fuel this work come in many forms, from financial and political resources to daily acts of resistance and survival.
AWID’s Resourcing Feminist Movements (RFM) Initiative shines a light on the current funding ecosystem, which range from self-generated models of resourcing to more formal funding streams.
Through our research and analysis, we examine how funding practices can better serve our movements. We critically explore the contradictions in “funding” social transformation, especially in the face of increasing political repression, anti-rights agendas, and rising corporate power. Above all, we build collective strategies that support thriving, robust, and resilient movements.
Our Actions
Recognizing the richness of our movements and responding to the current moment, we:
Create and amplify alternatives: We amplify funding practices that center activists’ own priorities and engage a diverse range of funders and activists in crafting new, dynamic models for resourcing feminist movements, particularly in the context of closing civil society space.
Build knowledge: We explore, exchange, and strengthen knowledge about how movements are attracting, organizing, and using the resources they need to accomplish meaningful change.
Advocate: We work in partnerships, such as the Count Me In! Consortium, to influence funding agendas and open space for feminist movements to be in direct dialogue to shift power and money.
Organizing creatively, facing an increasing threat
Young feminist activists play a critical role in women’s rights organizations and movements worldwide by bringing up new issues that feminists face today. Their strength, creativity and adaptability are vital to the sustainability of feminist organizing.
At the same time, they face specific impediments to their activism such as limited access to funding and support, lack of capacity-building opportunities, and a significant increase of attacks on young women human rights defenders. This creates a lack of visibility that makes more difficult their inclusion and effective participation within women’s rights movements.
A multigenerational approach
AWID’s young feminist activism program was created to make sure the voices of young women are heard and reflected in feminist discourse. We want to ensure that young feminists have better access to funding, capacity-building opportunities and international processes. In addition to supporting young feminists directly, we are also working with women’s rights activists of all ages on practical models and strategies for effective multigenerational organizing.
Our Actions
We want young feminist activists to play a role in decision-making affecting their rights by:
Fostering community and sharing information through the Young Feminist Wire. Recognizing the importance of online media for the work of young feminists, our team launched the Young Feminist Wire in May 2010 to share information, build capacity through online webinars and e-discussions, and encourage community building.
Researching and building knowledge on young feminist activism, to increase the visibility and impact of young feminist activism within and across women’s rights movements and other key actors such as donors.
Promoting more effective multigenerational organizing, exploring better ways to work together.
Supporting young feminists to engage in global development processes such as those within the United Nations
Collaboration across all of AWID’s priority areas, including the Forum, to ensure young feminists’ key contributions, perspectives, needs and activism are reflected in debates, policies and programs affecting them.
Related Content
Ending violence against women, "it's still worth a fight!"
Ending violence against women, "it's still worth a fight!"
Lina Abirafeh (an AWID individual member) is Lebanese and Palestinian, born into conflict, displacement and gender issues. She is committed to ending violence against women and says “we all should be! It is the most pervasive human rights violation in the world, and it has endured far too long. Even if we don’t see the results in our lifetime, it’s still worth a fight!”
Lina received a PhD from the London School of Economics Department of International Development, her research being published in a book entitled Gender and International Aid in Afghanistan: The Politics and Effects of Intervention. For nearly 20 years she has been dedicated to working on issues pertaining to violence against women, specifically in emergency contexts and in over 20 countries including Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Mali, Nepal, and Central African Republic. Lina has also worked with numerous UN agencies, the World Bank, as well as with diverse international and national non-governmental organizations. In September 2015, she joined the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Beirut as Director of the Institute for Women’s Studies (IWSAW) in the Arab World.
“We are all affected. So we are all responsible.” - Lina Abirafeh
Lina is also looking forward to connecting with other members!
Watch Lina’s talk for TEDx on her work regarding sexual violence in humanitarian emergencies.
Para terminar con la violencia contra las mujeres, ¡aún vale la pena luchar!
Lina Abirafeh (afiliada individual de AWID) es libanesa y palestina. Nació en medio del conflicto, el desplazamiento y la discriminación de género y está comprometida con la eliminación de la violencia contra las mujeres. «¡Todas las personas deberíamos tener el mismo compromiso!», afirma. «Es la violación a los derechos humanos más generalizada en el mundo y persiste desde hace mucho tiempo. Aun cuando no veremos los resultados durante nuestra vida, vale la pena luchar».
Lina obtuvo un título de doctorado del departamento de desarrollo internacional de London School of Economics, para el que presentó una investigación publicada (en inglés) en el libro Gender and International Aid in Afghanistan: The Politics and Effects of Intervention[Género y ayuda internacional en Afganistán: La política y los efectos de la intervención]. Durante casi 20 años Lina se ha dedicado a trabajar por los temas referidos a la violencia contra las mujeres, especialmente a la ejercida en contextos de emergencia y en más de 20 países, incluidos Afganistán, Papua Nueva Guinea, República Democrática del Congo, Haití, Malí, Nepal y República Centroafricana. Ha trabajado también con numerosos organismos de las Naciones Unidas, el Banco Mundial y diversas organizaciones no gubernamentales nacionales e internacionales. En septiembre se incorporará a la Lebanese American University [universidad libanesa americana] de Beirut como directora del instituto para los estudios de la mujer en el mundo árabe (IWSAW).
«Todas las personas nos vemos afectadas; por eso todas somos responsables.» - Lina Abirafeh
Lina también anhela conectarse con otras/os afiliadas/os de AWID.
Mira la charla de Lina (en inglés) por TEDx sobre su labor para evitar la violencia sexual en escenarios de emergencia humanitaria.
Mettre fin aux violences faites aux femmes, « une bataille qui vaut toujours la peine d’être menée ! »
D’origine libanaise et palestinienne, Lina Abirafeh (membre individuelle de l'AWID) est née dans un contexte de conflits, de déplacements de population et de problématiques de genre. Déterminée à mettre un terme à la violence à l’égard des femmes, elle dit : « Nous devrions tou-te-s lutter fermement contre la violence faite aux femmes ! C’est la violation des droits humains la plus répandue dans le monde, et elle dure depuis bien trop longtemps. C’est une bataille qui vaut la peine d’être menée, même si nous n’en voyons pas les résultats de notre vivant ! »
Lina, qui a obtenu un doctorat du Département pour le développement international de la London School of Economics, voit sa thèse actuellement publiée dans un ouvrage (en anglais) intitulé Gender and International Aid in Afghanistan: The Politics and Effects of Intervention (Genre et aide internationale en Afghanistan : les politiques et effets de l’intervention). Pendant près de 20 ans, elle s’est attachée à travailler sur des questions de violence contre les femmes, particulièrement dans des situations d’urgence et dans plus de 20 pays dont l’Afghanistan, la Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, la République démocratique du Congo, Haïti, le Mali, le Népal et la République centrafricaine. Lina a également collaboré avec de nombreuses agences de l’ONU, avec la Banque Mondiale, et avec différentes organisations non-gouvernementales internationales et nationales. Elle intègrera au mois de septembre la Lebanese American University (LAU) à Beyrouth en tant que Directrice de l’Institute for Women’s Studies (IWSAW) in the Arab World (institut d’études des femmes dans le monde arabe).
« Nous sommes tou-te-s concerné-e-s. Nous sommes donc tou-te-s responsables. » - Lina Abirafeh
Lina se fait aussi une joie de communiquer avec d’autres membres !
Vous pouvez voir la présentation (en anglais) TEDx de Lina sur son travail concernant la violence sexuelle au cours de crises humanitaires.
Astitva Trust travaille avec des groupes représentant diverses minorités sexuelles
En avril 2014, l’Astitva Trust et son présidente Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, une éminente activiste des droits des personnes transgenres, ont lancé une pétition pour soutenir un jugement rendu par la Cour suprême de l’Inde qui reconnaissait l’existence d’un troisième genre. Cette décision est historique, elle prouve que la Cour a accordé l’intégralité des droits constitutionnels à des personnes transgenres. Par ce décret, la Cour affirme ainsi que « tout être humain a le droit de choisir son genre ».
Si la loi leur confère le même statut qu’aux autres citoyen-ne-s, les personnes transgenres sont encore confrontées à une discrimination extrêmement forte dans la société indienne dominante. L’Astitva Trust, une organisation communautaire qui rassemble différentes minorités sexuelles (principalement des hijras[1]), vise à supprimer la stigmatisation et la discrimination qui frappe les LGBTQ* et tout particulièrement la communauté transgenre. L’organisation travaille avec des groupes représentant diverses minorités sexuelles pour mener des campagnes en faveur de leurs droits, de leur santé et de leur bien-être au sens large. Elle contribue également à l’amélioration de la qualité de leur niveau de vie.
Parmi les objectifs du Trust figurent notamment la sensibilisation des minorités sexuelles au VIH/SIDA et aux autres maladies sexuellement transmissibles et la diffusion des connaissances sur ce thème, la promotion de pratiques sexuelles plus sûres et la transformation des services de santé sexuelle pour la communauté en services plus accueillants. Pour l’instant, Astitva compte 4 652 membres transgenres et travaille en réseau avec 56 organisations transgenres indiennes qu’elle aide dans de nombreux domaines.
L’organisation est co-fondatrice et membre du conseil d’administration de l’Integrated Network for Sexual Minorities (réseau intégré pour les minorités sexuelles). Elle a également fondé le Maharashtra Transgender Welfare Board (conseil de la protection sociale des personnes transgenres du Maharashtra), auquel elle participe au titre de membre du groupe de travail. Enfin, le Trust est membre du Réseau transgenre d'Asie-Pacifique (site en anglais) et du Réseau des professionnel-le-s du sexe d’Asie-Pacifique (site en anglais).
En avril 2015, Astitva (avec l’appui du parlementaire Trichy Shiva) a plaidé en faveur de l’adoption historique et unanime du « Rights of Transgender Persons Bill » (« projet de loi sur les droits des personnes transgenres ») à la Rajya Sabha[2], appelant ainsi à l’égalité des droits des personnes transgenres. L’étape suivante consiste désormais à faire adopter ce projet de loi par la Lok Sabha[3] pour qu’il devienne une véritable loi.
Écouter le discours de Laxmi Narayan Tripathi sur TEDx (en anglais)
[1] Le terme Hijra est utilisé, particulièrement en Inde, pour faire référence aux personnes transgenres[2] La Chambre haute du Parlement indien[3] La Chambre basse du Parlement indien
Astitva Trust defends the rights of sexual minorities groups
In April 2014, the Astitva Trust along with its President Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, a prominent transgender rights activist, petitioned in support of an Indian Supreme Court judgement that would recognize a third gender. It was a landmark ruling, the Court granting all constitutional rights to transgender persons. "It is the right of every human being to choose their gender,” the Court stated.
Yet even though legally transgenders are equal citizens, they still face extreme discrimination in mainstream society. The Astitva Trust, a community-based organisation of sexual minorities (mainly hijras[1]), aims to eradicate stigma and discrimination of LGBTQ* and especially the transgender community. The organisation works with sexual minority groups, campaigning for their rights, promoting their health and general well-being, helping to improve their living standards and quality of life.
Some of the objectives of the Trust include raising awareness and increasing knowledge of HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections among sexual minorities; promoting safer sex; and increasing access to community friendly sexual health services. Astitva has so far registered 4652 transgender persons and has networked with 56 transgender organisations in India, providing support in numerous areas.
The organisation is a co-founder and part of the governing board of the Integrated Network for Sexual Minorities, a founder and working group member of Maharashtra Transgender Welfare Board, and a member of both the Asia - Pacific Transgender Network and the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers.
In April 2015, Astitva (along with Member of Parliament Trichy Shiva) pushed for a historical unanimous passing of the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill in Rajya Sabha,[2] calling for equal rights of transgender people. Next step is to have it passed in Lok Sabha[3] so the Bill can become law.
Listen to Laxmi Narayan Tripathi TEDx Talk
[1] Hijra is a term used particularly in India to refer to a transgender individual[2] Upper House of Parliament of India[3] Lower House of Parliament of India
We take a position in solidarity with each other and diverse struggles for justice and freedoms. We strive to mobilize and strengthen collective action and practice meaningful ways of working with each other.
Kindle for your feminist fire! Browse AWID’s research on funding, WHRDs, movement building, fundamentalisms, economic justice, feminist monitoring & evaluation and more
Today, a complex and evolving network of anti-rights actors is exerting more influence in international and regional spaces as well as domestic politics. Anti-rights actors are entering multilateral spaces (spaces where multiple countries come together for international collaboration) to transform and undermine them from the inside out. They employ a range of persuasive discourses to gain legitimacy, often co-opting the language of rights and justice to hide their true agendas.
This report is the second in a series on human rights trends reports produced by the Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs). As well as analysis of key anti-rights actors, discourses, strategies, and impacts, the report features inspiring short stories of feminist action, and knowledge-building exercises to help strengthen our collective resistance.
The effect on our rights has already been grave, but this is not a done deal. We can all play a part in resisting anti-rights agendas and reclaiming our rights.
Women sustain Care | Care Sustains Life | Life Sustains Economy | Who takes care of women? | Not one less1 | Together | Sunday lunch
1Nenhuna a menos literally translates as “not one woman less” or “ni una menos” in Spanish - a famous feminist slogan in Latin America that emerged in Argentina as a response to increasing gender-based violence.
بدأنا التخطيط لعدد المجلّة هذا مع نانا داركوا قُبيل مهرجان «ابدعي، قاومي، غيٍّري: مهرجان للحراكات النسوية» لجمعية «حقوق المرأة في التنمية» AWID، وانطلقنا وقتها من سؤالٍ هو بالأحرى ملاحظة حول حالة العالم، ورغبة في تغيير الاعتقادات السائدة: لماذا لا تزال جنسانيّاتنا وملذّاتنا تخضع للترويض والتجريم مع أنّه يتمّ تذكيرنا مراراً وتكراراً بأنّها لا تأتي بأيّ قيمة أو تطوّر؟ واستنتجنا أنّ جنسانيّاتنا، لمّا تتجسّد، فيها ما يتعارض مع النظام العالمي الذي ما زال يتجلّى من خلال ضوابط الحدود، والتمييز العنصري في توزيع اللقاح، والاستعمار الاستيطاني، والتطهير العرقي، والرأسمالية المُستشرية. هل يمكننا إذاً القول إنّ لجنسانيّاتنا قدرةٌ تعطيليّة؟ وهل يصحّ هذا القول عندما ننظر إلى واقع حركاتنا التي يتمّ الاستيلاء عليها ومأسستها في سعيها للتزوّد بالموارد؟
