Special Focus

AWID is an international, feminist, membership organisation committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights

Confronting Extractivism & Corporate Power

Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) worldwide defend their lands, livelihoods and communities from extractive industries and corporate power. They stand against powerful economic and political interests driving land theft, displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods, and environmental degradation.


Why resist extractive industries?

Extractivism is an economic and political model of development that commodifies nature and prioritizes profit over human rights and the environment. Rooted in colonial history, it reinforces social and economic inequalities locally and globally. Often, Black, rural and Indigenous women are the most affected by extractivism, and are largely excluded from decision-making. Defying these patriarchal and neo-colonial forces, women rise in defense of rights, lands, people and nature.

Critical risks and gender-specific violence

WHRDs confronting extractive industries experience a range of risks, threats and violations, including criminalization, stigmatization, violence and intimidation.  Their stories reveal a strong aspect of gendered and sexualized violence. Perpetrators include state and local authorities, corporations, police, military, paramilitary and private security forces, and at times their own communities.

Acting together

AWID and the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD-IC) are pleased to announce “Women Human Rights Defenders Confronting Extractivism and Corporate Power”; a cross-regional research project documenting the lived experiences of WHRDs from Asia, Africa and Latin America.

We encourage activists, members of social movements, organized civil society, donors and policy makers to read and use these products for advocacy, education and inspiration.

Share your experience and questions!

Tell us how you are using the resources on WHRDs Confronting extractivism and corporate power.

◾️ How can these resources support your activism and advocacy?

◾️ What additional information or knowledge do you need to make the best use of these resources?

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Thank you!

AWID acknowledges with gratitude the invaluable input of every Woman Human Rights Defender who participated in this project. This project was made possible thanks to your willingness to generously and openly share your experiences and learnings. Your courage, creativity and resilience is an inspiration for us all. Thank you!

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The Nadia Echazú Textile Cooperative carries the name of a pioneer in the struggle for trans rights in Argentina. In many ways, the work of the cooperative celebrates her life and legacy.

Nadia Echazú had a remarkable activist trajectory: she was one of the co-founders of "El Teje", the first trans newspaper in Latin America, alongside Lohana Berkins, Diana Sacayán and Marlene Wayar. Nadia was part of the Argentinian Association of Travestis, Transexual and Transgender people (Asociación de Travestis y Transexuales de Argentina, ATTA) and founded The Organization of Travestis and Transgender People of Argentina (Organización de Travestis y Transexuales de Argentina, OTTRA).

Shortly after her death, her fellow activists founded the cooperative in her name, to honor the deep mark she left on trans and travesti activism in Argentina.

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Gracias por descargar la Guía de realidades feministas

Seismic shifts: A year of completion, transition and reflection | Annual report 2017

The past five years have been huge for AWID.

We have contributed to some major victories, like expanding the women’s rights funding landscape with ground-breaking, far-reaching research and advocacy. At the same time, we have experienced some devastating setbacks, including the assassination of Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) like Berta Cacares of Honduras, Gauri Lankesh of India and Marielle Franco of Brazil, as well as the rise of anti-rights mobilizing in human rights spaces.

Five years ago, we committed to our movement-building role by producing knowledge on anti-rights movement trends, as well as on issues that feminists often engage with less, like illicit financial flows. We advocated side by side with our movement partners, strengthening young feminist and inter-generational activism, and expanding the holistic protection of WHRDs. As we close out the strategic plan, we are proud of our accomplishments and our growth as an organization. We end 2017 with renewed commitment, insights and learning for the continued struggle ahead!

 

Teresia Teaiwa

Described by the Guardian as one of Kiribati’s national icons, Teresia was a fearless advocate who worked closely with feminist groups in Fiji.

She used her research to address the issues of feminism and gender in the Pacific, as well as being co-editor of the International feminist Journal of Politics. Her influence spanned the academic frontier as well as social justice movements in the Oceania region.


 

Teresia Teaiwa, Fiji

Snippet FEA Georgia this is only the beginning (ES)

Georgia

Sindicato Red de Solidaridad

 

Este es sólo

EL COMIENZO

Snippet - WITM To build - PT

Para recolher testemunhos centrados na realidade feminista sobre como o dinheiro circula e os bolsos em que entra;

六大主軸

六大主軸支持起論壇中女性主義理念實現的框架。每個主軸都以實現的女性主義理念、經驗和願景為中心,探討抵抗與主張、奮鬥與另類選擇之間持續不斷的關係。我們希望能共同探討出女性主義理念實現的構成要素,並找到讓女性主義理念實現在人生不同領域,欣欣向榮發展的推動力。

這些實現的理念可能以生活方式、夢想和構思中的想法充分表達,或是寶貴的經驗和重要的時刻。


這些主軸並不是孤立的主題,而是與論壇活動相互串連的載體。我們預期許多活動會處在這些主題的交匯處,不同的爭取方式、社群和運動之間的交匯處。這些說明只是初步的描述,會隨著女性主義理念實現之旅的開展而不斷地演變。

 

社群、運動和經濟正義的資源

本議題主軸聚焦以下問題:個人、社群和運動如何滿足自身的基本需求,並用以人為本及自然為本的方式,確保我們所需繁盛發展的資源。「資源」指的是食物、水、清潔的空氣以及金錢、勞動力、資訊、知識和時間等等。

女性主義者對抗以剝削和榨取掛帥的主流經濟體制,對於組織我們的經濟與社會生活,女性主義提出了方案、累積經驗與付諸實踐,本主軸借重其經驗,表彰深具影響力與啟發性者。糧食和種子主權、女性主義的工作和勞動願景、公正和永續的貿易體系等等,只是將要探索的一部分問題而已。我們將勇敢面對在壓迫的經濟體制下為了生存而產生的矛盾。

女性主義針對經濟正義與創造財富進行了廣泛分析,本主軸以此為前提研究組織與運動獲得資金與資源的主題,探討如何將資源轉移到需要的地方,如何從稅捐正義和基本收入的模式轉移到不同的慈善模式以及運動該如何發揮創意並自主開源。

 

治理、當責與正義

我們力求樹立新的願景,並擴展女性主義治理、當責和正義以實現的理念與經驗。面對全球危機以及法西斯主義和基本教義派崛起,這個主軸以女性主義的、激進又解放的模式、實務與理念為重心,從在地到全球,探討社會與政治生活的組織。

本議題主軸將探討女性主義治理的樣貌,從女性主義的地方自治經驗、在民族國家以外建立制度,再到我們對多邊主義的願景。我們將交流社群、組織和運動中正義和當責製程序的經驗,包括修復式、以社群為本、轉型正義模式,而這些模式拒絕國家暴力和監獄產業綜合體。

以旅行、移民和難民以及女性主義組織經驗為中心,我們追求一個沒有致命邊境政權的世界:一個可以自由移動,旅程令人雀躍的世界。

 

數位化的現實

科技在我們生活中扮演的角色越來越吃重,線上與線下真實之間的分野越來越模糊。女性主義者廣泛應用科技與線上空間來營造社群、相互學習和動員行動。借助線上空間,我們可以拓寬實體世界的邊界。但另一方面,數位通訊主要歸企業所有,而其對用戶的責任卻很少。資料探勘、監視和安全漏洞已成為常態,網路暴力和騷擾也是。

本議題主軸探討了數位化現實下的女性主義機遇和挑戰。我們將探討主導數位環境私有平台的替代方案、探索網路空間時維持身心健康的策略,以及如何應用科技來克服取得服務的挑戰。關於愉悅、信任和人際關係,我們將探索科技可發揮的潛力。

 

身體、愉悅和健康

女性主義理念實現也存在於自身:體現的經驗。父權、順性別異性戀與資本主義掛帥結構的核心依然為對勞動、移動、生殖以及性相的掌控。要顛覆這種壓迫,擁有多元性別、性相和能力的人相會,打造喜悅、關懷、愉悅及強烈欣賞自我與他人的空間以及次文化。

本議題主軸將探討不同社會與文化中。女性、跨性別者、非二元性別者、非常規性別者、陰陽人,對於授意權、能動性與慾望的多元想法、敘事、想像力及文化表現。

我們將分享贏得生育權和正義的戰略,並闡明能實現和尊重人身自主、完整和自由的社會實務。該議題主軸串連不同抗爭和運動,相互交流彼此關於身心健康和愉悅的經驗和觀點。

 

女性主義星球與生命

想像一顆女性主義的星球。水的聲音聽起來如何?空氣的味道聞起來如何?土壤的觸感摸起來如何?星球與包括人類在內的生命之間有什麼關係?實現的女性主義理念亦即環境和氣候正義的實現。女性主義、原住民、去殖民和生態抗爭通常源自轉型願景以及人與自然之間的關係。

本議題主軸以我們星球的福祉為中心,反映了人類與地球互動並重塑地球的方式。永續女性主義星球包含探索傳統知識和生物多樣性,並學習女性主義關於以下議題的實踐,包括去成長(degrowth)、公社共有實踐、平行經濟模式、農業生態、糧食和能源主權倡議等。

 

組織女性主義運動

雖然我們認為所有的議題主軸息息相關,但此主軸確實是貫串所有主軸,因此無論您提交的活動與哪一類議題主軸串連,我們也邀請您在提案中加入組織面向。

當今的世界是如何組織女性運動的?這個問題將我們的注意力轉移到參與者、權力機制、資源、領導力,我們所處的經濟狀態,我們對正義和當責的認知,數位化時代,以及對自治、身心健康和集體關懷的經驗上。我們希望所有議題主軸都可以創造一個可以誠實反思的空間,思考運動中的權力分配、資源分配與協商。

 


論壇是一個協作過程

該論壇不僅僅是一個四天的會議。它更為女權主義現實實踐的運動增強之旅提供了另一個驛站,該旅程早已開始也將在論壇結束後繼續。

加入我們的旅程吧!

2020: Annual Report

For many of us, 2020 was an especially challenging year due to the global health pandemic. Feminists and activists rose to the new challenges meeting community needs in innovative ways. Here are 5 highlights of how AWID contributed to feminist co-creation and resistance.


Watch our Annual Report Video below

Stella Mukasa

Stella comenzó su carrera en el Ministerio de Género y Desarrollo Comunitario en Uganda colaborando con lxs legisladores en reformas legales, incluida la Constitución de Uganda de 1995, que estableció algunas de las reformas más progresistas para las mujeres en la región.

Stella es respetada y admirada en toda la región por sus incansables esfuerzos para crear y hacer cumplir leyes y políticas que tomen en cuenta cuestiones de género. También desempeñó un papel clave en la redacción de la Ley de Violencia Doméstica de Uganda y en la movilización de apoyo para las constituciones sensibles al género tanto en Uganda como en Ruanda.

A través de su trabajo con el Centro Internacional para la Investigación sobre la Mujer (ICRW, por sus siglas en inglés), abordó la violencia contra lxs niñxs y trabajó para fortalecer las capacidades de las organizaciones de base que abordan la violencia de género. Stella fue profesora en cursos sobre derechos de género y la ley, en la Universidad Makerere, y formó parte de las juntas directivas de Akina Mama wa Afrika, ActionAid International Uganda y Open Society Initiative para África Oriental.


 

Stella Mukasa, Uganda

Snippet FEA Workers demonstrations in Georgia 1 (FR)

Quatre personnes avec des affiches lors d'une manifestation et, au milieu, une femme avec un mégaphone qui parle.

Snippet - WITM Why now_col 2 - AR

توفير الموارد للحركات النسوية هو أمر أساسي لتوفير حاضر أكثر سلماً وعدالة ومستقبل أكثر تحرراً.

في العقد الأخير، خصّص الممولون/ات أموال أكبر للمساواة الجندرية، لكن فقط 1% من التمويل الخيري والتنموي تحرك بشكل مباشر لتمويل حركات التغيير الاجتماعي بقيادة نسوية.

كي نسعى إلى الوفرة، والخروج من هذه الندرة المزمنة، يدعو استطلاع "أين المال" المناصرات/ين النسويات/ين ومناصرات/ين العدالة الجندرية بمشاركتنا في مشوار جمع الإفادات وبناء القضايا لحشد أموال أكثر وأفضل كي نغيرّ موازين القوى في المناخ التمويلي القائم اليوم. يتضامن استطلاع "أين المال" مع الحركات التي يستمر إخفاءها وتهميشها والتي لا يتاح لها تمويلا أساسيا، مرن وطويل الأمد مبن على الثقة. ويسلّط استطلاع "أين المال؟" الضوء على وضع التمويل، يتحدّى الحلول الزائفة ويُظهر كيف تحتاج نماذج التمويل أن تتغير كي تزدهر الحركات وتتعامل مع تحديات الزمن المركبة.

Download your faciliation guide:

"A Feminist Approach to Understanding Illicit Financial Flows and Redirecting Global Wealth"

IFF Toolkit

Download your facilitation guide in English

This Guide is also available in Spanish and Russian


Thanks to the co-creators of this facilitation guide:

  • Daniela Fonkatz and Ana Ines Abelenda (AWID)
  • Zenaida Joachim (Mesoamericanas en Resistencia - El Salvador)
  • Olga Shnyrova (Ivanovo Center for Gender Studies - Russia)
  • Leah Eryenyu (Akina Mama Wa Afrika - Uganda)
  • Daryl Leyesa (Oriang and PKKK/National Rural Women Congress - the Philippines)

Isabel Marler

Biography

Isabel is a feminist from the United Kingdom with over a decade of experience in feminist responses to fascisms, fundamentalisms, and anti-rights trends. At AWID, her work centers on knowledge-building and has included leading the production of the Rights at Risk series in collaboration with the Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs). She holds a Master’s degree in Gender Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and previously worked with Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML). She is passionate about cross-movement work, movement-centered knowledge-building, and the use of creative expression to disrupt systems of oppression. Outside of work, Isabel is active in various disability justice spaces for collective care, learning, and advocacy.

Position
Advancing Universal Rights and Justice Lead
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Juana Ramírez Santiago

Ayant co-fondé le réseau Red de Mujeres Ixiles de Nebaj, une organisation de défense des droits des femmes autochtones, membre de l’Initiative mésoaméricaine des femmes défenseur-e-s des droits humains (IM-Defensoras en espagnol), Juana était actuellement membre de son conseil d’administration.

Elle était également sage-femme et mère de 7 enfants. Juana avait reçu des menaces de mort qui avaient été signalées au bureau du procureur. Juana est la troisième défenseure autochtone assassinée dans la région en 2018. L'Ombudsman pour le Guatemala a signalé qu'au total 20 défenseur-e-s ont été tué-e-s dans le pays cette année.

Juana Ramírez Santiago a été abattue par des assaillants non identifiés alors qu'elle traversait un pont à Nebak, Quiché, au Guatemala. Les enquêtes visant à identifier les auteurs sont en cours. 


 

Juana Ramírez Santiago, Guatemala

Snippet FEA Workers demonstrations in Georgia 2 (EN)

The photo shows a demonstration where a crowd of people is holding a banner in Georgian that reads as follows: “8th of March for worker women”.

Snippet - WITM RESOURCES - PT

Recursos

(Disponível em inglês)