Jean-Marc Ferré | Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
A general view of participants at the 16th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

Special Focus

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

Human Rights Council (HRC)

The Human Rights Council (HRC) is the key intergovernmental body within the United Nations system responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. It holds three regular sessions a year: in March, June and September. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the secretariat for the HRC.

The HRC works by:

  • Debating and passing resolutions on global human rights issues and human rights situations in particular countries

  • Examining complaints from victims of human rights violations or activist organizations on behalf of victims of human rights violations

  • Appointing independent experts (known as “Special Procedures”) to review human rights violations in specific countries and examine and further global human rights issues

  • Engaging in discussions with experts and governments on human rights issues

  • Assessing the human rights records of all UN Member States every four and a half years through the Universal Periodic Review

Learn more about the HRC


AWID works with feminist, progressive and human rights partners to share key knowledge, convene civil society dialogues and events, and influence negotiations and outcomes of the session.

With our partners, our work will:

◾️ Monitor, track and analyze anti-rights actors, discourses and strategies and their impact on resolutions

◾️ Raise awareness of the findings of the 2017 and 2021 OURs Trends Reports.

◾️Support the work of feminist UN experts in the face of backlash and pressure

◾️Advocate for state accountability
 
◾️ Work with feminist movements and civil society organizations to advance rights related to gender and sexuality.
 

Related Content

Ursula K Le Guin

Ursula was an American novelist who worked mainly in the genres of fantasy and science fiction.

She found fame with The Left Hand Of Darkness, which imagines a future society where people are ambisexual – they have no fixed sex. It explores the effects of gender and sex in society, and was one of the first major feminist science fiction books. Ursula was inspiring in her subversive and original writing, and also for the themes of feminism and freedom she held so dearly.

In a 1983 address at Mills College in California, she told graduates: “Why should a free woman with a college education either fight Macho-man or serve him? Why should she live her life on his terms? I hope you live without the need to dominate, and without the need to be dominated.”

 


 

Ursula K Le Guin, USA

Snippet - CSW68 Intro

Reclaiming Feminist Power

This year, we, alongside feminist activists from across the world, will be at CSW68 in New York, to challenge capitalist, neoliberal narratives and false solutions around poverty, development and financing. Through in-person events, lives on our socials, an exhibit booth and more; we are showing up to convene, amplify and support the voices and participation of our members, partners and allies.

Learn more about our program this year below.

Je suis une jeune féministe. Comment m’impliquer au sein de l’AWID ?

Les jeunes féministes sont au cœur de l’action de l’AWID.

De fait, 38 % de nos membres sont ont moins de 30 ans.

Nous estimons que les jeunes féministes représentent le présent et l’avenir de la lutte pour les droits des femmes. Nous encourageons les jeunes femmes à devenir des leaders du mouvement et notre programme « Activisme des jeunes féministes » est transversal à tous les autres aspects de notre travail.

Dans le même temps, en définissant les jeunes féministes comme l'un de nos domaines prioritaires, nous apportons de nouvelles perspectives aux débats actuels et veillons à ce que les jeunes activistes puissent exprimer clairement leurs priorités et leurs inquiétudes.

En savoir plus sur le programme Activisme des jeunes féministes

Snippet FEA Occupation’s kitchen (ES)

Photo of a wall with a graffiti which says “Luta’
Photo of people in facemasks and aprons cooking together
Photo of a black woman in a red apron and black facemask, holding a book
Photo of a group of 4 of people wearing facemasks, demonstrating food and books

Mujeres y colaboradorxs en la cocina de Ocupação 9 de Julho

Photo of two black women cooking

Liliana Bodoc

Liliana fue una maestra argentina, una tejedora y una escritora muy reconocida.

Su trilogía La saga de los confines recibió varios premios y es única en el género fantástico por su uso y reimaginación de la mitología de los pueblos indígenas de América del Sur.

El compromiso de Liliana con el feminismo se expresaba en las diversas, ricas y fuertes voces de mujeres en su escritura y especialmente en su extensa obra para lectorxs jóvenes. También tomó posición públicamente en favor del aborto, la justicia económica y la equidad de género.


 

Liliana Bodoc, Argentina

Snippet - CSW68 - Responding to Anti-rights - FR

Répondre aux évolutions antidroits

in Multilateral and Regional Spaces

✉️ Sur invitation uniquement
📅Mardi 12 mars
🕒14 h - 15 h 30 HNE

Organisateur : Consortium de l'Observatoire sur l'universalité des droits (OURs)
🏢Blue Gallery, 222 E 46th St, New York

I am experiencing violence in one or more of my relationships. Can AWID advocate on my behalf?

Unfortunately, no. AWID is not a direct service or individual advocacy organization.

It would be better for you to seek legal advice and contact a women’s shelter or referral centre in your area.

The HotPeachPages is an online resource that offers links to women’s shelters around the world. AWID cannot vouch for the accuracy or quality of its listings, but it may be a good place to start if you don’t know of organizations in your area.

Snippet FEA Housing is a right (FR)

Three-fold horizontal graphic: 1st of a brown-skinned woman on the right side, she is sitting on a pink carpet and is wearing a pink shirt and yellow dress; 2nd two women of color looking at each other and touching their shoulders, they are on a pink background; 3rd - graphic version of three women cooking.

Le logement est un droit | Les soins soutiennent la vie

Anna Campbell (şehid Hêlîn Qerecox)

Anna a grandi à Lewes, dans le Sussex (Royaume-Uni). Après avoir décidé de ne pas poursuivre sa licence d’anglais à l'Université de Sheffield, elle a déménagé à Bristol et est devenue plombière.

Elle a passé une grande partie de son temps à défendre les personnes marginalisées et défavorisées, à assister à des rassemblements antifascistes et à offrir son soutien aux femmes de la Dale Farm lorsqu'elles furent menacées d'expulsion. Végétalienne et amie des animaux, elle a participé à des missions de sabotage de chasses et son nom est honoré sur le monument commémoratif « Arbre de vie » de l’organisation PETA. Anna s'est rendue à Rojava en mai 2017 pour lutter en faveur du renforcement du pouvoir des femmes, de la pleine représentation de toutes les ethnies et de la protection de l'environnement.

Anna est décédée le 15 mars 2018, après avoir été atteinte par une frappe aérienne turque dans la ville d'Afrin, dans le nord de la Syrie. Anna se battait auprès des forces de protection des femmes (YPJ) quand elle a été tuée.


 

Anna Campbell (şehid Hêlîn Qerecox), UK

Snippet - CSW68 - Follow Socials - EN

Follow us!

Through in-person events, lives on our socials, an exhibit booth and more; we are showing up to convene, amplify and support the voices and participation of our members, partners and allies.

Together we will Reclaim Feminist Power by uplifting feminist alternatives and visions around economies that center collective systems of care and nurture both the planet and people.

Follow us on social media for more details on how to participate! Be part of the conversations using the hashtags #AWIDatCSW68 and #ReclaimFeministPower.

Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | X (Twitter)

2007: se intensifica la participación de la sociedad civil con la creación del WWG sobre FpD

En octubre de 2007 se creó el Women’s Working Group on Financing for Development [Grupo de Trabajo de Mujeres sobre Financiación para el Desarrollo, WWG on FfD en inglés], una alianza entre organizaciones y redes por los derechos de las mujeres cuyo objetivo es defender y promover avances en cuanto a igualdad de género, empoderamiento de las mujeres y derechos humanos en los procesos de la ONU relacionados con la FpD.

Tercer Diálogo de Alto Nivel sobre la Financiación para el Desarrollo, 23 al 25 de octubre de 2007

  • En el tercer panel de alto nivel, la participación de la sociedad civil se incrementó exponencialmente. Además de las seis mesas redondas, hubo audiencias para la sociedad civil y el sector empresarial.
  • AWID leyó en plenaria la declaración de la sociedad civil que pedía a los gobiernos prestar una mayor atención a la importancia de las organizaciones por los derechos de las mujeres como agentes del desarrollo y a la necesidad de promover nuevos mecanismos de financiación para las mujeres en los países en desarrollo y los menos desarrollados. Esta declaración exhortó a los gobiernos a brindar un mayor apoyo a la arquitectura de género de la ONU para que el sistema en su conjunto pudiera avanzar en sus compromisos en materia de igualdad de género, empoderamiento de las mujeres y derechos humanos, incluyendo los derechos económicos, sociales, culturales y ambientales de todas las personas.

Snippet FEA ASOM’s activists in encounters (EN)

 
Black woman in a white headscarf and gray t-shirt, she is smiling and is holding a vessel above her head
People demonstrating and holding a long blue poster
Black woman speaking in a mic, there is a black girl standing next to her and a man sitting at the table
Photo of five black women in the front on a demonstration, wearing facemasks and holding posters
Photo of three women sitting around the table and talking in mics.

ASOM’s activists in encounters, parades and events

Kagendo Murungi

Kagendo is remembered fondly by family and friends as a fierce African feminist activist, artist, and filmmaker.

She dedicated over 20 years to advocate for the rights and dignity of African LGBTIQ and gender non conforming people.

Kagendo’s colleagues remember her as someone with a jovial personality, fierce conviction, and love for life. Kagendo died due to natural causes at her home in Harlem on December 27th, 2017.

On Kagendo’s passing Kenyan writer and activist Shailja Patel noted “Kagendo's lifelong commitment to connecting the dots between all oppressions, showing how colonialism fostered homophobia on the African continent, making Kenya a country where queer Kenyans and free women could live and thrive.”


 

Kagendo Murungi, Kenya

Snippet - WITM To share - EN

To share your lived experience with mobilizing funding for your organizing

2013: le sixième Dialogue de haut niveau examine les progrès des OMD