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

L’activisme au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique du Nord

Notre hommage en ligne met à l’honneur cinq défenseuses des droits humains assassinées au Moyen-Orient ou en Afrique du Nord. Ces défenseuses étaient avocates ou militantes et ont œuvré pour les droits des femmes ou pour les droits civils. Leur mort met en évidence les conditions de travail souvent difficiles et dangereuses dans leurs pays respectifs. Nous vous invitons à vous joindre à nous pour commémorer la vie, le travail et l’activisme de ces femmes. Faites circuler ces mèmes auprès de vos collègues et amis ainsi que dans vos réseaux et twittez en utilisant les hashtags #WHRDTribute et #16Jours.


S'il vous plaît cliquez sur chaque image ci-dessous pour voir une version plus grande et pour télécharger comme un fichier 

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Snippet FEA Travesti (EN)

TRAVESTI

A latin-american gender identity

The term travesti is often mistakenly translated as "transvestite" in English. However, it is a Latin American gender identity with no equivalent in other languages, and exclusively female. It is a person designated male at birth who identifies as female. They may or may not undergo bodily changes, and should always be addressed with she/her pronouns.

Travesti is not only a gender identity located outside of gender binarism, it is also a cultural identity rooted in Latin American movements. The term was initially pejorative, but it was later re-appropriated as a symbol of resistance and dignity.

Every travesti is trans because she does not identify with the gender designated at birth, however not every travesti considers themselves as a trans woman, since travesti is already a gender identity on its own.

Source: Berkins, Lohana. (2006). Travestis: una Identidad Política [Travestis: a Political Identity]. Trabajo presentado en el Panel Sexualidades contemporáneas en las VIII Jornadas Nacionales de Historia de las Mujeres/ III Congreso Iberoamericano de Estudios de Género Diferencia Desigualdad. Construirnos en la diversidad, Villa Giardino, Córdoba, 25 al 28 de octubre de 2006.

Les réalités du financement et l’état du financement des mouvements féministes changent rapidement. Cette enquête a-t-elle une seule édition?

Non. L’enquête s’appuie sur les 20 années de mobilisation de l’AWID dans l’objectif d’obtenir davantage de financement de meilleure qualité pour des changements sociaux menés par des féministes. Cette enquête est la troisième édition de la recherche Où est l’argent pour l’organisation des mouvements féministes? Notre objectif est de mener une enquête WITM tous les 3 ans.

Leticia Eulalia Mary Mukasa- Kikonyogo

Leticia fue una abogada y jueza de Uganda.

Antes de retirarse, ocupó muchas posiciones de alto perfil, como por ejemplo miembrx de la Corte de Apelaciones de Uganda y Presidenta Adjunta de la Corte Suprema de Uganda. Fue la primera mujer ugandesa en ocupar el cargo de Primera Magistrada entre 1973 y 1986, y la primera mujer en ser nombrada jueza de la Corte Suprema en 1986.

Fue una de las primeras mujeres investidas como “Caballero Papal” de la historia de la Iglesia Católica en África. Murió de un paro cardíaco.

 


 

Leticia Eulalia Mary Mukasa- Kikonyogo, Uganda

WHRDs from Sub-Saharan Africa

In our 2015 Online Tribute to Women Human Rights Defenders No Longer With Us we are commemorating four women from Sub-Saharan Africa, three of whom were murdered due to their work and/or who they were in their gender identity and sexual orientation. Their deaths highlight the violence LGBT persons often face in the region and across the globe. Please join AWID in honoring these women, their activism and legacy by sharing the memes below with your colleagues, networks and friends and by using the hashtags #WHRDTribute and #16Days. 


Please click on each image below to see a larger version and download as a file

 

Snippet FEA Lohana Berkins (ES)

Una de las líderes fundadoras de la cooperativa fue Lohana Berkins, activista, defensora y promotora de la identidad trans. Lohana jugó un papel crucial en la lucha por los derechos de las personas trans y travesti.

A través de su lucha se consiguió, entre muchas otras cosas, la aprobación de la Ley de Identidad de Género. Es una de las legislaciones más progresistas del mundo, garantizando derechos fundamentales a las personas trans y travestis. Ahora, las personas pueden cambiar sus nombres y géneros solo con una declaración jurada, y tener acceso a atención médica integral sin intervención/aprobación judicial o médica (Outright International, 2012).

Snippet - WITM FAQ - EN

Frequently Asked Questions

Mona Chemali Khalaf

Mona était économiste et consultante indépendante sur les questions de genre et de développement.

Elle a été professeure d'économie et directrice de l'Institut d'études féminines du monde arabe à l'Université libanaise américaine. Elle est décédée subitement le 6 janvier 2018.

Des amis et d'anciens collègues disent de Mona: « Pour lui rendre hommage, la meilleure chose à faire est de continuer à faire ce qu'elle a commencé: l'égalité de genre, à tout prix. 

 

Mona Chemali Khalaf, Lebanon

Research methology

Over eight years, we did four global surveys and built a research methodology.

In 2013, we published three global reports. These reports confirm that women’s rights organizations are doing the heavy lifting to advance women’s rights and gender equality by using diverse, creative and long-term strategies, all while being underfunded.

Our 2010 global survey showed that the collective income of 740 women’s organizations around the world totaled only USD 104 million. Compare this with Greenpeace International, one organization with a 2010 budget of USD 310 million1. Imagine the impact these groups could have if they were able to access all the financial resources they need and more?

AWID’s WITM research has catalyzed increased funding for women’s rights organizing. WITM research was a driving force behind the Catapult crowdfunding platform, which has raised USD 6.5 million for women’s rights. The Dutch Government cited WITM research as a reason for its unprecedented MDG 3 Fund of EU 82 million. WITM research has also led to the creation of several new funds: FRIDA – The Young Feminist Fund, the Indigenous Women’s Fund, Fundo Elas, the Mediterranean Women’s Fund and the Rita Fund.

Funding trends analyses

While the WITM research has shed important light on the global funding landscape, AWID and partners have identified the need to dig deeper, to analyze funding trends by region, population and issue. In response, organizations are now using AWID’s WITM research methodology to do their own funding trends analyses. For example, in November 2013, Kosova Women’s Network and Alter Habitus – Institute for Studies in Society and Culture published Where is the Money for Women’s Rights? A Kosovo Case Study.

At the same time, AWID continues to collaborate with partners in Where is the Money for Indigenous Women’s Rights (with International Indigenous Women’s Forum and International Funders for Indigenous Peoples) and our upcoming Where is the Money for Women’s Rights in Brazil? (with Fundo Elas).

Several organizations have also conducted their own independent funding trends research, deepening their understanding of the funding landscape and politics behind it. For example, the South Asian Women’s Fund was inspired by AWID’s WITM research to conduct funding trends reports for each country in South Asia, as well as a regional overview. Other examples of research outside of AWID include the collaboration between Open Society Foundations, Mama Cash, and the Red Umbrella Fund to produce the report Funding for Sex Workers Rights, and the first-ever survey on trans* and intersex funding by Global Action for Trans* Equality and American Jewish World Service.


Snippet FEA Exclusion and Stigma (FR)

Une illustration d'un mégaphone en bleu marine. Des lignes représentant des ondes sonores sortent de l'extrémité du haut-parleur, en bordeaux.

L'EXCLUSION, LA STIGMATISATION ET LES ABUS INSTITUTIONNELS
auxquels les personnes trans et les travestis continuent de faire face au quotidien

Snippet - WITM To build - PT

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

Olivia Arévalo Lomas

Olivia was the spiritual leader of the Shipibo Konibo indigenous peoples.

A wise Indigenous woman and grandmother, she was known for cultivating traditional medicine and the sacred songs of her people (Íkaros). Olivia Arevalo was an active defender of the cultural and environmental rights of her people. Olivia’s murder occurred in a context of territorial conflict between the Shipibo community and companies that desire to take over their land to cultivate palm oil.

Members of her community have said: “Her death is an aggression against the entire Shipibo community. She was the living memory of her people”.

 


 

Olivia Arévalo Lomas, Peru

7. Synthesize your research findings

Now that you have analyzed all your data – from your survey, interviews, desk research and potentially other sources – you can create your final product.

In this section:

Create your final product

Your final product will be the document that will summarize, analyze and criticize your data. That will be the piece that you will share with your community to present and explain your research to your audience.

At AWID, we often write a comprehensive written report that analyzes each set of data and synthesizes all of our findings, then later create smaller products, such as infographics and summaries (explained in the subsequent section “Finalize and format”).

1. Write clearly

  • Organize your data as you would like to tell a story. You can follow the order of your survey. Or you can regroup some questions to lead to your conclusion in a smooth and progressive way.
  • Adapt your language to your audience. Use universal language and avoid jargon or too technical terms.

Importance of the editor

An editor will proofread, ensure concise writing, conduct fact-checking, point out inconsistencies that need to be resolved, arrange the flow of the document and possibly suggest titles.

Your editor should preferably be someone who understands and knows your WITM work but who was not directly involved in the research. This will bring in a fresh perspective.

2. Make it pretty

  • Use the data collected to create graphs and tables. These type of visuals are a compelling way to highlight the main findings of your research and validate your analysis.

  • Source relevant images that can illustrate your report.

  • Highlight key-numbers and/or powerful testimonials.

Remember: The more accessible your product is, the more people will want to read (and share!) it.

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Gather review & inputs

At this point, you have collected all your data, analyzed it and transformed it into your final product, likely in a long report.

1. Polish your results

Before moving on to the next steps – you should share your final research product with your advisor organizations, activists, and donors.

This is a great moment to check the following points:

  • Are there any key points missing in your analysis of the present funding landscape and trends?
  • Are there any key points missing in your conclusions?
  • Are there any inaccuracies in the data that need to be corrected?
  • General suggestions on strengthening the report to achieve your goals as listed in your research framing.

Once you have inputted all feedback from your advisors, be sure to run it by your editor once more.

This will now be the final, completed version of your report.  If you intend to publish the final report in other languages, now is the time to send it for translation.

2. Facilitate the feedback

  • Your advisors are likely busy with their regular responsibilities. Be sure to request feedback within a reasonable deadline.
  • Keep your request for feedback brief and specific, so it is easy for them to respond. If you like, you can simply copy and paste the bullet points we have provided.
  • If you are publishing in multiple languages, ensure you have advisors who can also review the final translated versions of your product(s).

This is a significant contribution from your advisors. Consider offering them some form of recognition.

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Previous step

6. Conduct desk research

Next step

8. Finalize and format


Estimated time:

• 2 - 5 months

People needed:

• 1 or more research person(s)
• 1 Editor (or web-editor if you create an online product)
• Translator(s), if done in more than one language

Resource needed:

• List of advisor organizations, activists, and donors.
• Concept note (from “Frame your research” section)
• Survey topline results
• Prepared interview questions
• Interview results
• Desk research data
• All other data used in report


Previous step

6. Conduct desk research

Next step

8. Finalize and format


Ready to Go? Worksheet

Download the toolkit in PDF

Snippet FEA The fight for a world full of workplaces (EN)

The fight for a world full of workplaces that are free from of all forms of discrimination, stigma and exclusion is  a worthy one. A world in which sex work is decriminalized and recognized as work is part of this.

A world where all workers have safe working conditions, dignified wages, and can enjoy the same rights like health care, pension pay, sick days, holidays, job security and more, no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, age or ability. Labor rights are feminist issues, and feminist unions play a key role in advancing the legal, labor and economic rights of all workers, especially migrant workers, domestic workers, informal workers and sex workers. These are folks who have most recently been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, its burdens of care, lockdowns, curfews and increased policing. Let us introduce you to the stories of feminists and union organizers that are fighting for better working conditions and better worlds for all.

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.