Memory as Resistance: A Tribute to WHRDs no longer with us
AWID’s Tribute is an art exhibition honouring feminists, women’s rights and social justice activists from around the world who are no longer with us.
In 2020, we are taking a turn
This year’s tribute tells stories and shares narratives about those who co-created feminist realities, have offered visions of alternatives to systems and actors that oppress us, and have proposed new ways of organising, mobilising, fighting, working, living, and learning.
49 new portraits of feminists and Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) are added to the gallery. While many of those we honour have passed away due to old age or illness, too many have been killed as a result of their work and who they are.
This increasing violence (by states, corporations, organized crime, unknown gunmen...) is not only aimed at individual activists but at our joint work and feminist realities.
The stories of activists we honour keep their legacy alive and carry their inspiration forward into our movements’ future work.
The portraits of the 2020 edition are designed by award winning illustrator and animator, Louisa Bertman.
AWID would like to thank the families and organizations who shared their personal stories and contributed to this memorial. We join them in continuing the remarkable work of these activists and WHRDs and forging efforts to ensure justice is achieved in cases that remain in impunity.
“They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” - Mexican Proverb
The Tribute was first launched in 2012
It took shape with a physical exhibit of portraits and biographies of feminists and activists who passed away at AWID’s 12th International Forum, in Turkey. It now lives as an online gallery, updated every year.
To date, 467 feminists and WHRDs are featured.
Related Content
¿Cuántas preguntas contiene la encuesta?
La encuesta contiene 47 preguntas en total, de las cuales 27 son de respuesta obligatoria* y las 20 restantes son opcionales. La mayoría de las preguntas de la encuesta son de opción múltiple. Invitamos a responder la totalidad de las preguntas.
Yolanda Santana
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Snippet FEA Bio fertilizer and Sum-Pack (ES)

9. Advocate and tell the world!
The results of your research will also shape your advocacy – for example, your results will have revealed which sectors fund the most and which sectors you feel need donor education.
In this section
- Build your advocacy strategy
- Reach out to your network
- Adapt your strategy to the sector
1. Women’s rights organizations
2. Bilaterals and multilaterals
3. Private foundations
4. Women’s funds
5. Private sector and new donors
Build your advocacy strategy
In the “Frame your research” section of this toolkit we recommend that you plot out what goals you hope to accomplish with your research. These goals will allow you to build an advocacy strategy once your research is complete.
An advocacy strategy is a plan of distributing your research results in a way that allows you to accomplish your goals, falling under the broader goal of advocating with key sectors to make positive changes for resources for women’s rights organizing.
Using the goals defined in your research framing:
- List the potential groups of contacts who can be interested in your research results
- For each group, explain in one sentence how they can help you achieve your goal.
- For each group, mark what tone you are supposed to use to talk to them (formal professional, commentary casual, do they understand the field’s jargon?)
- List every media that can allow you to reach these audiences, in the proper tone (social media to build community feeling, press release for official announcement to a general audience, etc.)
From this list – as exhaustive as possible, chose which ones are the most efficient for achieve your goals. (See below for specific examples of audiences and advocacy methods)
Once you have a strategy, you can start the dissemination.
Reach out to your network
To disseminate your results, reach out first to the contacts through whom you distributed your survey, as well as to all your survey and interview participants.
- First, take this opportunity to thank them for contributing to this research.
- Share with them the main survey results and analysis.
- Make it easy for them to disseminate your product through their networks by giving them samples of tweets, Facebook posts or even a short introduction that they could copy and paste on their website.
Do not forget to state clearly a contact person and ask for a confirmation once they have published it.
On top of making you able to track who disseminated your report, it will help build stronger relationships within your network.
Adapt your strategy to the sector
As an example, we present below a list of sectors AWID engages in advocacy.
- Use this list as a point of departure to develop your own sector-specific advocacy plan.
- Create an objective for what you hope to accomplish for each sector.
- Be sure to add any additional sectors to this list that are relevant for your particular research, such as local NGOs or local governments, for example.
Your list of advisory organizations and individuals will also be useful here. They can help you disseminate the report in different spaces, as well as introduce you to new organizations or advocacy spaces.
1. Women’s rights organizations
Sample objectives: Update women’s rights organizations on funding trends; brainstorm collaborative efforts for resource mobilization using research findings; influence how they approach resource mobilization
Examples of possible advocacy methods:
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Offer seminars, learning cafés or other events throughout your region, in relevant languages, in order to update women’s rights organizations with the findings of your research.
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If you can’t physically reach everyone in your region, think about setting-up a webinar and online presentations.
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Present your findings at larger convenings, such as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
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Beyond your own organizations’ newsletters and website, write articles on different platforms that are frequented by your target audience.
Some examples: World Pulse, OpenDemocracy, feministing.
2. Bilaterals and multilaterals
Sample Objective: Raising awareness about how funding is not meeting established commitments and how this sector needs to improve funding mechanisms to finance women’s rights organizing.
Identify which bilateral & multilaterals have the most influence on funding – this could include local embassies.
Examples of possible advocacy methods:
- Enlist ally organizations and influential individuals (some may already be your advisors for this research process) to do peer education.
- Seek their assistance to disseminate research finding widely in large multilaterals (like the UN).
- Present at and/or attend influential spaces where bilaterals and multilaterals are present, such as GENDERNET .
- Publish articles in outlets that are read by bilaterals and multilaterals such as devex, Better Aid, Publish What You Pay.
3. Private foundations
Sample Objective: Expand the quality and quantity of support for women’s rights organizations.
Examples of possible advocacy methods:
- Attend and/or present at events led by private foundations.
- Approach private foundations through membership groups, such as the International Human Rights Funders Group or African Philanthropy Network. Propose sessions at their events.
- Reach out to progressive grantmaking alliances, such as EDGE Funders, for dissemination and possible presentation.
- Publish articles on different outlets read by private funders, such as The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Alliance Magazine.
4. Women’s funds
Sample Objective: Encourage them to continue their work at higher scale.
Examples of possible advocacy methods:
- Hold presentations at the women’s funds in your region and in countries that you hope to influence.
- Disseminate your research findings to all women’s funds that impact the region, priority issue or population you are focusing on.
- Consider doing joint efforts based on the results of the findings. For example, you could propose to collaborate with a fund to develop an endowment that closes the funding gaps found in your research.
5. Private sector and new donors
Sample Objective: Increase their understanding of the field and encourage coherence between their philanthropic interests and business practice.
Examples of possible advocacy methods:
- Enlist ally organizations and influential individuals (some may already be your advisors for this research process) to do peer education.
- Arrange meetings with influential private actors to present your research findings.
- Host your own meeting, inviting private sector actors, to share the findings and to advocate for your position.
Make sure to adapt your presentations, propositions and applications to each targeted group.
Previous step
Are you ready to start your own research?
We strongly recommend referring to our Ready to Go worksheet to assess your own advancement.

Estimated time:
• 1-2 years, depending on advocacy goals
People needed:
• 1 or more communications person(s)
Resources needed:
• List of spaces to advertise research
• List of blogs and online magazines where you can publish articles about your research finding
• List of advisors
• Your WITM information products
• Sample of Advocacy Plan
Previous step
Ready to Go? Worksheet
Rohini Ghadiok
Dois-je répondre à toutes les questions en même temps, ou puis-je y répondre en plusieurs fois?
Au besoin, vous avez la possibilité de sauvegarder vos réponses en cours d’enquête, pour y revenir plus tard. KOBO enregistrera vos brouillons de réponses dans le coin supérieur gauche de la page de l'enquête et rechargera votre dossier lorsque vous reviendrez à l'enquête. Assurez-vous simplement de continuer à partir du même ordinateur et du même navigateur.
Obiageli “Oby” Nwankwo
Con una carrera jurídica que abarcó más de 30 años, Oby era conocida en toda África y en el mundo como una defensora de la justicia de género y los derechos humanos.
Fundó y fue Directora Ejecutiva del Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC), una ONG nigeriana que patrocina capacitaciones y actividades de creación de redes para miembrxs de la sociedad civil, parlamentarixs y otrxs actores clave, para promover los derechos humanos, la buena gobernanza y el acceso a la justicia y el estado de derecho.
Oby es afectuosamente recordada por lxs activistas de Nigeria como una «extraordinaria activista que mostraba energía y pasión por la lucha por la igualdad de género y la justicia de género en Nigeria y en toda África».
Snippet FEA FEMINIST COOPERATIVISM (FR)
Coopérativisme
Féministe
Quand le travail et
la solidarité vont de pair
Nuestra visión: La justicia económica en un mundo feminista
En nuestra lucha por la justicia de género, económica, social y ambiental, en la paz, lxs feministas sabemos que no existe una sola receta para el éxito sino una gama de posibilidades que pueden y hacen que sucedan los cambios.
El menú de opciones es tan diverso como lo son nuestros movimientos y las comunidades en las que vivimos y luchamos.
Antes de atrevernos a presentar algunas de las formas en que lxs feministas nos imaginamos un mundo diferente, aquí están los principios que sostienen nuestras propuestas:
1. Desarrollo autodeterminado desde lo local hasta lo global
Creemos que no existe un modelo único aplicable a todxs y que todxs tienen derecho a reivindicar la construcción de ese otro mundo posible, como lo expresa el lema del Fondo Mundial..
Esto incluye el derecho a participar en la gobernabilidad democrática y de influir sobre el propio futuro, en el ámbito político, social y cultural.
La autodeterminación económica permite que los pueblos controlen sus recursos naturales y los utilicen de manera colectiva o para los fines que ellos mismos decidan. Además, la autonomía económica de las mujeres es fundamental para mitigar la naturaleza a menudo cíclica de la pobreza y la falta de educación, seguridad y protección.
2. Los derechos, la igualdad sustantiva y la justicia ocupan un lugar central en la economía
El principio de la igualdad sustantiva o de facto forma parte de la Convención sobre la Eliminación de Todas las Formas de Discriminación contra las Mujeres (CEDAW) y de otros instrumentos internacionales de derechos humanos. Es fundamental para el desarrollo y para lograr una economía justa ya que afirma que todos los seres humanos nacen libres e iguales.
La no discriminación forma parte intrínsecamente del principio de igualdad que garantiza que a nadie se le nieguen sus derechos por factores como la raza, el género, el idioma, la religión, la orientación sexual, la identidad de género, las opiniones políticas o de otra clase, el origen nacional o social, la propiedad o el nacimiento.
La dignidad intrínseca de todas las personas sin distinción alguna debe ser afirmada y respetada. Si bien los Estados tienen la responsabilidad de garantizar el uso de los máximos recursos de que disponen para la realización de los derechos humanos, la reivindicación de los derechos y la dignidad configura sobre todo un espacio clave para las luchas de la sociedad civil y la movilización popular.
3. Distribución justa para todxs, sin monopolización (el principio de la anticodicia)
Este principio, que se ejerce mediante esfuerzos organizados para transformar instituciones injustas, guía la recuperación del equilibrio entre «participación» (entrada) y «distribución» (salida) cuando se ha violado cualquiera de esos dos principios.
Implica ponerle un límite a toda acumulación monopólica de capital y otros abusos de la propiedad. Este concepto se apoya en un modelo económico que gira en torno a la ecuanimidad y la justicia.
4. La solidaridad entre feministas y entre movimientos es fundamental
Para que se produzcan cambios, necesitamos redes feministas fuertes y diversas. Necesitamos movimientos que construyan solidaridad desde lo personal hacia lo político, desde lo local a lo global, y viceversa.
La construcción de poder colectivo a través de los movimientos sociales ayuda a convertir la lucha por los derechos humanos, la igualdad y la justicia en una fuerza política para el cambio que no puede ser ignorada.
«Únicamente los movimientos pueden crear cambios sostenidos a niveles que las políticas y las leyes solas no pueden alcanzar»
Para leer más sobre este tema, consulta Batliwala, S: 2012 «Cambiando el mundo: Conceptos y prácticas de los movimientos de mujeres», 2da edición. AWID.
Ver también
Yelena Bonner
I have responded to the survey but changed my mind and want our response to be withdrawn, what do I do?
If, for any reason, you want your response to be withdrawn and deleted, you have the right to do so. Please contact us via the form here, indicating “WITM Survey” as the title of your message, and we will withdraw and delete your response.
Asma Jahangir
Asma était une militante pakistanaise des droits humains, une critique courageuse de l'ingérence de l'armée dans la politique et une défenseure acharnée de la primauté du droit.
Elle a été la présidente fondatrice de la Commission des droits de l'homme du Pakistan, un groupe indépendant ainsi qu’administratrice de l'International Crisis Group. Elle a remporté des prix internationaux et a été rapporteuse des Nations Unies sur les droits de l'homme et les exécutions extrajudiciaires.
Ses collègues et ami-e-s de l’AWID se souviennent d'elle avec affection
« Grâce à sa vie, Asma a réécrit l'histoire que beaucoup d'entre nous ont racontée en tant que femmes. Asma a changé le monde. Elle l'a changé au Pakistan et elle l'a changé dans notre imaginaire. »
Snippet FEA In numbers (EN)
IN NUMBERS
Contester le modèle de croissance économique
Le contexte
Contestant la prémisse que l'économie d'un pays doit toujours «grandir ou mourir», les propositions de décroissance démystifient le rôle central d’une croissance mesurée par l'augmentation du produit intérieur brut (PIB).
Définition
Le modèle de la décroissance propose une transition vers des niveaux de production et de consommation plus faibles et durables. En substance, il s’agit de restreindre l’espace économique pour laisser plus de latitude à la coopération humaine et aux écosystèmes.
La proposition prévoit ce qui suit :
- Réduire la production superflue, consommatrice de grandes quantités de ressources et d'énergie, qui génère des émissions destructrices, en particulier dans les pays du Nord (par exemple l’industrie automobile et l’industrie militaire).
- Réorienter les investissements vers le secteur des services de soins, des infrastructures sociales et de la restauration de l'environnement.
Perspective féministe
Les perspectives féministes sur la théorie et la pratique de la décroissance soutiennent qu'il est également nécessaire de redéfinir et de reconnaître la valeur du travail rémunéré et non rémunéré, sur le marché comme dans le secteur des soins aux personnes. Ceci contribuerait à surmonter les stéréotypes de genre traditionnels, les écarts de salaires en vigueur et les inégalités de revenus qui dévalorisent le travail réalisé dans le domaine des soins.

Pour en savoir plus sur cette proposition :
- Dans The Future WE Want: Occupy development (L'avenir que nous voulons : Occuper le développement), Christa Wichterich fait valoir que pour briser la logique hégémonique de la croissance débridée et le retour rapide sur investissement, un autre modèle de développement doit émerger qui combinerait les trois piliers suivants : les soins, les biens communs ainsi qu’une production et une consommation adéquates. Article en anglais uniquement.
- Dans Equitable, Ecological Degrowth: Feminist Contributions (Décroissance équitable et écologique : Contributions féministes), Patricia Perkins suggère d’élaborer des indicateurs alternatifs concernant le bien-être, qui comprendraient notamment des données sur l’équité économique et sociale ainsi que des statistiques sur la répartition du temps de travail. Elle vise à démontrer l'importance du travail et des services non rémunérés pour l'économie et à proposer un mécanisme qui permettrait d’attribuer une valeur à cette contribution.
Alberta "Betty" Cariño
¿Puedo compartir la encuesta con otrxs?
¡Sí, por favor! Te alentamos a compartir el enlace a la encuesta con tus redes. Cuanto más diversas sean las opiniones que recolectemos, más completa será nuestra comprensión del panorama financiero para las organizaciones feministas.
Deborah Holmes
At the time of her death, following a short but aggressive battle with cancer, Deborah was the Chief Communication and Engagement Officer at the Women’s Funding Network (WFN).
Deborah also worked for the Global Fund for Women from 2008 to 2017. Deborah was extremely loved and respected by board, staff, and partners of Global Fund for Women.
Kavita Ramdas, former CEO of the Global Fund for Women aptly noted that Deborah was “a small package exploding with warmth, generosity, intelligence, style, and a passionate commitment to fusing beauty with justice. She understood the power of story. The power of women’s voice. The power of lived experience. The power of rising from the ashes and telling others it was possible. And, still we rise.”
Musimbi Kanyoro, the present CEO of the Global Fund for Women, added, “We have lost a sister and her life illuminates values that unite and inspire us all. As we all come together to mourn Deborah’s passing, let us remember and celebrate her remarkable, bold, and passionate life.”