Domitila Barrios de Chungara
Protection of the Family
The Issue
Over the past few years, a troubling new trend at the international human rights level is being observed, where discourses on ‘protecting the family’ are being employed to defend violations committed against family members, to bolster and justify impunity, and to restrict equal rights within and to family life.
The campaign to "Protect the Family" is driven by ultra-conservative efforts to impose "traditional" and patriarchal interpretations of the family, and to move rights out of the hands of family members and into the institution of ‘the family’.
“Protection of the Family” efforts stem from:
- rising traditionalism,
- rising cultural, social and religious conservatism and
- sentiment hostile to women’s human rights, sexual rights, child rights and the rights of persons with non-normative gender identities and sexual orientations.
Since 2014, a group of states have been operating as a bloc in human rights spaces under the name “Group of Friends of the Family”, and resolutions on “Protection of the Family” have been successfully passed every year since 2014.
This agenda has spread beyond the Human Rights Council. We have seen regressive language on “the family” being introduced at the Commission on the Status of Women, and attempts made to introduce it in negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Our Approach
AWID works with partners and allies to jointly resist “Protection of the Family” and other regressive agendas, and to uphold the universality of human rights.
In response to the increased influence of regressive actors in human rights spaces, AWID joined allies to form the Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs). OURs is a collaborative project that monitors, analyzes, and shares information on anti-rights initiatives like “Protection of the Family”.
Rights at Risk, the first OURs report, charts a map of the actors making up the global anti-rights lobby, identifies their key discourses and strategies, and the effect they are having on our human rights.
The report outlines “Protection of the Family” as an agenda that has fostered collaboration across a broad range of regressive actors at the UN. It describes it as: “a strategic framework that houses “multiple patriarchal and anti-rights positions, where the framework, in turn, aims to justify and institutionalize these positions.”
Related Content
Snippet FEA Mariama Sonko (FR)
Nous avons le plaisir de vous présenter Mariama Sonko, agricultrice rurale, éco-féministe et défenseuse des droits humains, vivant actuellement à Niaguis, une ville du sud-ouest du Sénégal.
Ayant grandi dans une famille et une communauté rurale d’agriculteur·rices, elle a été témoin du rôle essentiel des femmes dans la production alimentaire et la conservation des semences depuis son plus jeune âge, tout en étant immergée dans le travail de la terre.
Mariama défend les savoirs agricoles locaux et les pratiques paysannes depuis les années 90. En tant que mère de 5 enfants, la nourriture qu'elle cultive elle-même est la principale source de subsistance de sa famille.
Elle est actuellement présidente de Nous Sommes la Solution et s'engage à promouvoir les pratiques agroécologiques et l'agriculture familiale, à encourager la souveraineté alimentaire, la biodiversité et la préservation des semences paysannes, et à exiger un accès équitable aux ressources et à la terre à travers l'Afrique de l'Ouest.
Source: AWID’s Feminist Realities Festival Crear | Résister | Transform - Day 2/ 2ème jour/ 2º día
Mujeres indígenas por la defensa de los derechos
Estas defensoras lucharon por los derechos sobre la tierra, de las mujeres y de los pueblos indígenas; haciendo frente a las industrias extractivas, escribiendo poesía y promoviendo el amor. Una de ellas desapareció hace ya 19 años. Únete a nosotras para recordar y honrar a estas defensoras de derechos humanos, su trabajo y su legado, compartiendo los memes aquí incluidos; y tuiteando las etiquetas #WHRDTribute y #16Días.
Por favor, haz click en cada imagen de abajo para ver una versión más grande y para descargar como un archivo.
How much time does the survey take to complete?
The estimated time to complete the survey is 30 minutes.
Selena “Rocky” Malone
Rocky showed inspirational leadership and direction in working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Brotherboy and Sistergirl (LGBTIQBBSG) youth at risk.
Rocky started her career with the Queensland Police Service as a Police Liaison Officer. Making a difference was important to her. She led an impressive career working with young LGBTIQBBSG people as the Manager of Open Doors Youth Service.
Rocky worked through complex situations with clients relating specifically to gender and sexual identity. She was a natural in this line of work - a strong community leader, a quiet achiever, a loyal friend, a compassionate nurturer, and a change maker. Rocky was a founding member of IndigiLez Leadership and Support Group.
In 2016 at the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Former High Court Justice Michael Kirby mentioned Rocky by name when praising the work of the LGBTI Legal Service over the years. Rocky fought extremely hard for the human rights of the LGBTIQBBSG community, pushed boundaries and created change in a respectful, loving way.
Snippet FEA Bio fertilizer and Sum-Pack (EN)
Trans* rights require stronger protection
These transgender women were murdered because of their activism and their gender identity. There are insufficient laws recognizing trans* rights, and even where these laws exist, very little is being done to safeguard the rights of trans* people. Please join AWID in honoring these defenders, 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
Esther Chávez Cano
No me siento cómodx al compartir el nombre de mi agrupación o nuestra información de contacto con AWID, ¿aun así debería responder la encuesta?
Absolutamente; esas preguntas son opcionales y valoramos tu derecho a la anonimidad. Te pedimos que respondas la encuesta independientemente de tu decisión de compartir el nombre de tu agrupación, organización o movimiento y la información de contacto con AWID.
Diakite Fatoumata Sire
Diakite estuvo activamente comprometida con la defensa de las mujeres en la vida política y pública de Mali.
Trabajó para apoyar la capacitación de candidatas electorales y habló en contra de la práctica de la mutilación genital femenina (MGF). Fue una firme defensora de la salud y los derechos reproductivos.
Snippet FEA FEMINIST COOPERATIVISM (ES)
Cooperativismo
Feminista
Cuando el trabajo y
la solidaridad van juntos
1. Gather your resources
This section highlights key resources recommended by AWID so you can conduct your own WITM research.
In this section
People needed
- 1 or more person(s) to lead overall implementation of research methodology and ensure all key pieces are on track (Sections 2-11)
- 1 or more person(s) to conceptualize the key research objectives and guiding questions
- 1 or more person(s) to refine and conduct the research methodology, including collecting data
- 1 or more person(s) to conduct relevant qualitative and quantitative analysis of collected data
- 1 or more person(s) to document and package research findings for desired audience(s)
- 1 or more person(s) to serve as an editor to your final products
- 1 or more person(s) to conduct outreach to spread the word about your survey and advocacy using your research results
Potential expenses
- Staff and/or consultant salaries
- Data analysis software if conducting analysis of large dataset in-house. Options:
- SPSS
- Stata
- R (this is free) - Cost of producing publications and research products
- If desired, incentive prize that survey participants can win if they complete the survey
- If desired, incentives to offer your advisors
Estimated time
- For research process: 6 to 18 months, depending on size of dataset(s) and staff capacity
- For advocacy: 1-2 years, as determined by your organizational goals
Resources needed
- List of advisor organizations, donors and activists
- List of online spaces and events/networks to distribute your survey and present your survey results
- List of donors, activists, and women’s rights organizations to interview
- Prepared interview questions
- List of publication sources to use for desk research
Resources available
- Sample 1 of Research Framing
- Sample 2 of Research Framing
- Example: 2011 WITM Global Survey
- Sample WITM Global Survey
- Sample letter to grantmakers requesting access to databases
- AWID Sample Interview Questions: Donors
- AWID Sample Interview Questions: Activists & Women’s Rights Organizations
- Sample Advocacy Plan
Online tools
- Survey Monkey: Free
- Survey Gizmo: Converts to SPSS for analysis very easily
- Tutorial: Gentle Introduction to Cleaning Data
- Visualization Tools
- “Ready to Go?” Worksheet
Once you gather these resources, you can estimate the costs for your research using our “Ready to Go? Worksheet”
Previous step
Next step
Previous step
Next step
The Ready to Go? Worksheet helps you estimate resources, staff and budget needed for your research
Josefina Reyes Salazar
Quand les résultats seront-ils disponibles?
L’analyse des réponses nous permettra de tirer des conclusions et de définir des tendances. Les résultats seront présentés à l’occasion du 15e Forum international de l’AWID à Bangkok, et en ligne, en décembre 2024. Inscrivez-vous ici pour participer au Forum!
Andaiye
Andaiye' en swahili significa 'una hija vuelve a casa'. Nació como Sandra Williams el 11 de septiembre de 1942 en Georgetown, Guyana, y cambió su nombre por el de 'Andaiye' en 1970, cuando los movimientos del Black Power [Poder Negro] arrasaron en su país y en la región del Caribe.
Andaiye fue considerada una figura transformadora al frente de las luchas por la liberación y la libertad. Fue una de lxs primerxs integrantes y líder activa de la Working People’s Alliance [Alianza de la Gente Trabajadora] (WPA, por sus siglas en inglés), un partido socialista de la Guyana que luchó contra el régimen autoritario existente y continuó, a lo largo de su vida, centrando su activismo en la justicia para la clase trabajadora y los derechos de las mujeres rurales, y en la superación de las barreras étnicas entre las mujeres Indo y Afro-Guyanesas.
Andaiye fue cofundadora de la Red Thread Women [Hilo Rojo Mujeres], una organización que aboga para que el trabajo de cuidados de las mujeres fuese remunerado justamente, también trabajó en la Universidad de West Indies y con el CARICOM. Andaiye señaló, sin ningún temor a desafiar a los gobiernos, los desequilibrios de género en las juntas estatales, la discriminación de lxs trabajadorxs sexuales en las leyes existentes, reclamó el derecho al aborto en Jamaica, y se pronunció abiertamente contra los acuerdos comerciales como el Caribbean Single Market and Economy [Mercado y Economía Únicos del Caribe] (CSME, por sus siglas en inglés) que permitía la libre circulación de las trabajadoras domésticas migrantes, pero no otorgaba esos mismos derechos a sus hijxs.
Andaiye publicó varios ensayos académicos, escribió columnas de prensa y también editó los últimos libros de Walter Rodney, un activista político guyanés y líder de la AMP, que fue asesinado en 1980. Andaiye sobrevivió a un cáncer y fue una de lxs fundadorxs de la Guyana Cancer Society [Sociedad de Guyana Contra el Cáncer] y del Cancer Survivors’ Action Group [Grupo de Acción de Sobrevivientes del Cáncer]. También fue integrante de la Junta Directiva de la Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action [Asociación Caribeña para la Investigación y la Acción Feminista] (CAFRA, por sus siglas en inglés), y Directora del Help and Shelter [Ayuda y Refugio] e integrante de la Junta Directiva de la Guyana National Commission on Women [Comisión Nacional de Guyana sobre las Mujeres]. Andaiye recibió varios premios a lo largo de su vida, entre ellos, la Flecha de Oro de los Logros de Guyana (el cuarto premio nacional más importante del país).
Andaiye falleció el 31 de mayo de 2019 a la edad de 77 años. Los homenajes que posteriormente le rindieron activistas, amigxs y personas inspiradas por su vida dan cuenta, elocuentemente, de su asombroso legado y su hermosa humanidad.
Algunos ejemplos:
"Andaiye tuvo un profundo efecto en mí... fue tantas cosas: una educadora, una luchadora; me enseñó a ser autocrítica, a pensar con más claridad, me enseñó sobre la supervivencia, sobre lo increíble que puede ser el coraje, sobre la compasión, a ir más allá de las apariencias externas y a tratar a la gente como personas y no dejarse distraer por su estatus, clase, raza... o cualquier otra cosa". Peggy Antrobus, activista feminista, autora, académica, Barbados.
"El tipo de idealismo convencido que Andaiye expresó, su voluntad de confrontar el mundo y su creencia obstinada en que realmente lo puedes cambiar... Esa política de la esperanza... ¿De qué otra forma podemos rendir homenaje a su vida, legado y memoria si no es haciendo nuestro trabajo de forma ética y con una autocrítica continua? Y situando el trabajo de cuidados de las mujeres en el centro de todo esto." - Tonya Haynes, Barbados.
"Puedo escuchar sus ocurrencias en nuestro entusiasmo colectivo. Así, a través de las lágrimas, puedo reír. Mis más profundas reverencias a ti, querida Andaiye, gracias por todo. Te deseo amor y luz para el viaje de tu espíritu. Saluda a Walter y a todxs lxs ancestrxs". - Carol Narcisse, Jamaica.
Snippet FEA In numbers (FR)
EN CHIFFRES
5. Conduct interviews
Interviews produce in-depth information that you cannot easily obtain from surveys. While surveys focuses mainly on quantifiable data and closed questions, interviews allow for expert opinions from activists and donors, and open-ended questions which can provide context to survey data results.
In this section
- General tips
1. Before conducting your interviews
2. During the interviews- Specialized interviews
1. Donor interviews
2. Women’s rights organizations and activists interviews- Preliminary findings
General tips
1. Before conducting your interviews
Send the interviewees a concept note with your objectives for the interview and for your overall research, as well as a list of questions.
This allows them to prepare answers for more complicated questions and look up information that they may not have immediately on hand.
2. During the interviews
- You can conduct interviews while your survey is running, in order to save time.
- Try to keep your interviews as consistent as possible in order to facilitate systematic analysis of results. This means asking the same questions. Coding identical responses to each question will allow you to uncover hidden trends.
- The interviews can also be used to flesh out some of the survey findings
Do not base your questions on assumptions about your interviewees’ knowledge.
Instead, first clarify what they know – this will reveal information as well.
- DON’T: “Given the current funding trends in Switzerland, do you know of any opportunities for collaboration? This question assumes that the interviewee knows current funding trends and that their understanding of funding trends matches yours.
- DO: First ask “What is your understanding of current funding trends in Switzerland?”, followed by “Do you know of any opportunities for collaboration?” This will reveal what their understanding is, giving you even more information than the first question.
Specialized interviews
1. Donor interviews
Interviews with donors will allow you to build deeper relationships with them, which will be useful when you conduct post-research advocacy. They will also provide you with deeper insight into funders’ decision-making processes.
Suggested topics of focus for donor interviews:
- What are their funding priorities? Why and how did they select those priorities? For example, why do they choose project-funding over core support or vice versa?
- What are annual amounts allocated to the advancement of women’s human rights? This will strengthen overall reliability of data collected.
- Have they noticed any funding trends, and what do they believe are the origins and politics behind these trends?
- What is their theory of social change and how does that impact their relationships with women’s rights organizations?
View samples of donor interviews
2. Women’s rights organizations and activists interviews
Interviews with women’s rights organizations and activists will provide you with insight into their on-the-ground realities. Again, these interviews will allow you to build deeper relationships that can be incorporated into your advocacy, particularly to encourage collaboration between donors and activists.
Suggested topics of focus for women’s rights organizations and activist interviews:
- Long-term funding priority trends noted by women’s organizations and their impact.
- Successful examples of feminist and collaborative resource mobilization strategies that build strong and complementary movements.
- “Making the case” for why it is important to support women’s organizations and organizing.
- How different actors understand the social change process and their role in advancing/achieving gender equality and women’s rights.
View samples of women’s organizations and activists interviews
Preliminary findings
Through the course of your WITM research, we recommend analyzing your preliminary findings. Presenting your preliminary findings opens up opportunities to conduct more interviews and get feedback on your research process and initial results. This feedback can be incorporated into your final research.
AWID conducts “WITM convenings” to share preliminary results of survey data and interviews. These gatherings allow participants (activists, women’s rights organizations, and donors) to debate and discuss the results, clarifying the context, creating more ownership amongst members of the movement, and providing more input for final research.
For example, the Resource Mobilization Hub for Indigenous Women’s Rights at the World Summit on Indigenous Philanthropy was used as a space to debut preliminary results.
Previous step
4. Collect and analyze your data
Next step
Estimated time:
• 1.5 - 3 months
People needed:
• 1 or more research person(s)
Resources needed:
• List of donors and women’s rights organizations and activists to interview
• Prepared interview questions
• Concept Note (You can use the research framing you created in the “Frame your research” section)
Resources available:
• AWID Sample Interview Questions: Donors
• AWID Sample Interview Questions: Activists & Women’s Rights Organizations
Previous step
4. Collect and analyze your data