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Special Focus

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

Women Human Rights Defenders

WHRDs are self-identified women and lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LBTQI) people and others who defend rights and are subject to gender-specific risks and threats due to their human rights work and/or as a direct consequence of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

WHRDs are subject to systematic violence and discrimination due to their identities and unyielding struggles for rights, equality and justice.

The WHRD Program collaborates with international and regional partners as well as the AWID membership to raise awareness about these risks and threats, advocate for feminist and holistic measures of protection and safety, and actively promote a culture of self-care and collective well being in our movements.


Risks and threats targeting WHRDs  

WHRDs are exposed to the same types of risks that all other defenders who defend human rights, communities, and the environment face. However, they are also exposed to gender-based violence and gender-specific risks because they challenge existing gender norms within their communities and societies.

By defending rights, WHRDs are at risk of:

  • Physical assault and death
  • Intimidation and harassment, including in online spaces
  • Judicial harassment and criminalization
  • Burnout

A collaborative, holistic approach to safety

We work collaboratively with international and regional networks and our membership

  • to raise awareness about human rights abuses and violations against WHRDs and the systemic violence and discrimination they experience
  • to strengthen protection mechanisms and ensure more effective and timely responses to WHRDs at risk

We work to promote a holistic approach to protection which includes:

  • emphasizing the importance of self-care and collective well being, and recognizing that what care and wellbeing mean may differ across cultures
  • documenting the violations targeting WHRDs using a feminist intersectional perspective;
  • promoting the social recognition and celebration of the work and resilience of WHRDs ; and
  • building civic spaces that are conducive to dismantling structural inequalities without restrictions or obstacles

Our Actions

We aim to contribute to a safer world for WHRDs, their families and communities. We believe that action for rights and justice should not put WHRDs at risk; it should be appreciated and celebrated.

  • Promoting collaboration and coordination among human rights and women’s rights organizations at the international level to  strengthen  responses concerning safety and wellbeing of WHRDs.

  • Supporting regional networks of WHRDs and their organizations, such as the Mesoamerican Initiative for WHRDs and the WHRD Middle East and North Africa  Coalition, in promoting and strengthening collective action for protection - emphasizing the establishment of solidarity and protection networks, the promotion of self-care, and advocacy and mobilization for the safety of WHRDs;

  • Increasing the visibility and recognition of  WHRDs and their struggles, as well as the risks that they encounter by documenting the attacks that they face, and researching, producing, and disseminating information on their struggles, strategies, and challenges:

  • Mobilizing urgent responses of international solidarity for WHRDs at risk through our international and regional networks, and our active membership.

Related Content

Como é que os dados recolhidos através do questionário serão divulgados e processados?

Os dados serão processados para fins estatísticos para esclarecer o estado de financiamento dos movimentos feministas globalmente e serão divulgados apenas em forma agregada. A AWID não divulgará informações sobre uma organização específica ou informações que permitam identificar uma organização através da respetiva localização ou características sem o respetivo consentimento comprovado.

Snippet FEA Map of Spain Union Otras (ES)

Fondo mostaza con mapa de España en rosa y pin amarillo de la ubicación del Sindicato Otras;

Comment l’AWID a-t-elle débuté ?

L’AWID a fait ses débuts en 1982 et s’est transformée au fil du temps.

Pour mieux connaître notre histoire

Lire « From WID to GAD to Women's Rights: The First 20 Years of AWID » (disponible uniquement en anglais).

Solidarity: membership why page

Solidaridad

Nos solidarizamos unxs con otrxs, y con las distintas luchas por la justicia y las libertades. Procuramos movilizar y fortalecer la acción colectiva, y practicamos formas significativas de trabajar en conjunto.

حالة التمويل للحركات النسوية ووقائعها تتغير بسرعة. هل هذا الاستطلاع لمرة واحدة؟

كلا. يبني هذا الاستطلاع على المعلومات التي حشدتها جمعية حقوق المرأة في التنمية حول كيفية الحصول على تمويل أكبر وأفضل للحركات النسوية وحركات التغيير الاجتماعي وهذه الدورة الثالثة لاستطلاع "أين التمويل للتنظيمات النسوية". نهدف للقيام بالاستطلاع مرة كل ثلاثة أعوام.

Snippet FEA Union Otras Photo 1 (FR)

Photo verticale d'un groupe de femmes avec des affiches lors d'une manifestation avec trois personnes assises

Can AWID provide funding for my development project?

No, we regret that AWID is not a funding organization.

We and cannot review funding proposals or requests.

We encourage you to browse our list of donors that may potentially fund your women's rights organizing.

View our list of donors

More resources are available from the Priority Area “Resourcing Feminist Movements

Our values - Justice and systemic change

Justice et changement systémique

Nous œuvrons en faveur d’un monde fondé sur la justice sociale, environnementale et économique, ainsi que sur l'interdépendance, la solidarité et le respect. Nous travaillons au démantèlement des systèmes de pouvoir oppressif et contre toutes ses manifestations, y compris tout forme de patriarcat, de fondamentalisme, de militarisme et de fascisme, et le pouvoir des entreprises qui menacent nos vies et notre monde. Nous voulons un monde juste où le partage des ressources et celui du pouvoir permettront à chacun·e de s'épanouir.

Snippet - WITM Who should - PT

Quem deve realizar este inquérito?

O inquérito destina-se a grupos, organizações e movimentos que trabalham especificamente ou principalmente pelos direitos das mulheres, pessoas LBTQI+ e pela justiça de género, em todos os contextos, em todos os níveis e em todas as regiões. Se este for um dos pilares principais do seu grupo, da sua comunidade, da sua rede ou de qualquer outro tipo de organização, quer esteja registada ou não, seja nova ou já estabelecida, convidamo-lo a participar neste inquérito.

* De momento, não solicitamos respostas de indivídues ou de fundos feministas e de mulheres.

Perguntas Frequentes

Snippet FEA Sabrina Sanchez Bio (EN)

Meet Sabrina Sanchez, remarkable trans migrant woman, sex worker, organizer, transfeminist and one of the founders of the union OTRAS.

Originally from Mexico City, she migrated to Spain 17 years ago after getting a degree in communications and started working as a sex worker.

It didn’t take long before she became involved with trans activism and sex worker activism in Barcelona. After joining the collective Asociación de Profesionales del Sexo (Association of Sex Workers, Aprosex), she started working in its secretariat and founded the Spanish sex workers union OTRAS.

She currently lives in Amsterdam where she works as the coordinator of the European Sex Workers’ Alliance.

Fun fact: she’s also a car mechanic and serious runner!

Soy una joven feminista, ¿hay lugar para mí en AWID?

Las activistas feministas jóvenes son la parte medular del trabajo de AWID

De hecho, el 38% de nuestra membresía tienene menos de 30 años de edad.

Creemos que lxs activistas jóvenes son el presente y el futuro de la lucha por los derechos de las mujeres. Mediante nuestro programa «Activismo Joven Feminista» que atraviesa todos los aspectos de nuestro trabajo, promovemos a líderes jóvenes en el movimiento mundial por los derechos de las mujeres. A la vez, al definir a este programa como una de nuestras Áreas Prioritarias, contribuimos con nuevos análisis a los debates actuales para asegurarnos que las jóvenes activistas feministas sean capaces de articular sus prioridades y darle voz a los temas que les preocupan.

Conoce más sobre el Programa de Activismo Joven Feminista

Forum Theme (Forum page)

Forum Theme

The theme of the 14th AWID International Forum is: “Feminist Realities: our power in action”.

In this Forum, we will celebrate and amplify powerful propositions that are around us, in all stages of development. 

Read more

AWID Community Jobs board - ES

Bolsa de Empleos Comunitaria

¿Estás buscando trabajo? Una de las ventajas de unirse a la Comunidad AWID es tener acceso a nuestra bolsa de empleos co-creada por la comunidad. Podrás explorar nuevas oportunidades y también tendrás la oportunidad de compartir vacantes y convocatorias de propuestas con todos los miembros.

Snippet FEA Principles of Work Antiracism (ES)

Puño negro levantado

ANTI RACISMO

Je suis en train de rédiger un rapport de recherche. L’AWID peut-elle m’aider ?

L’AWID fournit une profusion de ressources pour vous aider dans votre recherche.

Nous vous invitons à explorer nos sections Domaines prioritaires et Informez-vous ou utlisez l'outil de recherche pour trouver des informations sur un suject spécifique.

Nous recommendons particulièrement la consultation de notre boîte à outils « Où est l’argent pour les droits des femmes ? » (« Where Is The Money for Women's Rights? », WITM). Cette boîte à outils est une méthodologie de recherche autogérée  pour soutenir les individus et les organisations qui souhaitent mener leur propre recherche sur les tendances de financement en adaptant la méthodologie de recherche de l’AWID à une région, une question ou une population spécifique.

Explorez la boîte à outils WITM

Publications - Homepage - es

Publicaciones

Enciende tu fuego feminista leyendo nuestras investigaciones y publicaciones varias sobre financiamiento, defensoras de derechos humanos, construcción de movimientos, fundamentalismos, justicia económica, seguimiento y evaluación feminista y más

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