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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

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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

Type

When will survey results be available?

We will analyze the survey responses, derive insights and trends, and present the results during the 15th AWID International Forum in Bangkok, and online, in December 2024. Register to attend the Forum here!

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

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Category
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Region
Africa
Sub Sahara Africa
Date of death / disappearance
Cause of death / disappearance

Disease

Winnie has been described as a “militant firebrand activist” who fought the apartheid regime in South Africa.

She was imprisoned multiple times, and on many occasions placed in solitary confinement.

Ma’Winnie, as she is affectionately remembered, was known for being outspoken about the challenges Black women faced during and after apartheid, having been on the receiving end of these brutalities herself as a mother, wife and activist during the struggle. She transcended the misconception that leadership is gender, class or race-based. Despite being a controversial figure, she is remembered by many by her Xhosa name, “ Nomzamo”, which means "She who endures trials".  

Ma’Winnie continues to be an inspiration to many, particularly young South African women for whom her death has spurred a burgeoning movement, with the mantra: "She didn't die, she multiplied."

 

 

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, South Africa

Las organizaciones, ¿pueden afiliarse a AWID?

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Si, alentamos la afiliación institucional

Actualmente contamos en nuestra membresía con cientos de organizaciones destacadas e innovadoras que trabajan en temas relacionados con los derechos de las mujeres y el desarrollo. Los criterios de afiliación son los mismos que para las personas a título individual, aunque las cuotas y los beneficios son diferentes, con el fin de atender a las necesidades de las instituciones afiliadas.

Conoce más sobre la membresía institucional de AWID

Qui peut financer ma mobilisation pour les droits des femmes ?

Notre liste de liste de donateurs est actuellement en cours de révision. Nous savons que les féministes ont encore besoin et méritent des ressources plus nombreuses et de meilleure qualité !

Rejoignez notre liste de diffusion pour rester informé de cette mise à jour.

Vous pouvez également devenir membre et trouver et créer des liens avec des féministes du monde entier.

Rejoindre L'AWID

Does AWID provide scholarships to attend the Forum?

Our Access Fund will offer a limited number of scholarships to fund the participation of activists who cannot otherwise make it, and don’t have relationships with funders who could cover their participation. So if you have other possibilities, please explore them. We will do our best to offer as many scholarships as we can, and will share more information about this process and how to apply in early 2024.

Résumé : Identifiez les principaux groupes et réfutez leurs arguments

Résumé :

Identifiez les principaux groupes et réfutez leurs arguments

Décideur·se politique à l’ONU, vous souhaitez apprendre à repérer les principaux groupes et discours antidroits au sein de l’institution ? Vous êtes un·e féministe, à la recherche de contre-arguments éclairs ? Ce résumé vous propose les informations essentielles en 8 pages seulement.

Obtenir le résumé

Snippet - WITM Who should - AR

من يجب أن يجيب على الاستطلاع؟

الاستطلاع هذا مخصّص للمجموعات، المنظمات والحركات التي تعمل بالأساس أو فقط على حقوق النساء، أفراد مجتمع الميم - عين، والحقوق الجندرية، في جميع السياقات، على جميع المستويات، وفي جميع المناطق. إن كان واحد من هذه المبادئ اساسًا لمجموعتكم/ن، تنظيمكم/ن أو شبكتكم/ن، أو أي نوع تنظيم آخر، إن كان مسجلاً أم لا، جديداً أو طويل العمر، ندعوكم/ن للإجابة على الاستطلاع.

exclamation mark

*في الوقت الحالي، لا نطلب من الأفراد أو الصناديق النسوية أو النسائية تعبئة الاستطلاع.

 

تعرف على المزيد حول الاستطلاع: راجع/ي الأسئلة الشائعة

راجع/ي الأسئلة الشائعة

Barin Kobane

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Category
Derechos civiles y políticos
Region
Asia Occidental

Barin integraba la unidad de batalla formada íntegramente por mujeres de la Unidad de Protección del Pueblo Kurdo (YPG).

La mataron cuando estaba en servicio activo.

La periodista libanesa Hifaa Zuaiter escribió: «Barin representa todo lo que hemos oído acerca del coraje de las combatientes kurdas, y su muerte es mucho más que el matar a un rival o el resultado de una lucha política o étnica. El horror de exhibir su cuerpo sólo porque es una mujer surge del hecho de que ella se atrevió a amenazar la hegemonía masculina al convertirse en una combatiente en un campo de batalla que se suponía era solo para hombres».

 

Barin Kobane, Kurdistan

Je voudrais travailler pour les droits des femmes. Par où commencer ?

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Clone of Annonce: Forum AWID 2024

Image avec les mots: annonce: forum awid 2024. L'arrière-plan a une photo pâle du public lors du forum précédent et a un dégradé qui va du violet à gauche au jaune à droite.

Il est temps pour le prochain forum de l’AWID en 2024.

Lorsque des milliers de féministes se réunissent, nous créons une grande force de solidarité qui a le pouvoir de changer le monde. Le Forum de l’AWID sera pour nous un moment de repos et de guérison ensemble, de connexion au-delà des frontières et de découverte de nouvelles orientations stratégiques courageuses.

La date et le lieu seront annoncés l'année prochaine, dès que possible. Nous sommes ravi.es et nous savons que vous le serez aussi. Restez à l'écoute!

Assurez-vous de nous suivre sur les médias sociaux et de vous inscrire à notre liste de diffusion pour rester informé!

¿Habrá encuentros regionales, temáticos o de otro tipo previos al Foro?

¡Creemos que sí! Todavía estamos en las etapas iniciales del proceso de planificación, así que mantente atentx mientras les vamos dando a estos planes.

Animation: Calling all Feminist Superheroes!

Animation:

Calling all Feminist Superheroes!

Follow our Superhero as she embarks on a quest to reclaim the narrative from anti-rights actors across the globe.

Watch animation

Snippet - WITM To Strengthen - RU

Укрепить наш коллективный голос и влияние на увеличение и улучшение финансирования феминистских организаций, организаций по защите прав женщин, ЛГБТКИ+ и смежных организаций по всему миру

Jacqueline Coulibaly Ki-Zerbo

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Category
Droits civils et politiques
Region
Afrique
Afrique subsaharienne
Date of death / disappearance
Cause of death / disappearance

Naturelle

Jacqueline était une éducatrice malienne pionnière de la cause féministe et nationaliste.

Elle a d’abord enseigné l'anglais au Sénégal avant d'être recrutée en 1961 par le Lycée Philippe Zinda Kaboré à Ouagadougou, au Burkina Faso. Etant donné son engagement militant, elle a pris part au soulèvement populaire du 3 janvier 1966. Entre 1961 et 1966, Jacqueline était par ailleurs responsable de la presse syndicale, La voix des enseignants. Elle a été nommée directrice du Cours normal des jeunes filles (aujourd’hui connu sous le nom de lycée Nelson Mandela) jusqu'en 1974 et s'est consacrée à l'éducation des filles et à la promotion des droits des femmes.

En 1984, elle a reçu le prix Paul G. Hoffmann pour sa contribution remarquable en matière de développement national et international.

 

Jacqueline Coulibaly Ki-Zerbo, Mali/ Burkina Faso

2002: Discussions on the Financing for Development agenda begin

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The Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development marked the beginning of discussions on the Financing for Development agenda.

  • The Monterrey Consensus was adopted at this first international conference on Financing for Development. It was the first United Nations hosted summit-level meeting to address key financial and related issues on global development.
  • The Conference and its preparatory process saw unprecedented cooperation between the United Nations and the World Bank (WB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) as part of efforts to promote greater coherence and consistency among the international monetary, trade and financial systems and institutions.
  • Monterrey also marked the first time that financing for development debates took place between governments, representatives of civil society and the business sector. These actors moved the discussion beyond a ‘technical’ focus, to look at how to mobilize and channel financial resources to fulfill the internationally agreed development goals of previous UN conferences and summits of the 1990s, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
  • The Women’s Caucus noted the historical significance of the conference stating that it had the potential to address structural challenges that continue to hamper development but also raised concern over the effects of increased militarisation and fundamentalism on women, despite the fact that the Monterrey Consensus assumed that the global economic and financial system worked for all.
  • Learn more about the six Monterrey themes and the conference follow up mechanisms: Gender Issues and Concerns in Financing for Development by Maria Floro, Nilufer Çagatay, John Willoughby and Korkut Ertürk (INSTRAW, 2004) 

No care economies without domestic workers!

A Manifesto 

As feminist and labour movements, together in solidarity, we articulate the following points as a collective vision for care economies with domestic workers rights at the centre. We call on feminist and social movements to join the call to rethink the economy with care at its centre recognising the rights, agency and leadership of domestic worker movements.

Our manifesto is a response to a complex context.

Domestic and care work is in the limelight after the COVID-19 global pandemic as it provided the means to carry the world through multiple intersecting crises at the global scale. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other multilateral institutions also acknowledge the importance of care and domestic work in sustaining the world’s economy. However, it is our analysis that this recognition most often takes an instrumentalist approach (i.e. care work sustains the ‘productive’ economy) focused on profiteering from care work without recognizing care as a human right and public good, or providing recognition and rights to the workers undertaking the bulk of this labour.

The manifesto is available in English, French, Spanish, Amharic and Thai.

Download the full manifesto

Je suis un bailleur de fonds ou un donateur individuel. Comment puis-je soutenir le Forum de l'AWID ?

Nous vous invitons à prendre contact avec nous pour trouver des moyens d’apporter un soutien significatif au Forum.

Snippet Kohl - Panel: Pleasure Across Borders

Panel Pleasure Across Borders

with Lindiwe Rasekoala, Lizzie Kiama, Jovana Drodevic, and Malaka Grant.

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