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.
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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.
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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;
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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:
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Mobilizing urgent responses of international solidarity for WHRDs at risk through our international and regional networks, and our active membership.
Related Content
Saskia Poldervaart
Tribute test
This year we are honoring 18 Women Human Rights Defenders from the Latin America and the Caribbean region. Alone 15 of those were murdered, among which 6 are journalists and 4 LGBTQI and/or sex workers’ rights defenders. Please join us in commemorating the life and work of these women by sharing the memes below with your colleagues, friends and networks and by tweeting using the hashtag #AWIDTribute.




Why should I consider responding to the survey?
There are many reasons why your response to the WITM survey matters. The survey offers the opportunity to share your lived experience of mobilizing funding to support your organizing; claim your power as an expert on how money moves and who it reaches; and contribute to collective and consistent advocacy to funders moving more and better funding. Over the last two decades, AWID’s WITM research has proven to be a key resource for activists and funders. We wholeheartedly invite you to join us in its third iteration to highlight the actual state of resourcing, challenge false solutions, and point out how funding must change for movements to thrive and meet the complex challenges of our times.
I can’t attend the Forum in person, how else can I participate?
More than just an event, the AWID Forum is part of our Feminist Realities Journey, with many spaces to come together, online and offline, for sharing, discussing, strategizing and co-creating feminist realities.
Learn more about the Feminist Realities Journey and everything that will happen before the Forum. Join our mailing list to stay tuned for Post-Forum announcements!
We are exploring options to participate virtually at the Forum and we will share information when we know what we can offer.
Snippet FEA Bio fertilizer and Sum-Pack (FR)

Luz Yeni Montaño
Zarema Sadulayeva
Defensoras de la región del Pacífico
Las 3 defensoras de derechos humanos del Pacífico que honramos en el Tributo Virtual de este año trabajaron en los medios, defendieron los derechos de las personas con discapacidad y promovieron los derechos de las mujeres. Extrañamos sus contribuciones y las honramos mediante este Tributo. Únete a AWID para honrar a estas defensoras de derechos humanos, su trabajo y su legado, compartiendo los memes aquí incluidos con tus colegas, amistades y redes; 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.


En nuestro caso, reorientamos dinero a nuestros socios beneficiarios y nos identificamos como fondo de mujeres/feminista, ¿deberíamos responder la encuesta?
No. Valoramos muchísimo su trabajo, pero no estamos buscando respuestas de fondos de mujeres/feministas por el momento. Alentamos a compartir la encuesta con sus socios beneficiarios y con sus redes feministas.
Will the AWID Forum still be in Taipei in light of the COVID-19?
AWID is closely monitoring the global COVID 19 situation and for now anticipates continuing with the Forum as planned.
If at any moment the situation demands something different, we will let you know right away.
The 14th AWID International Forum is scheduled to take place 20-23 September 2021 in Taipei,.
Snippet FEA Avellaneda, Gran Buenos Aires (EN)
Avellaneda, Gran Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cooperativa Textil Nadia Echazú
WEAVING
LIVES
María Verónica Reina
María was recognized globally for her extraordinary leadership in the disability community.
She represented the International Disability and Development Consortium during the negotiation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2001-2006).
Her work was devoted to the implementation of the goal of the Convention - realization of universal human rights by, for and with persons with disabilities for an inclusive, accessible and sustainable world.
In her words, her leadership was about “...serving the disability community, starting with small tasks that others may not wish to do”.
She passed away on October 27, 2017 in her hometown of Rosario, Argentina.
Read more about María Verónica Reina in her own words
Ana Fabricia Cordóba Cabrera
Kit de réseaux sociaux sur le Forum de l’AWID

Aidez-nous à faire parler du Forum de l’AWID 2016 !
Ce kit inclut des messages types adaptés pour Twitter, Facebook LinkedIn et Instagram ainsi que des images qui peuvent être utilisées pour accompagner ces messages.
L’utilisation de ce kit est simple, il vous suffit de suivre les étapes suivantes :
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Choisissez ci-dessous vos messages favoris :
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn - Faites correspondre vos messages et images préférés comme bon vous semble.
- Partagez-les sur vos comptes réseaux sociaux personnels et/ou professionnels.
Faites correspondre vos messages préférés avec les images types adaptés pour Twitter
Tweets pour votre compte personnel
Rejoignez-moi au #AWIDForum, LE lieu pr se connecter ac D mouvements 2 droits D femmes & 2 justice sociale http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Hâte 2 repenser les #HorizonsFéministes ac D activistes D droits D femmes & 2 la justice sociale au #AWIDForum ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Je suis tellement ravie 2 participer au #AWIDForum en mai prochain. Nous pouvons désorms ns inscrire. Rejoignez-moi ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Tweets pour votre compte institutionnel
Inscriptions désormais ouvertes pour le #AWIDForum! Costa do Sauípe, Brésil, 8-11 sept. 2016 http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Participez au #AWIDForum, 1 rassemblement historique mondial d'activistes 2 la justice sociale & D droits D femmes http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Participez au #AWIDForum pour célébrer les acquis de nos mouvements & analyser les leçons tirées pour aller de l’avant : http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
#AWIDForum : bien plus qu’un simple événement, la possibilité de rompre l’oppression & faire avancer la justice http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Participez au #AWIDForum pour célébrer, repenser et renouveler nos mouvements & nos réflexions. http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Horizons féministes
Créons ensemble des #HorizonsFéministes. Inscrivez-vous au #AWIDForum 2016. Costa do Sauípe, Brésil http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Rejoignez-nous pour ré-imaginer & co-créer des #HorizonsFéministes au #AWIDForum 2016. Inscrivez-vous: http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
#HorizonsFéministes: saisir l'opportunité au #AWIDForum de faire avancer nos visions pour un monde juste http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Nous serons 2000 activistes D mouvements sociaux au #AWIDForum, élaborant des stratégies sur nos #HorizonsFéministes http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Construction de mouvements transversaux
Nous sommes bien plus qu’une lutte à enjeu unique. Rejoignez-nous au #AWIDForum: http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Participez au #AWIDForum, un espace de stratégies entre mouvements et d’influence pour notre pouvoir collectif: http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Mobiliser la solidarité & le pouvoir collectif à travers les mouvements sociaux au #AWIDForum: http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Briser les cloisons entre nos mouvements. Ré-imaginer & co-créer nos futurs. Tou-te-s au #AWIDForum http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
« Etre solidaire » est un verbe. Mettons-le en action au #AWIDForum: http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Messages spéciaux
Les bailleurs qui s’engagent avec les mouvements sociaux & de droits des femmes au #AWIDForum: http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Médias et mouvements: amplifier les #HorizonsFéministes au #AWIDForum: http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Faites correspondre vos messages préférés avec les images types adaptés pour Facebook
Vous pouvez aussi envoyer ces messages via les messages privés de Twitter qui n’ont pas de limite de caractères.
Messages pour votre profil personnel
N’attendez plus! Nous pouvons tou-te-s nous inscrire au Forum de l’AWID 2016. L’idée de retrouver des camarades activistes et ré-imaginer ensemble nos horizons féministes me réjouit tellement… Rendez-vous au Brésil ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Je suis tellement ravie à l’idée de participer au Forum de l’AWID en mai prochain… Et nous pouvons désormais nous inscrire ! Rejoignez-moi ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Je me réjouis à l’idée de ré-imaginer des horizons féministes avec 2000 personnes venant d’incroyables mouvements de droits des femmes et de justice sociale au Forum de l’AWID. Inscrivez-vous et retrouvez-moi au Brésil ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Messages pour la page de votre organisation
Les inscriptions sont désormais ouvertes pour le Forum de l’AWID 2016 qui aura lieu à Costa do Sauípe au Brésil. Bien plus qu’un simple événement, il s’agit d’un espace clé pour les activistes des droits des femmes et de la justice sociale afin de se rassembler et de ré-imaginer nos horizons féministes. À ne pas manquer ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Rejoignez-nous au Forum de l’AWID 2016 au Brésil! Des activistes et des mouvements du monde entier se rassembleront pour célébrer, élaborer des stratégies, inspirer et renouveler nos luttes collectives ainsi que nos réflexions. Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
Le Forum de l’AWID 2016 constituera un rassemblement mondial historique d’activistes et de mouvements de droits des femmes et de la justice sociale. Rejoignez-nous pour faire tomber les cloisons, renforcer la solidarité et tirer profit de notre pouvoir collectif. Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr
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Puis-je accéder à l’enquête et répondre aux questions depuis mon téléphone?
Oui, l’enquête est accessible depuis les téléphones intelligents.
Why did AWID decide to change the Forum location from Bali to Taipei?
Events in Indonesia, in late 2019 - in particular, signs of intensifying militarization and backlash against LGBTQ rights - led us to question AWID’s ability to maintain a reasonably safe and welcoming environment for the diversity of participants we aspire to bring together at the Forum.
After careful consideration the AWID Board of Directors decided to change the venue for the 14th International AWID Forum, in November 2019 from Bali to Taipei.
Taipei offers a strong degree of logistical capacities, and is accessible for many travellers (with a facilitated e-visa process for international conferences).
For more details:
Snippet FEA trans and travesti people in Argentina (ES)

Solo el 18% de las personas trans y travestis en Argentina acceden a un trabajo formal
Asma Jahangir
Asma fue una destacada activista pakistaní por los derechos humanos, valiente crítica de la interferencia de los militares en la política, y firme defensora del estado de derecho.
Fue la fundadora y presidenta de la Human Rights Commission of Pakistan [Comisión de Derechos Humanos de Pakistán, un grupo independiente], y una de las administradoras del International Crisis Group. Obtuvo premios internacionales, y fue Relatora Especial de Naciones Unidas sobre derechos humanos y ejecuciones extrajudiciales.
Es recordada con afecto por sus colegas y amigxs de AWID
«Con su vida, Asma reescribió la historia que a muchas nos contaron, como mujeres. Asma cambió el mundo. Lo cambió en Pakistán, y lo cambió en nuestras imaginaciones.»