Nellys Palomo
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
Media Centre
AWID in the media
News compilation regarding AWID's work and organization.
- Is #MeToo a West-only movement?. Aljazeera, Jan 2018
- The principles of self-care. Sur Conectas, Dec 2017
- Change Through Humour! Meet Nidhi Goyal, India’s First-Ever Disabled Woman Comedian. The better India, Sep 2017
- Women are still targeted over fighting for human rights. Egypt today, Dec 2017
- Egypt: Hunting out Feminists in Egypt – Azza Soliman and Mozn Hassan Embody the State’s Refusal of Feminist Activism in both Private and Public Spheres. World Organization Against Torture, Jan 2017
- Access to land for indigenous women: an essential condition for eradicating gender violence. Intercontinental cry, Dec 2016
- Get Bangladesh women in unions to improve worker rights: campaigner. Reuters, Sep 2016
- Funding for women’s rights groups in poor countries falls by more than half. The Guardian, Sep 2016
- Men are 'allies to the cause' of equality for women, says campaigner. Reuters, Sep 2016
- Violent Extremist Groups Take Special Aim at Women, UN Official Says. Voa news, Sep 2016
- At a global forum of feminists, one thing is clear: it's where you live that counts. The Guardian, Sep 2016
- To End Malnutrition, Empower Women, Say Experts. News deeply, Jun 2016
- Gloria Steinem supports Salvadoran women in their fight against femicide. PR Newswire, Jun 2016
- Every hour, five women are killed by partners or family members. Left foot forward, Mar 2016
- Combatting Violence Against Women in Algeria: Mobilizing and Challenges. Reuters, Dec 2015
- When women human-rights activists are in danger, it’s women who come to their rescue. Vanity Fair, Jul 2015
- Another World Is Possible, Without the 1 Percent. Huffington Post, Mar 2015
- Use the power of the people to challenge the people in power!. New internationalist, Mar 2015
- Brazil: Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHRs) Challenged by Religious-Based Political Parties. Reuters, Oct 2013
- Why Economic Justice Is Central to LGBT Rights. Huffington Post, Jul 2012
Press releases
Press kits and statements
Social Media Kits
- A tribute to WHRDs who are no longer with us
- “Movements Matter” digital visual art series
- Brazil 2016 Forum Social Media Kit
Videos
Conferences, talks, seminars video recordings
| Impunity for violence against women defenders of territory, common goods, and nature in Latin America March 16, 2018 |
Rural women's resistance to closing civic space March 15, 2018 |
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| Empowering rural women in mining affected environments March 13, 2018 |
Feminist Perspectives on Accountability March 13, 2018 |
Gender Perspectives on Corporate Accountability March 12, 2018 |
Snippet - WITM Survey will remain open - PT
A pesquisa está disponível até 31 de julho de 2024
Snippet FEA Georgia this is only the beginning (EN)
Georgia
Solidarity Network
THIS IS ONLY THE
BEGINNING
So'oalo Roger
So'oalo était une fervente défenseure des droits humains, notamment en ce qui concerne les droits de la communauté LGBTQI dans le Pacifique.
Elle était membre de la Samoa Fa’afafine Association (SFA) et militait avec passion pour la reconnaissance d’un troisième genre dans le pays insulaire. Sous sa direction, la SFA a fait pression pour la reconnaissance du bien-fondé des droits de la communauté des fa’afafine et leur respect.
Elle a également été une pionnière dans l’articulation des liens entre les droits humains, l’exploitation des fa’afafines à Samoa et dans le Pacifique et la santé, le bien-être et la sécurité de la communauté LGBTQI.
Inspirante et visionnaire, on se souviendra de son dévouement admirable au service des droits de sa communauté.
Albertina Sisulu
Merci d'avoir téléchargé la Boîte à outils des réalités féministes
En savoir plus sur les réalités féministes
Des questions ou commentaires ?
N'hésitez pas à nous contacter.
Snippet - WITM Acknowledgements - AR
شكر
ان جمعية حقوق المرأة في التنمية ممتنة للعديد من الأشخاص الذين/ اللواتي ساعدت أفكارهم/ن، تحليلاتهم/ن ومساهماتهم/ن على تصميم استطلاع "أين المال" على مدار السنوات.
نشكر جزيل الشكر أعضاء/ عضوات AWID والنشطاء/ الناشطات الذين/ اللواتي شاركوا/ن في استشارات استطلاع "أين المال؟" وقاموا/ن بتجربة الاستطلاع وأعطونا بسخاء من وقتهم/ن وتحليلاتهم/ن وقلوبهم/ن.
نقدر بشكل عميق الحركات النسوية، الحلفاء/ الحليفات والصناديق النسوية بمانقدر بشكل عميق الحركات النسوية، الحلفاء/ الحليفات والصناديق النسوية وهنا بعض منها وليس جميعها: Black Feminist Fund, Pacific Feminist Fund, ASTREA, FRIDA Young Feminist Fund, Purposeful, Kosovo Women's Network, Human Rights Funders Network, CEECCNA Feminist Fund e PROSPERA, على بحثكم/ن الرائع عن وضع التمويل، تحليلكم/ن الدقيق والمناصرة المستمرة لتمويل وقوة أكبر وأفضل للحركات النسوية وتنظيمات العدالة الجندرية في جميع السياقات.
انضموا/من للمجتمع العالمي من النسويات/ين اللواتي/ اللذين يرفعن/وا صوتهم/ن ويتحدثن/وا عن التمويل، ويطالبن/وا بتمويل وبقوة أكبر وأفضل للنسويات/ين في كل مكان
Body
Snippet FEA Workers demonstrations in Georgia 1 (ES)
Mariam Uy Acob
Mariam was a paralegal at the Kawagib Moro Human Rights Alliance.
Mariam was a staunch critic of militarization in Moro communities, and consistently denounced aerial bombardment and encampment. She had to seek sanctuary after exposing and calling out the injustices committed against Muslim communities in the Philippines.
She is believed to have been killed by suspected military agents because of her work as a WHRD. The assailants who killed Mariam waited for her, caught up with the vehicle she was using and shot her seven times.
Adelinda Gomez
Disclaimer: Communications with AWID staff
If you have received emails from any staff members at AWID, we would like you to understand the following:
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The information contained in this communication is confidential and is intended solely for the addressee.
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This communication may contain information proprietary to the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), and may not be reproduced or disseminated in whole or in part without AWID's written consent.
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AWID does not warrant that any information contained herein is complete or correct. This communication is not an offer to enter into any agreement and is not a confirmation of any agreement described herein unless the context clearly indicates the contrary.
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AWID is not acting as your adviser in any agreement that may be proposed herein, and this communication does not constitute a recommendation, guidance or proposal to enter into any agreement.
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AWID does not guarantee or otherwise assure the expected results of any agreement. This communication may contain views or opinions that are not necessarily those of AWID.
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You shall not be entitled to place any reliance on the information contained in this communication for the purposes of entering into any proposed agreement or otherwise.
Я являюсь индивидуальной(-ым) активисткой(-том), не сотрудничающей(-им) в данный момент ни с какой группой, организацией и/или движением – могу ли я принять участие в опросе?
Нет, мы очень ценим вашу работу, но в данный момент мы не собираем информацию об отдельных активистках(-тах).
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Snippet FEA collaborator and allies Photo 5 (FR)
Florence Adong-Ewoo
Florence fue una activista por los derechos de las personas con discapacidad que trabajó con varias organizaciones de mujeres con discapacidad en Uganda.
También ocupó la Dirección del Distrito de Lira de la Asociación de Mujeres con Discapacidad, así como del foro de Consejeras Mujeres del Distrito de Lira. Formada como consejera para personas con discapacidad y para madres y padres de niñxs con discapacidad, apoyó muchos proyectos que reclamaban mayor representación de las personas con discapacidad.
Murió en un accidente de motocicleta.
Farida Afridi
Calling all artists & creative activists to come together in a new Slack community!
Our thoughts are with the many people all around the world who are most affected by the repercussions of the global COVID-19 pandemic, especially marginalised communities that are historically oppressed.
This is an invitation for artists and creative activists to join a virtual space to connect, build community, and support each other through these challenging times. For this we have created a new Slack community to safely share insights, learnings, life-hacks, resources, advice, fears and anxieties, hopeful and joyful reminders, and in general chat about how we’re doing.
Join us on Slack
After filling out the form, we will send you a personal invitation to the community.
About this community:
For those who are new to Slack, we’ll have orientation sessions and materials available after you sign up.
Since we are working in three languages (English, Spanish, French) we invite you to write in the language you are the most comfortable with and use online translation tools (Google Translate or others) to participate in discussions.
Co-creating welcoming and safe spaces:
Please refer to the Community Guidelines
The co-creation of our feminist realities starts with ourselves and how we treat each other. We are dedicated to creating and protecting safe and supportive spaces for our communities both online and in person. We also consider that safe and welcoming spaces are co-owned and co-created. We expect our members to act in a manner that is ethical, responsible and consistent with the values of AWID and assume collective responsibility to ensure an atmosphere of mutual respect and solidarity.
Weekly Prompts:
As part of our ongoing discussions, we will offer weekly prompts in Slack with the intention to gently facilitate dialogue and inspire art-making processes. This can be an introspective process, but to make the most out of this community, we welcome you to interact with other community members and share thoughts as part of our discussions. The intention is to invite folks to respond freely and gradually by writing or making art in whatever way feels best.
We hope to have relevant and timely discussions with you, so we invite your suggestions and feedback. In general, the themes will center the experiences and perspectives of artists, writers, and creators -- and they will make space for folks to vision into and beyond the current global climate through the lens of feminist realities.