Philippe Leroyer | Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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

Read in: English French Spanish

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

Snippet FEA Aura Roig (FR)

Venez rencontrer Aura Roig, militante féministe visionaire, anthropologue, directrice et fondatrice de la coopérative Metzineres.

Elle a consacré les deux dernières décennies à la recherche, à la conception et à la mise en place de politiques de soutien aux personnes qui se droguent, basées sur la réduction des méfaits, les droits humains et le féminisme intersectionnel.

Après avoir expérimenté et appris des communautés qui consomment des drogues dans le monde entier, elle est retournée à Barcelone pour créer la Xarxa de Dones que Usen Drogues (le Réseau des Femmes qui Consomment des Drogues, XADUD). XADUD était un espace d'entraide et de solidarité avec la lutte pour les droits des groupes marginalisés, qui plus tard deviendra la coopérative Metzineres.

Aujourd'hui, Aura travaille à étendre le modèle Metzineres pour prendre en charge des groupes plus grands, tout en documentant de manière approfondie son parcours et son apprentissage prolifiques.

Snippet - WITM Infographic annual budget 2 in 4- EN

Ever Wondered What Budgets for Feminist  Organizations Look Like?

A closer look at actual budgets reveals major income diversity and inequality.

 

Aïssata Kane

Read in: English French Spanish
Category
Droits civils et politiques
Region
Afrique
Afrique subsaharienne
Date of birth
Date of death / disappearance
Cause of death / disappearance

Natural

Aïssata Kane, surnommée affectueusement “Yaye Kadia” (Mère Kadia), a de tout temps été une féministe engagée dans la défense des droits des femmes africaines, et particulièrement mauritaniennes.

Au cours de sa carrière politique, en 1975, elle fut nommée ministre de la protection de la famille et des affaires sociales et travailla avec ardeur à l’amélioration du statut des femmes dans son pays; c’était la première fois qu'une femme occupait un tel poste.   

Ce travail consista notamment à promouvoir l’éducation des filles et des femmes, à lutter contre la pratique du gavage sur les jeunes femmes, à faire pression pour l’inclusion d’une disposition sur les droits maritaux et à plaider en faveur de la création d’un quota de représentation féminine au Parlement.  

“[Aïssata] a réalisé toutes ses passions avec humilité, courage et détermination. Elle ne voulait déranger personne avec ce combat qu’elle menait sur tous les fronts à la fois.” Ball Halimata Dem, la nièce d’Aïssata

Ayant fondé l'Union nationale des femmes de Mauritanie (UNFM), elle avait cocréé et publié pour elles le magazine Marienou, dédié à l’émancipation des femmes mauritaniennes. Aïssata dirigea également plusieurs organisations sous-régionales et locales, notamment en tant que présidente de l'Association internationale des femmes francophones (AIFF) et, en écologiste résolue, fut présidente de l'Association pour la protection de l'environnement en Mauritanie (APEM). 

En 2018, on lui décerna le Prix de la Femme africaine pionnière. Ce prix honore son engagement à faire progresser le statut de la femme en Mauritanie et reconnaît son grand leadership et son sens de l'innovation.

Aïssata est décédée le 10 août 2019. 

Snippet FEA Occupation’s kitchen Instagram 2 (EN)

Occupation’s kitchen campaign:

Women sustain Care | Care Sustains Life | Life Sustains Economy | Who takes care of women?  | Not one less1 | Together | Sunday lunch

1Nenhuna a menos literally translates as “not one woman less” or “ni una menos” in Spanish - a famous feminist slogan in Latin America that emerged in Argentina as a response to increasing gender-based violence.

WITM - Refreshed INFOGRAPHIC 3 FR

Comment les féministes s’autofinancent ?

Les organisations féministes et de défense des droits des femmes ne dépendent pas uniquement des financements institutionnels, elles s’autofinancent. Nos mouvements sont animés par la passion, la solidarité, l’engagement politique et le soin collectif.
Ces ressources autonomes et autogénérées sont souvent invisibles dans les budgets, mais elles sont le pilier de notre action collective.

 Explorez les données sur l’autofinancement

Barbara Allimadi

Read in: English French Spanish
Category
Civil & Political Rights
Region
Africa
Sub Sahara Africa
Date of death / disappearance
Cause of death / disappearance

Natural (most likely)

Barbara Allimadi was a political and human rights activist from Uganda. In 2012, she co-organized a protest against a televised police assault of Ingrid Turinawe, an opposition politician who had her breast squeezed by a police officer.

During the protest, Barbara, along with other fellow activists stripped to their bras in front of the Central Police Station in Kampala. This came to be known as the infamous ‘bra protest’ in Uganda.

“We settled on the bra protest. We thought it would be most appropriate for what had happened. It’s not like we were saying we don’t respect ourselves. We were disgusted by what had been done.” - Barbara Allimadi, 2013 (Daily Monitor)

With a Degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the London Metropolitan University, Barbara was a network engineer in the United Kingdom and an avid fan of reggae music. She returned to Uganda In 2007, when her mother passed away.

In 2019, she was appointed Coordinator for International and Diaspora Affairs at the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), a political party launched that year by an opposition leader.

“We want security of life and property, not pain, injury and even death at the hands of security forces who are meant to protect us. Most importantly, we want a stable and enabling environment where we can realize our dreams and aspirations.” - Barbara Allimadi, ANT video

Barbara passed away on 27 April 2020. 

Tributes:

“I was so proud of my sister for many things but in particular her fearless pursuit of peace, democracy, justice and equality in Uganda. At the height of her activism she led many marches on the streets of Kampala, to police stations, and Parliament.” - Doris Allimadi, Barbara’s sister

“It is with deep sadness that we have learnt of the untimely passing of Barbara Allimadi. She has been a valiant, relentless and courageous force for the liberation movement of Uganda. Our deepest condolences to her family. She will be sorely missed.” - Akina Mama wa Afrika (tweet on 28 April 2020)

“The passing on of Barbara is so sad for us and her entire family. She dedicated herself to fighting for justice, freedom and rights of others while serving in the civil society until she recently joined us at the party.” Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, ANT national coordinator

“A beautiful, charming, funny, charismatic and inspirational sister. My children lost their aunty. Uganda lost a brave and courageous freedom fighter. Barbara once said, ‘As long as there is still breath in you, keep working towards your dreams.’” - Doris Allimadi, Barbara’s sister

Snippet FEA EoS The Howl (EN)

Three arms with fist raised: one black, pink, and the last one in purple

The Howl
Participation and activism

Snippet - COP30 - Radical Democracy - EN

Démocratie radicale et justice climatique - le débat absent de la COP30

Modèles de gouvernance alternative comme moyens de sortir de la crise climatique.

📅 Mercredi 12 novembre 2025
📍 Seminario Mar Nossa Sra Da Assunção, Pará, Brésil

Plus d'infos ici

Site web en anglais

Snippet FEA We are living in a world (ES)

Vivimos en un mundo donde la destrucción de la naturaleza alimenta nuestra economía global actual.

Incluso en tiempos de crisis climática, los gobiernos continúan alentando el crecimiento de las industrias agrícolas a gran escala. Estas actividades envenenan la tierra, amenazan la biodiversidad y destruyen la producción de alimentos y los medios de vida locales. Mientras tanto, aunque las mujeres producen la mayoría de nuestros alimentos en el mundo, casi no poseen tierra.

¿Qué pasaría si percibiéramos la tierra y la Naturaleza no como una propiedad privada para ser explotada, sino como una totalidad con la cual aprender y coexistir en armonía? ¿Y si repararíamos nuestras relaciones con la tierra y adoptaríamos alternativas más sostenibles que nutran tanto al planeta como a sus comunidades?

Nous Sommes la Solution (Somos la Solución, NSS) es uno de los muchos movimientos liderados por mujeres que se esfuerzan por lograr este objetivo.

Esta es su historia.

Snippet - COP30 - Resistance Hubs Section Title - EN

Resistance Hubs for Climate Justice

Snippet FEA Agroecology And Food (ES)

AGROECOLOGÍA Y SOBERANÍA ALIMENTARIA COMO RESISTENCIA

Hoy en día, la producción industrial de alimentos a gran escala utiliza plantaciones de monocultivo, organismos genéticamente modificados y otros pesticidas que destruyen la tierra y el conocimiento de las comunidades locales.

La agroecología es una resistencia a la agricultura hiper-industrializada utilizada por las multinacionales. La agroecología prioriza la agricultura a pequeña escala, los cultivos múltiples y la producción de alimentos diversificados, al tiempo que se centra en el conocimiento y las prácticas tradicionales locales. La agroecología va de la mano con los reclamos de soberanía alimentaria, o el "derecho de los pueblos a alimentos sanos y culturalmente apropiados producidos por métodos ecológicamente racionales y sostenibles, y su derecho a definir sus propios sistemas alimentarios y agrícolas" (Vía Campesina, Declaración de Nyéléni).

El papel de las mujeres, las comunidades indígenas y rurales y las personas racializadas en los países del Sur Global es fundamental para mantener los sistemas alimentarios. Lxs agroecologistxs feministas trabajan para desmantelar los roles de género opresivos y los sistemas patriarcales arraigados en la producción de alimentos. Como lo muestran las heroínas de Nous Sommes la Solution, generan una agroecología liberadora al fortalecer la resiliencia de las comunidades, empoderar a las mujeres campesinas y agricultoras mientras preservan las tradiciones locales, los territorios y los conocimientos de las comunidades productoras de alimentos.

Snippet - COP30 - Political Education Toolbox - EN

📚 Political Education Toolbox

Expose corporate capture. Understand false solutions. Build alternatives. Everything you need to run your own "Whose COP Is It?" campaign.

Access Toolbox #1 

Access Toolbox #2

Annual Report 2012

Read in: English French Spanish

Our 2012 Annual Report provides key highlights of our work during the year to boldly, creatively and effectively contribute to the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality worldwide.

Enjoy viewing videos, photos, and stories about our contributions.

Visit our 2012 Annual Report site

 

Snippet FEA Bio fertilizer and Sum-Pack (FR)

ILLUSTRATION DES PRODUITS NSS : Engrais bio et Sum-Pack - Cubes de bouillon naturel

Snippet - COP30 📥 Mini Resource Hub