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
Forum 2024 - FAQ - General Information - AR
معلومات عامة
Snippet The revolution will be feminist_Fest (EN)
Plenary session:
The revolution will be feminist—or it won’t be a revolution
Manal Tamimi Palestine
Bubulina Moreno, Colombia
Karolina Więckiewicz, Poland
Anwulika Ngozi Okonjo, Nigeria
¿Por qué decidió AWID cambiar la ubicación del Foro, de Bali a Taipéi?
A fines de 2019, la situación en Indonesia (en particular, los signos de militarización intensificada y de reacción contra los derechos LGBTQ) nos llevó a cuestionar la capacidad de AWID para sostener un ambiente razonablemente seguro y acogedor para la diversidad de participantes que esperamos reunir en el Foro.
Después de un análisis cuidadoso, en noviembre de 2019 la Junta Directiva de AWID decidió cambiar la sede del 14° Foro Internacional de AWID, de Bali a Taipéi.
Taipéi ofrece un alto nivel de capacidad logística, y resulta accesible para muchxs viajerxs (con la facilitación de un trámite de visa electrónico para conferencias internacionales).
Para más detalles:
متى يمكنني التسجيل في المنتدى؟ كم هي تكلفة التسجيل؟ ماذا يشمل التسجيل؟
سيبدأ التسجيل أوائل العام 2024. وسنعلن عن تاريخ التسجيل المحدد ورسوم التسجيل قريبًا. سيتضمن التسجيل المشاركة في المنتدى، بالإضافة إلى الغداء والوجبات الخفيفة (يتم تقديم وجبة الإفطار في الفنادق)، وعشاء واحد في الموقع.
Snippet Festival Day 5, 6 Fest (ES)
![]() |
Asamblea Placentera: Tejiendo Proyectos Feministas ColaborativosGhiwa Sayegh, Kohl: A Journal for Body and Gender Research De brujeria, chamanismo y otros conocimientos insurrectos contra el patriarcadoSofía Blanco Sixtos, Colectiva Feminista MAPAS |
Rocío Mesino
هل سيفتح الباب لتقديم المقترحات؟
"نعم! يرجى قراءة الدعوة للمشاركة والتقدم هنا . الموعد النهائي هو 15 يناير 2024" .
Snippet Festival Days 8-13_Fest (FR)
Mina Agarwala
هل سيكون هناك دعم لترجمة لغة الإشارة بخلاف لغة الإشارة الدولية؟
إذا تم قبول مقترحك فسيتم الاتصال بك من قبل فريق جمعية حقوق المرأة في التنمية لتقييم احتياجات الترجمة الفورية وإمكانية الوصول والاستجابة لها.
Snippet title Festival Articles (EN)
Festival Articles
Cecilia Coicué
Maria del Rosario Fuentes Rubio
هل ستكون هناك تدابير لتسهيل الوصول في المنتدى؟
باختصار، نعم! تعمل جمعية حقوق المرأة في التنمية حاليًا مع لجنة إمكانية الوصول لضمان إمكانية الوصول إلى المنتدى قدر الإمكان. نحن نجري أيضًا تدقيقًا لإمكانية الوصول إلى مكان انعقاد المنتدى والفنادق المحيطة ووسائل النقل. ستكون المعلومات التفصيلية حول إمكانية الوصول في منتدى جمعية حقوق المرأة في التنمية متاحة في هذا القسم قبل فتح التسجيل. وفي الوقت نفسه، لأية أسئلة يرجى الاتصال بنا.
Snippet “Gender Ideology” Narratives (EN)
“Gender Ideology” Narratives
For decades, feminist scholars and advocates have articulated important concepts related to gender to understand and challenge oppression and discrimination. Those concepts have now become the target of anti-rights actors who claim that oppressive patriarchal gender roles are “common sense”, strategically painting all other ideas, cultural norms, and forms of social life as a dangerous, conspirative ideology.
Read our Brief on “Gender Ideology” Narratives: A Threat To Human Rights
Gauri Lankesh
Related content
Reporters without Borders: India: Prominent woman journalist gunned down in Bangalore
BBC: Gauri Lankesh: Indian journalist shot dead in Bangalore
Committee to Protect Journalists: Gauri Lankesh Killed
BBC: Gauri Lankesh: Murdered Indian journalist in her own words
The Guardian: The murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh shows India descending into violence
Financial Times - Gauri Lankesh, journalist and activist, 1962-2017
The New York Times: Why was Gauri Lankesh killed?







