Orouba Barakat
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
I am not able to submit a written proposal, are you accepting any other formats?
As part of our commitment to accessibility in all aspects of the AWID Forum we are accepting audio/video formats for those individuals/organizations/groups who can't submit a written application.
If you choose to send your proposal in an audio/video format, kindly follow the same order to answer the questions as detailed in the Activity Proposal Form.
To submit an audio/video file please Contact us, selecting Forum Call for Activities as the subject of your email.
Vicky HernaÌndez Amador
Snippet - WITM about research col 2 - EN
The full “Where is the Money for Feminist Organizing” report will be published in 2026.
To learn more how AWID has been shining a light on money for and against feminist movements check out the work of our Resourcing Feminist Movements Initiative here.
Snippet FEA Aura Roig (ES)
Ven a conocer a Aura Roig, activista feminista visionaria, antropologa y directora-fundadora de la cooperativa Metzineres.
Dedicó las últimas dos décadas a la investigación, el diseño y la implementación de políticas con perspectivas de reducción de daños, derechos humanos y feminismo interseccional.
Después de experimentar y aprender de comunidades que usan drogas a través del mundo, volvió a Barcelona y creó la Xarxa de Dones que Usen Drogues (la Red de Mujeres que Usan Drogas, XADUD). XADUD era un espacio de apoyo mutuo y de solidaridad con la lucha por los derechos de los grupos marginalizados que, más tarde, se convirtió en la cooperativa Metzineres.
Actualmente, Aura está trabajando para expandir el modelo Metzineres y brindar apoyo a grupos más grandes, al mismo tiempo que documenta ampliamente su prolífico viaje y aprendizaje.
Leyla Yıldızhan (Deniz Fırat)
What is included in registration fees?
The AWID Forum registration fees for all forum participants cover:
- Full access to all four days of the Forum
- Lunches and coffee/tea breaks during forum days
- Resource materials
- Simultaneous interpretation during plenaries and some selected breakout sessions/activities (English, French, Spanish, and local language)
- Participation in the celebration dinner/party
- Mobile app with final program and chat function
- Free Wi-Fi service in the forum premises
- Airport pick ups and hotel-venue-hotel transportation
Milagros Barahona Portocarrero
Quel est l’objet de l’enquête WITM?
Le principal objectif de l’enquête WITM est de faire la lumière sur la situation financière de divers mouvements féministes, de défense des droits des femmes, pour la justice de genre, de défense des personnes LBTQI+ et des mouvements alliés dans le monde entier. Sur cette base, nous souhaitons démontrer l’importance d’orienter davantage de fonds, de meilleure qualité, et de transférer le pouvoir vers les mouvements féministes.
Snippet FEA Get Involved 2 (FR)
Si vous êtes de passage à Sao Paulo, au Brésil, visitez l'Occupation 9 de Julho et prenez un repas collaboratif. Vous pouvez aussi acheter leurs produits dans leur boutique en ligne depuis l'étranger.
Visitez la boutique en ligne de l'Association des Femmes Afro-Descendantes du Cauca du Nord où vous pouvez trouver de superbes produits faits à la main.
Il existe plusieurs façons de soutenir Metzineres : vous pouvez faire un don financier, offrir du matériel et des services, proposer une formation, un atelier ou une activité (pour plus d'informations, cliquez ici).
Jennifer López
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.
Sitios web asociados a AWID
Conexión Joven Feminista
Una comunidad en línea desarrollada para y por las jóvenes feministas que trabajan por los derechos humanos de las mujeres, la igualdad de género y la justicia social en todo el mundo.
Fondo de Jóvenes Feministas
FRIDA: proporciona financiamiento a iniciativas lideradas por jóvenes feministas. Busca fortalecer la capacidad de las organizaciones de jóvenes feministas para obtener recursos para su trabajo e incrementar los compromisos de donantes y aliados con la dotación de fondos para el activismo joven feminista.
El Observatorio de la Universalidad de los Derechos (OURs)
En esta plataforma podrás encontrar información y recursos sobre cómo proteger la universalidad de los derechos en espacios internacionales y regionales de derechos humanos.
Visita la página (en inglés)
Directorio Virtual de Respuestas Urgentes para las Mujeres Defensoras de los Derechos Humanos
Sitio obligado para conocer las respuestas urgentes emprendidas para proteger a las defensoras de los derechos humanos y encontrar herramientas y recursos en apoyo del trabajo y el bienestar de las defensoras.
IM-Defensoras
La Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Humanos es una iniciativa regional creada para prevenir, responder, documentar y dar a conocer todos los casos de violencia ejercida contra las defensoras de los derechos humanos en la región mesoamericana.
Coalición Internacional de Mujeres Defensoras de los Derechos Humanos
La Coalición es una red de recursos y promoción para la protección y el apoyo a las mujeres defensoras de los derechos humanos en todo el mundo.
Visita la página (en inglés)
La Coalición de Mujeres Post-2015
Una coalición de organizaciones feministas, por los derechos de las mujeres, por las mujeres y el desarrollo, y de organizaciones de base y por la justicia social que trabajan para interpelar y dar nuevo marco la agenda global para el desarrollo.
Visita la página (en inglés)
Grupo Mayor de Mujeres sobre el Desarrollo
El rol del Grupo consiste en garantizar una participación pública efectiva de los grupos no gubernamentales de mujeres en los procesos normativos de la ONU sobre el desarrollo sostenible, la agenda posterior a 2015 y los asuntos ambientales.
Visita la página (en inglés)
Grupo de Mujeres sobre Financiamiento para el Desarrollo
Una alianza de organizaciones y redes de mujeres que promueve el avance de la igualdad de género, el empoderamiento de las mujeres y sus derechos humanos en los procesos de la ONU referidos al financiamiento para el desarrollo.
Visita la página (en inglés)
Rani Jethmalani
We re-grant money to grantee partners and identify as a feminist and/or women’s fund, should we take the survey?
No, we very much appreciate your work but are not asking for responses from women’s and feminist funds at this time. We do encourage you to share the survey with your grantee partners and feminist networks.
Snippet FEA EoS The Ivy (FR)
Le lierre
Communauté et quartier
Jane Julia de Oliveira
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,.
Courageous WHRDs in the Media
These 21 Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) worked as journalists and more widely in the media sector in Mexico, Colombia, Fiji, Libya, Nepal, United States, Nicaragua, Philippines, Russia, Germany, France, Afghanistan, and the United Kingdom. 17 of them were murdered and in one case the cause of death is still unclear. On this World Press Freedom Day, please join us in commemorating the life and work of these women by sharing the images below with your colleagues, friends and networks using the hashtags #WPFD2016 and #WHRDs.
The contributions of these women were celebrated and honoured in our Tribute to Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Who Are No Longer With Us.
Please click on each image below to see a larger version and download as a file
Wangari Maathai
