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.
Will there be pre-Forum regional, thematic or other convenings?
We believe so! It is still very early in the planning process, so please stay tuned as plans are forming.
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.
Nos droits en danger – Rapport sur les tendances 2017 de l'OURs
Rapport
Nos droits en danger – Rapport sur les tendances 2017 de l’OURs
Le premier rapport de l’Observatoire sur l’universalité des droits (OURs) - disponible en anglais et en espagnol - compile les informations disponibles sur les tendances antidroits dans les sphères internationales. Découvrez les principaux groupes religieux, les discours et les tactiques antidroits à l’œuvre au sein de l’ONU.
es una activista feminista de Tiflis, Georgia, dedicada a la justicia social y de género. Tiene una Maestría en estudios de género, y ha estado comprometida con movimientos feministas, queer y ecologistas desde hace nueve años, trabajando, entre otras problemáticas, sobre violencia de género, violencia doméstica, derechos y salud sexuales y reproductivos, derechos LGBTIQ, y seguridad y derechos holísticos y digitales, entre otros.
Desde 2014 trabaja activamente sobre asuntos de seguridad de activistas y defensoras de derechos humanos, ha organizado talleres sobre seguridad integrada y seguridad digital dirigidos específicamente a activistas de grupos desfavorecidos (personas queer, minorías étnicas y religiosas, mujeres y niñas rurales, etc.), y también para organizaciones feministas más grandes. Salome integra el «Independent Group of Feminists», una iniciativa informal, no jerárquica y no registrada que reúne feministas de distintos contextos de Georgia. Actualmente, trabaja con el Fondo de Mujeres de Georgia, que está comprometido con la construcción de movimientos feministas y de mujeres, brindando financiación feminista y alentando la filantropía feminista local.
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Donation Success
Thank you for taking a step further to change the world!
Your generous contribution will help us support feminist movements across the globe working to achieve gender justice and women’s human rights worldwide.
You can also support our work as an AWID Member. Find out how here.
Soy parte de un fondo o donante individual. ¿Cómo puedo apoyar al Foro de AWID?
Te invitamos a que te pongas en contacto con nosotrxs para explorar formas de colaborar de manera más significativa con el Foro.
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 Kohl - Plénière: La révolution sera féministe — ou il n’y aura pas de révolution
Avec Manal Tamimi, Bubulina Moreno, Karolina Więckiewicz et Anwulika Ngozi Okonjo..
Michelle est une féministe d'Asie du Sud-Est qui aime concerterer pour rassembler des gens et susciter des conversations en faveur du changement social et du partage des connaissances féministes, à travers l'art, la poésie, la musique et les jeux. Forte d'une expérience en plaidoyer digital et en développement de stratégies de communication, elle a contribué à des initiatives en matière de droits digitaux, de recherche sur les droits humains et de création de coalitions de la société civile dans toute l'Asie du Sud-Est. Elle est titulaire d'une licence de droit de l'Université nationale de Singapour, aime se balader dans des rues au hasard de la ville et apprécie un peu trop le café.
Position
Coordonnatrice de l’Adhésion et de l’Engagement des Membres
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Calendario Feminista AWID 2026
Considera este calendario como un obsequio, que te llega a ti y a 9500 afiliades de nuestra comunidad feminista mundial. Un obsequio de esperanza, conexiones renovadas, acción y comunidad en un momento de inmensas injusticias y violencias.
Que estas historias te recuerden que a través de las fronteras y a lo largo de las luchas, somos muches, somos fuertes y, en conjunto, construimos los mundos que merecemos.
CFA 2023 - Hybrid like never before: in person - EN
Hybrid like never before
For the first time, the AWID Forum offers three modes of participation
In-person
Participants will come together in Bangkok, Thailand. We can’t wait!
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.
Crear | Résister | Transform: A Walkthrough of the Festival! - smaller snippet EN
Crear | Résister | Transform: A Walkthrough of the Festival!
As heteropatriarchal capitalism continues to force us into consumerism and compliance, we are finding that our struggles are being siloed and separated by physical as well as virtual borders.
During her 38-year career, Debbie Stothard, has worked with diverse communities and activists to engage states, IGOs and other stakeholders throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas on human rights and justice. Her work is focused on the thematic priorities of business and human rights, atrocity prevention, and women’s leadership. Accordingly, she has either facilitated or been a resource person at nearly 300 training events in the past 15 years. Most of these were grassroots-oriented workshops delivered in the field, focused on human rights advocacy, economic literacy and business and human rights, and transitional justice and atrocity prevention. Her work in transitional justice and atrocity prevention has mainly focused on Burma/Myanmar, however she has provided advice on responses to other country situations around the world.
During 1981 – 1996, Debbie worked as a crime reporter, student organizer, policy analyst, academic, government advisor and food caterer in Malaysia and Australia while volunteering for human rights causes. In 1996, she founded ALTSEAN-Burma which spearheaded a range of innovative and empowering human rights programs. This includes ALTSEAN’s ongoing intensive leadership program for diverse young women from Burma, which in the past 22 years, has helped strengthen and expand women’s leadership in conflict-affected zones. She served as a member of the Board of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) for 9 years as Deputy Secretary-General (2010-2013) and Secretary-General (2013 – 2019) during which she promoted the mission and profile of FIDH at approximately 100 meetings and conferences per year.
