Angiza Shinwari
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
Membership why page - Paz Romero
Esta comunidad es un lugar para las conexiones, para entender nuestras luchas individuales como parte de las luchas globales y, a veces, ¡también para bailar! En línea, no existen otros lugares como este, en el que puedes encontrarte con auténtiques activistas de base de todo el mundo y forjar lazos de solidaridad y sororidad..- Paz Romero, Argentina
Snippet FEA We are living in a world left (ES)
Vivimos en un mundo donde la destrucción de la naturaleza alimenta nuestra economía global actual.
FRMag - Roots of Love and Resilience
Kunyit asam: Las raíces del amor y la resiliencia
por Prinka Saraswati
El ciclo menstrual habitualmente abarca entre 27 y 30 días. En ese lapso, el período en sí dura de 5 a 7 días. La fatiga, los cambios de humor y los espasmos son el resultado de la inflamación durante la menstruación.
< arte: «Movimiento feminista», Karina Tungari
Janet Benshoof
Janet Benshoof fue una abogada de derechos humanos de los Estados Unidos, y defensora de la igualdad de las mujeres y de los derechos sexuales y reproductivos.
Hizo campaña para ampliar el acceso a los anticonceptivos y al aborto en todo el mundo, y luchó contra las sentencias antiaborto y en el territorio estadounidense de Guam. Fue arrestada en 1990 por oponerse a la ley de aborto más restrictiva de su país. Sin embargo, obtuvo una medida cautelar en el tribunal local de Guam que bloqueó la ley y, finalmente, ganó en el Tribunal de Apelaciones del Noveno Circuito, que llevó a la anulación de la ley para siempre.
"Las mujeres de Guam están en una situación muy trágica. No tengo intención de callarme al respecto." - Janet Benshoof para la revista People.
Janet sentó precedentes jurídicos históricos, entre ellos, la aprobación de la anticoncepción de emergencia por parte de la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos, así como la aplicación del derecho internacional para garantizar los derechos de las víctimas de violación en el Tribunal Superior de Iraq, durante el procesamiento de los crímenes de guerra de la época de Saddam.
Janet fue Presidenta y fundadora del Centro de Justicia Global, y fundadora también del Centro de Derechos Reproductivos, la primera organización internacional de derechos humanos del mundo centrada en la elección y la equidad reproductiva. Durante 15 años se desempeñó como directora del Proyecto de Derechos Reproductivos de la Unión Americana de Libertades Civiles, donde encabezó litigios que dieron forma a las leyes constitucionales de los Estados Unidos sobre igualdad de género, libertad de expresión y derechos reproductivos.
"Janet era conocida por su mente jurídica brillante, su agudo sentido del humor y su coraje ante la injusticia". - Anthony D. Romero
Nombrada una de las "100 Abogadas más influyentes de América" por el National Law Journal, Janet recibió numerosos premios y honores.
Nació en mayo de 1947 y falleció en diciembre de 2017.
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 - Intro CSW69_EN
#FreezeFascisms
In the 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration & Platform for Action, a rising tide of fascisms is exerting significant power and influence within multilateral spaces, backpedalling gender justice gains and human rights protections globally.
Around CSW69, we're co-organizing horizontal, brave spaces on-ground and online, to share strategies and build feminist power beyond Beijing+30. Our collective presence disrupts institutional practices of exclusion in such spaces while supporting movements to organize around feminist alternatives to systems of oppression.
Join the conversations from March 10-21, 2025, as we collectively transform CSW69 into spaces for and about resistance and solidarity.
Snippet - Podcast Playlist Season 1 (FR)
FRMag - Mainstreaming The Invisible
Intégrer les réalités féministes invisibles
par Dr. Pragati Singh
En 2019, j’étais invitée par le réseau BBC pour intervenir lors de la conférence intitulée 100 women (100 femmes) à Delhi, en Inde, à propos de « L’avenir de l’amour, des relations et des familles ». (...)
illustration : « Les anges aussi sortent la nuit », par Chloé Luu >
Ruby Montour
Juli Dugdale
Juli Dugdale était une féministe australienne pratiquant un leadership intergénérationnel ancré dans les principes du féminisme, de l’inclusion et de l’égalité. Elle était une leader, une pair et une encadrante pour de nombreuses femmes, et particulièrement des jeunes femmes du monde entier.
Juli a été une membre dévouée de l’équipe de l’Association des jeunes femmes chrétiennes (YWCA), bénévole et fervente défenseure du leadership des jeunes femmes pendant plus de 30 ans.
Elle assurait un lien très fort entre le mouvement australien du YWCA et le bureau international. Sa confiance dans les capacités de leadership des jeunes femmes a entre autres donné lieu à un partenariat pluriannuel avec le ministère australien des Affaires étrangères et du Commerce, de même qu’à la rédaction du manuel Rise Up, un guide mondial pour le leadership transformationnel des jeunes femmes, lancé en 2018.
Juli est décédée à Genève, en Suisse, le 12 août 2019.
Hommages :
« Pour celles et ceux qui ont travaillé avec Juli, ce fut un privilège. Pour celles et ceux qui n’ont pas travaillé avec elle, sachez que son héritage perdure dans le travail que nous faisons tous les jours, et dans la mission du mouvement des YWCA. » – YWCA Australie
« Juli Dugdale occupera toujours une place privilégiée dans le cœur de nombreuses personnes du mouvement du YWCA, particulièrement ici en Aotearoa et dans le Pacifique. Juli entretenait une relation particulière avec le Pacifique, et soutenait de manière remarquable les jeunes femmes de la région. De nature humble, aimable, aimante, affectueuse, dévouée et passionnée, elle avait un cœur généreux. Elle incarnait la vision du « leadership transformationnel » du YWCA avec une vision et une clairvoyance extraordinaires, et a de plus aidé à renforcer les capacités de générations de jeunes femmes leaders dans le monde. » – YWCA Nouvelle-Zélande
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 - CSW69 - Feminist Solidarity Space - ES
Espacio de solidaridad feminista
✉️ Requiere inscripción previa para grandes grupos. Entrada libre para grupos reducidos. Reserven aquí
📅Martes 11 de marzo de 2025
🕒 de 12:00 a 02:00 p.m. y de 04:00 a 06:00 p.m., EST
🏢 Chef's Kitchen Loft with Terrace, 216 East 45th St 13th Floor New York
Organiza: AWID
Devenir membre
Devenir membre
En rejoignant l’AWID, vous intégrez l’organisation féministe mondiale, un pouvoir collectif qui se fonde sur la solidarité et puise ses racines dans le travail entre les mouvements.
FRMag - Dieula and the Black Dolls
Dieula and the Black Dolls
by Ana María Belique
The Naranjo Batey community is far from the city, but it’s full of hard-working people brimming with enthusiasm. A girl named Dieula lived there. (...)
< artwork: “Fury” by Diana Manilla Arroyo
Vivian Stromberg
Lina Ben Mhenni
“I want to tell all Tunisians: We have to unite to say no to censorship and opinion trials.” - Lina Ben Mhenni (2013 interview)
Lina Ben Mhenni was a Tunisian blogger, activist and linguistics lecturer. She was vocal against internet censorship, defended the freedom of expression and was an advocate for women’s and human rights. Lina also fought for the release of students arrested under former President Zine El Abidine.
“It’s true that information and the internet are important but being on the ground is crucial for a revolution. Some people here in Tunisia think that change can occur just by clicking like on the internet. I believe you have to be active on the ground. And of course, join actions on the field with the action on the web.” - Lina Ben Mhenni (Interview in POCIT)
In 2010, she co-organized a protest that challenged the government suppression of media and internet censorship. Lina was widely known for her blog “A Tunisian Girl” and recognized for her work during the Tunisian revolution in 2011. In her blog, she reported on the news from the uprising, shared images documenting protests and was among the few voices who spoke about the killings and crackdown on protesters in Sidi Bouzid. Lina blogged using her real name instead of a pseudonym to protect her identity, one of only a few bloggers to do so.
“Our freedom of expression is in real danger. I am afraid that we are losing the unique fruits of the revolution: the disappearance of fear and our freedom of speech. We have to keep on fighting to protect and preserve this right.” — Lina Ben Mhenni (2013 interview)
Lina was only 36 years old when she passed away on 27 January 2020, as a result of complications from an autoimmune disease.
"Freedom, better education and health - that's all we wanted. When we failed, she pushed us." Lina’s school teacher Hala.
