Emilia Quan
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
How will you present and process the data collected via the survey?
The data will be processed for statistical purposes to shed light on the state of resourcing for feminist movements globally and will only be displayed in an aggregate form. AWID will not publish information about a particular organization or display information that would allow an organization to be identified by its location or characteristics, without their prior consent.
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Carmen Griffiths
Carmen was the Head of the Construction Resource and Development Collective (CRDC) and was instrumental in supporting women’s involvement in the construction industry in Jamaica.
She also worked on issues of disaster preparedness for rural and urban women. She worked closely with women (especially single mothers) teaching them how to use hurricane straps and other technology to secure their homes. She worked in the area of water and sanitation and was a strong advocate for sustainable environmental management and development.
She was a part of the Huairou Commission and advocated for grassroots women on such issues as shelter, energy, and sustainable livelihoods.
7. Synthesize your research findings
Now that you have analyzed all your data – from your survey, interviews, desk research and potentially other sources – you can create your final product.
In this section:
- Create your final product
1. Write clearly
2. Make it pretty- Gather review and inputs
1. Polish your results
2. Facilitate the feedback
Create your final product
Your final product will be the document that will summarize, analyze and criticize your data. That will be the piece that you will share with your community to present and explain your research to your audience.
At AWID, we often write a comprehensive written report that analyzes each set of data and synthesizes all of our findings, then later create smaller products, such as infographics and summaries (explained in the subsequent section “Finalize and format”).
1. Write clearly
- Organize your data as you would like to tell a story. You can follow the order of your survey. Or you can regroup some questions to lead to your conclusion in a smooth and progressive way.
- Adapt your language to your audience. Use universal language and avoid jargon or too technical terms.
Importance of the editor
An editor will proofread, ensure concise writing, conduct fact-checking, point out inconsistencies that need to be resolved, arrange the flow of the document and possibly suggest titles.
Your editor should preferably be someone who understands and knows your WITM work but who was not directly involved in the research. This will bring in a fresh perspective.
2. Make it pretty
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Use the data collected to create graphs and tables. These type of visuals are a compelling way to highlight the main findings of your research and validate your analysis.
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Source relevant images that can illustrate your report.
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Highlight key-numbers and/or powerful testimonials.
Remember: The more accessible your product is, the more people will want to read (and share!) it.
Gather review & inputs
At this point, you have collected all your data, analyzed it and transformed it into your final product, likely in a long report.
1. Polish your results
Before moving on to the next steps – you should share your final research product with your advisor organizations, activists, and donors.
This is a great moment to check the following points:
- Are there any key points missing in your analysis of the present funding landscape and trends?
- Are there any key points missing in your conclusions?
- Are there any inaccuracies in the data that need to be corrected?
- General suggestions on strengthening the report to achieve your goals as listed in your research framing.
Once you have inputted all feedback from your advisors, be sure to run it by your editor once more.
This will now be the final, completed version of your report. If you intend to publish the final report in other languages, now is the time to send it for translation.
2. Facilitate the feedback
- Your advisors are likely busy with their regular responsibilities. Be sure to request feedback within a reasonable deadline.
- Keep your request for feedback brief and specific, so it is easy for them to respond. If you like, you can simply copy and paste the bullet points we have provided.
- If you are publishing in multiple languages, ensure you have advisors who can also review the final translated versions of your product(s).
This is a significant contribution from your advisors. Consider offering them some form of recognition.
Previous step
Next step
Estimated time:
• 2 - 5 months
People needed:
• 1 or more research person(s)
• 1 Editor (or web-editor if you create an online product)
• Translator(s), if done in more than one language
Resource needed:
• List of advisor organizations, activists, and donors.
• Concept note (from “Frame your research” section)
• Survey topline results
• Prepared interview questions
• Interview results
• Desk research data
• All other data used in report
Previous step
Next step
Ready to Go? Worksheet
Fany Puyesky
Las realidades de la dotación de recursos y del estado del financiamiento para los movimientos feministas cambia con rapidez, ¿la encuesta es de carácter excepcional?
No, no lo es. Se basa en los 20 años de historia de AWID movilizando más y mejor financiamiento para el cambio social encabezado por los feminismos, y se trata de la tercera edición de la investigación ¿Dónde está el dinero para las organizaciones feministas? Aspiramos a repetir la encuesta ¿Dónde está el dinero? cada tres años.
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¿Cómo se originó este proyecto?
Pensamos que la economía, el mercado, el sistema financiero y las premisas sobre las que se basan son todas áreas fundamentales para la lucha feminista.
Por eso, nuestra visión de una economía justa va más allá de promover los derechos y el empoderamiento de las mujeres en una economía de mercado, sino que busca evaluar el rol que juegan las opresiones de género en dar forma al modelo económico y ver como podemos transformarlo para garantizar la justicia de género y económica.
El proceso
No estamos comenzando de cero ni estamos solas en nuestro intento de presentar propuestas feministas para una economía justa. Muchas de nuestras propuestas ya han sido presentadas o existen en la práctica de las diversas comunidades que confrontan y desafían a los sistemas económicos dominantes basados en el mercado y el crecimiento.
También somos concientes de las limitaciones que algunas alternativas presentan para abordar las injusticias del actual sistema capitalista a escala global. No siempre las propuestas a nivel micro son la respuesta a los problemas macro, si bien representan espacios importantes de resistencia y construcción de movimientos.
Metas
Sin embargo, las alternativas feministas para una economía justa son fundamentales para socavar el sistema y para aprender a generar cambios transformadores y sistémicos. No podemos presumir de ofrecer un relato exhaustivo ni completo acerca de cómo crear un modelo económico feminista justo, o varios modelos de esa clase. Lo que sí podemos hacer es recoger elementos de diálogos con otros movimientos (sindicales, ambientales, rurales y de campesinxs) para formular propuestas que nos permitan acercanos a esa visión.
¿Qué queremos cambiar?
El modelo neoliberal que dirige la economía global ha demostrado una y otra vez su incapacidad para hacer frente a las causas estructurales de la pobreza, las desigualdades y la exclusión. Lo que en realidad ha hecho el neoliberalismo ha sido contribuir a crear y exacerbar esas injusticias.
En estas últimas tres décadas, las políticas dominantes para el desarrollo se han caracterizado por la globalización, liberalización, privatizaciones, financialización y ayudas condicionadas, y han destrozado los medios de vida de la población. El recorrido de estas políticas también ha estado marcado por la profundización de desigualdades, las injusticias con marca de género y la destrucción ambiental que el mundo ya no puede continuar soportando.
Hay quienes no dudan en sostener que el crecimiento económico, que debe ser facilitado dando plena libertad a las grandes corporaciones y empresas, puede generar y sostener una una marea alta que (con el tiempo) levante todos los barcos.
Sin embargo, la noción de desarrollo que ha prevalecido durante las últimas décadas, construida sobre la premisa de un crecimiento económico ilimitado, está atravesando una crisis ideológica.
El mito del crecimiento económico como panacea para todos nuestros problemas está perdiendo cada vez más prestigio.
Ver también
Keila Almanza
Puis-je communiquer cette enquête à d’autres?
Oui, n’hésitez pas à le faire! Nous vous encourageons à communiquer le lien vers l’enquête à vos réseaux. Plus les points de vue exprimés et collectés seront divers, plus notre compréhension du paysage du financement de l’organisation des mouvements féministes sera exhaustive.
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Kagendo Murungi
Sa famille et ses ami-e-s se souviennent de Kagendo comme d'une activiste, féministe, artiste et cinéaste africaine acharnée
Elle a consacré plus de 20 ans à défendre les droits et la dignité des personnes LGBTIQ d'Afrique et des personnes non conformes du genre. Les collègues de Kagendo se souviennent d'elle comme une personne à la personnalité joviale, à la conviction sans faille et qui aimait la vie. Kagendo est décédée de cause naturelle chez elle à Harlem le 27 décembre 2017.
L'écrivaine et activiste kényane, Shailja Patel, a commenté son décès en ces termes « Tout au long de sa vie, l'engagement de Kagendo à établir des liens entre toutes les formes d’oppressions et à montrer comment le colonialisme a favorisé l'homophobie sur le continent africain, a contribué à rapprocher le Kenya d’un pays où les personnes queer et les femmes indépendantes pourraient vivre et prospérer. »
Agroécologie et souveraineté alimentaire
Le contexte
La recherche de moyens alternatifs de production alimentaire fondés sur la durabilité environnementale gagne du terrain dans toutes les régions du monde. Cette quête mondiale présente une caractéristique centrale : la nécessité de mobiliser les populations rurales, en particulier les femmes, tenant compte de leurs priorités et de leurs connaissances locales par le truchement de l’agroécologie.
Définition
L’agroécologie est une façon de pratiquer l'agriculture ou de faire appel aux technologies qui ne nuit pas à l'environnement. Cette approche propose de rompre avec le modèle de développement rural hégémonique reposant sur les grandes exploitations et la monoculture qui profitent essentiellement aux entreprises agricoles et renforcent l'exclusion sociale.
Dans le contexte de l'agriculture familiale, l'agroécologie représente une forme de résistance au modèle de développement actuel et aux problèmes sociaux, culturels, environnementaux et économiques que ce modèle implique. L’agroécologie se pose en alternative face au manque d'autonomie financière des agriculteur-trice-s et symbolise une résistance face au modèle d'agroentreprises actuel.
Perspective féministe
Il se pourrait que les efforts uniquement axés sur l'agroécologie ne suffisent pas à résoudre tous les problèmes de la marginalisation et de l'invisibilité des femmes. Il est alors crucial d’adopter une perspective féministe afin d'analyser les normes associées à la notion de famille telle qu'actuellement constituée en tant qu'institution parfaite, ainsi que les normes relatives à la condition de subordination des femmes.
Plus simplement, il importe d'inclure une réflexion sur les rôles de genre socialement construits pour faire avancer le potentiel émancipateur de l'agroécologie dans ce débat.
Pour en savoir plus sur cette proposition :
- Agroecology: Exploring opportunities for women’s empowerment based on experiences from Brazil (Agroécologie : explorer les possibilités d'autonomisation des femmes à partir d’expériences menées au Brésil), AWID et ActionAid, 2011 (article en anglais).
- Semeuses de luttes et d'espoirs : Pour le féminisme et la souveraineté alimentaire! par La Via Campesina. Ce document relate des échanges de la IVe Assemblée des femmes de la Via Campesina, où l’on a discuté de la crise du capitalisme et des défis liés à la construction d’un féminisme rural et ouvrier.
Piera Oria
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لمشاركة تجاربكم/ن المعاشة بما يتعلق بتمويل منظمتكم/ن
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Teresia Teaiwa
Described by the Guardian as one of Kiribati’s national icons, Teresia was a fearless advocate who worked closely with feminist groups in Fiji.
She used her research to address the issues of feminism and gender in the Pacific, as well as being co-editor of the International feminist Journal of Politics. Her influence spanned the academic frontier as well as social justice movements in the Oceania region.
