Emerging LGBTQ Identity in West Africa: Aspirations and challenges of Francophone movements

AWID spoke with Pierre Meyer author of the report “Do Not Wake up a Sleeping Lion: Mapping the legal environment of LGBTQ persons in Francophone West Africa”.

Aya Chebbi: Redefining Feminist Narratives in Tunisia

Aya Chebbi is an award winning Pan-African feminist activist and blogger. She spoke with AWID about women’s rights in Tunisia after the "revolutions of dignity".

Yafa and Suha Jarrar Speak on the Injustice that Prevails: The Palestinian Occupation and the Gender Dynamics of the Struggle

AWID interviewed Khalida Jarrar’s daughters, Suha and Yafa, about their mother, the politicization of Palestinian women in the occupied territories and the struggles of women human rights defenders for their land and freedom.

Smear Campaign Against Woman Human Rights Defenders in El Salvador

AWID spoke with Alejandra Burgos and Morena Herrera about the new wave of slander attacks that their organizations have been receiving from religious fundamentalist groups in El Salvador.

Strengthening Grassroots Organizations and Feminist Solidarity: Back on the European Caravan

Launched last March in Turkish Kurdistan, the World March of Women Feminist Caravan across Europe will end on 17 October in Portugal, on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the official closing of the 4th international action of the World March of Women. AWID spoke with activist Clara Carbunar to learn more.

Presidential Elections: Claiming the right of all women to political decision-making and leadership in Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea

With upcoming presidential elections in West African country’s Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire this month, AWID spoke with Afiwa Mata Ahouadjogbe, Vice-President of the Association des Femmes Journalistes de Guinée (Guinean Association of Women Journalists, AFJ-Guinea) and Georgette Zamble, President of Leadafricaines, to learn more about the challenges related to women’s decision-making and leadership, particularly for rural women, and the actions taken to overcome these challenges in both West African countries.  

COP 21: Women Mobilizing for Climate Justice that Respects their Rights

As part of the Global Women’s Climate Justice Day of Action this 29 September 2015, AWID spoke to Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Coordinating Committee Member of The Women’s Global Call for Climate Justice, to learn more about the global campaign and mobilizing for women’s rights, including Indigenous women’s rights to climate justice, with a view to the upcoming 21st Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (COP21).

Protection Gaps for Sexual Rights: Side Event at the 30th Session of the Human Rights Council

On September 22nd, during the 30th session of the Human Rights Council, we co-hosted a side event with the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) to discuss protection gaps around sexual rights. The five panelists discussed the nature and causes of existing protection gaps in sexual rights, and gave recommendations to further protections for all individuals in the field of sexuality.

Let’s get this party started and implement the Post-2015 Development Agenda

This week, the Post-2015 Development Agenda will be formally adopted, culminating in 3 years of intense work for numerous stakeholders. As a youth representative of civil society – the ASTRA Youth network of young sexual and reproductive health and rights advocates, I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to cooperate with a group of amazing activists, who have been tirelessly advocating for youth and women’s rights, trying to ensure that the new agenda is ambitious, progressive and human rights-focused.

A call for peace and end to violence against Turkey’s dissenting women

On the verge of a fast approaching civil war, women in Turkey are calling for unconditional and immediate peace, and for an end to the harassment and violence against dissenting women in Turkey. As we commemorated International Day of Peace on 21st September and a call for a global ceasefire, AWID takes a look at the situation of women human rights defenders in Turkeys increasing conflict.