Flickr/Leonardo Veras (CC BY 2.0)

Protection of the Family

The Issue

Over the past few years, a troubling new trend at the international human rights level is being observed, where discourses on ‘protecting the family’ are being employed to defend violations committed against family members, to bolster and justify impunity, and to restrict equal rights within and to family life.

The campaign to "Protect the Family" is driven by ultra-conservative efforts to impose "traditional" and patriarchal interpretations of the family, and to move rights out of the hands of family members and into the institution of ‘the family’.

“Protection of the Family” efforts stem from:

  • rising traditionalism,
  • rising cultural, social and religious conservatism and
  • sentiment hostile to women’s human rights, sexual rights, child rights and the rights of persons with non-normative gender identities and sexual orientations.

Since 2014, a group of states have been operating as a bloc in human rights spaces under the name “Group of Friends of the Family”, and resolutions on “Protection of the Family” have been successfully passed every year since 2014.

This agenda has spread beyond the Human Rights Council. We have seen regressive language on “the family” being introduced at the Commission on the Status of Women, and attempts made to introduce it in negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.


Our Approach

AWID works with partners and allies to jointly resist “Protection of the Family” and other regressive agendas, and to uphold the universality of human rights.

In response to the increased influence of regressive actors in human rights spaces, AWID joined allies to form the Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs).  OURs is a collaborative project that monitors, analyzes, and shares information on anti-rights initiatives like  “Protection of the Family”.

Rights at Risk, the first OURs report, charts a map of the actors making up the global anti-rights lobby, identifies their key discourses and strategies, and the effect they are having on our human rights.   

The report outlines “Protection of the Family” as an agenda that has fostered collaboration across a broad range of regressive actors at the UN.  It describes it as: “a strategic framework that houses “multiple patriarchal and anti-rights positions, where the framework, in turn, aims to justify and institutionalize these positions.”

 

Related Content

Snippet - CSW68 - Follow the Money - ES

Seguir el dinero:

Flujos financieros ilícitos y agentes antiderechos

📅Lunes 11 de marzo
🕒4:30 p. m. - 6:00 p. m. EST

Organizan:AWID, IJSC y NAWI
🏢 Church Center de las Naciones Unidas, 777 United Nations Plaza, piso 11, Nueva York.
(Interpretación disponible en francés y español)

Caroline Sin

Biography

Caroline ha estado de forma periódica en AWID; en fechas anteriores, organizó los foros de 2005 y 2008 en Bangkok y Ciudad del Cabo, y cumplió otras funciones institucionales. Antes de incorporarse a AWID, impartió clases de inglés de pregrado, luego abandonó el ámbito académico para dirigir el Festival Internacional de Cine Asiático de Toronto y trabajar en otros proyectos. En fechas más recientes, se ha desempeñado como Responsable de Operaciones en Spring Strategies. Fuera del plano laboral, Caroline generalmente puede ser hallada a su jardín, en comunión con sus queridas plantas e intentando hacer las paces con los insectos y los roedores que suelen aparecer.

Position
Directora Adjunta del Foro
Add to stories
Off

Snippet FEA In numbers (EN)

IN NUMBERS

6. Realiza una investigación secundaria

La investigación secundaria la puedes realizar en todos los estadios del proceso investigativo. Te puede ayudar a formular el marco, a elegir las preguntas de la encuesta y a comprender mejor los resultados.

En esta sección

Describe el contexto

Realizar investigación secundaria durante todo el proceso investigativo te ayudará a formular el marco de referencia, elegir las preguntas de la encuesta, interpretar la información según el contexto o percibir aspectos interesantes de los resultados de la investigación. Por ejemplo, podrás comparar similitudes y diferencias entre los resultados de tu investigación y la información recogida de la sociedad civil y del sector donante.

Tal vez percibas tendencias en la información que te aporta la encuesta y quieras entenderlas mejor.

Por ejemplo, imagina que la encuesta te indica que los presupuestos de las organizaciones se están reduciendo, pero no te puede decir por qué está sucediendo esto. Consultar publicaciones te puede ayudar a entender el contexto y las posibles razones que explican esa tendencia.

Volver al comienzo


Utiliza el conocimiento ya construido

La utilización de fuentes secundarias garantiza que la investigación incorpore el conocimiento ya construido, confirmando así la validez y relevancia de tus resultados.

Estos resultados pueden complementar o contradecir el conocimiento construido, pero deben guardar relación con él.

Para asegurarte de investigar todo el panorama del financiamiento para la temática que estés relevando, necesitarás estudiar un conjunto diverso de sectores donantes.

Puedes tener en cuenta:

  • Fondos de mujeres
  • Fundaciones privadas y públicas
  • Organizaciones no gubernamentales internacionales (ONGI)
  • Entidades bilaterales y multilaterales
  • Actores del sector privado
  • Filantropía individual
  • Micromecenazgos (crowdfunding)

Incluye a todo otro actor que resulte relevante para la investigación.

Por ejemplo, puedes decidir que también será importante relevar a las organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONG)

Volver al comienzo


Posibles fuentes para la investigación secundaria (lista no exhaustiva)

1. Sitios de donantes en Internet y sus informes anuales

Estas son fuentes directas de información que revelan lo que están haciendo las financiadoras y por lo general también informan acerca de sus políticas y presupuestos. Incluir estos materiales en la investigación antes de entrevistar a donantes te podrá ayudar a formular preguntas más puntuales y a recoger más información durante la entrevista.

2. Fuentes de información en línea

Volver al comienzo


Paso previo

5. Realiza las entrevistas

Paso siguiente

7. Sintetiza los resultados de la investigación


Duración estimada

• 1-2 meses

Personas que se necesitan

• 1 persona (o más) de investigación


Paso previo

5. Realiza las entrevistas

Paso siguiente

7. Sintetiza los resultados de la investigación


Planilla «¿Estoy listx?»

Descargar el manual en PDF

Snippet - CSW68 - March 13 - ES

Día 3

13 de Marzo

Alexandra Lamb Guevara

Biography

Alexandra est une féministe anglo-colombienne qui dispose de plus de 20 ans d'expérience dans les programmes locaux, nationaux et internationaux en matière de VIH et de santé et droits sexuels et reproductifs. Elle possède une vaste expérience dans la mobilisation de ressources et les relations donateur·rice·s avec des fondations philanthropiques privées et des agences multilatérales pour le compte d'ONG internationales, nationales et locales, principalement situées en Amérique latine et dans les Caraïbes. Avant de rejoindre l'AWID, Alexandra a travaillé à la Fundación Si Mujer, une prestataire féministe d’accès à l’avortement et éducatrice en Colombie, à RedTraSex et à l'Alliance internationale contre le VIH/SIDA.

Alexandra est titulaire d'une licence en relations internationales et en études de développement de l'Université du Sussex et d'un master en santé publique de la London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Dans les rares moments qui ne sont pas dédiés à son travail ou sa parentalité, elle adore nager, manger et a récemment commencé à jouer à Zelda: Breath of the Wild avec son fils.

Position
Responsable de la Mobilisation des Ressources
Add to stories
Off

Snippet Intro The Feminist Realities Magazine (ES)

La revista de las Realidades Feministas

Las Realidades Feministas proclaman y personifican la esperanza y el poder.

Las encontramos en todo lo que nos muestra que existen otras formas de vivir, de pensar y de hacer,  desde las expresiones cotidianas que se evidencian en cómo nos relacionamos con otrxs hasta los sistemas alternativos de gobernanza y de justicia. Las realidades feministas son formas de resistencia a sistemas de poder como el patriarcado, el capitalismo y la supremacía blanca. 

Son propuestas poderosas que nos orientan hacia la idea de lo que es posible y nos muestran cómo los procesos de organización feminista están abriendo caminos hacia la justicia en movimientos y comunidades de todo el mundo. 

Descargar la revista completa (PDF)

Explorar la revista

Quelle est l’origine de ce projet?

Nous croyons que l'économie, le marché, le système financier et les prémisses sur lesquelles ils reposent sont des domaines critiques pour la lutte féministe.


Ainsi, notre vision pour une économie juste dépasse la promotion des droits et de l'autonomisation des femmes sur le marché. Elle propose d'évaluer le rôle des oppressions liées au genre lors de l'élaboration de mesures économiques, afin de les modifier pour favoriser l'égalité de genre et la justice économique.

Processus

Nous ne partons pas de zéro et nous ne sommes pas seules à tenter de mettre en avant des propositions féministes pour une économie juste. Beaucoup des propositions formulées dans ce document existaient déjà en théorie et aussi dans la pratique, au sein de diverses communautés qui défient et résistent face aux systèmes économiques fondés sur la croissance et le marché.
 
Il est également très important de noter qu'il y a une prise de conscience croissante du fait que les micros solutions n’apportent pas toujours de réponses aux problèmes macros, même si elles représentent des espaces importants pour la construction de la résistance et des mouvements. Certaines alternatives spécifiques peuvent ne pas être en mesure de remédier aux injustices du système capitaliste actuel à l'échelle mondiale.

Objectifs

Cela dit, les alternatives féministes pour une économie juste sont essentielles pour ouvrir des brèches dans le système et pouvoir en tirer des leçons, en faveur d’un changement systémique transformateur. Nous n’avons pas la prétention de proposer un compte-rendu complet et exhaustif sur la manière de créer un modèle économique qui soit juste d’un point de vue féministe, ou même des modèles.

À partir d’un dialogue inter-mouvements avec des syndicats, des mouvements ruraux et paysans et des mouvements environnementaux, nous pouvons néanmoins formuler une série de propositions pour cheminer vers cette vision.

Que voulons-nous changer?

Le modèle néolibéral qui domine l'économie mondiale a démontré à maintes reprises son incapacité à traiter les causes profondes de la pauvreté, des inégalités et de l'exclusion. En réalité, le néolibéralisme a même contribué à provoquer et à exacerber ces injustices.
 
Caractérisées par la mondialisation, la libéralisation, la privatisation, la financiarisation et l'aide conditionnelle, les politiques générales de développement de ces trois dernières décennies ont fait des ravages dans la vie et les moyens de subsistance de tous et toutes. Ces politiques ont également contribué sans faillir à creuser le fossé des inégalités, aux injustices de genre et à une destruction de l'environnement que le monde ne peut plus se permettre de supporter.
 
Il y a encore des personnes qui affirment qu’en donnant carte blanche aux sociétés et aux entreprises pour favoriser la croissance économique, le vent finira par atteindre les voiles de tous les navires.
 
Cependant, la notion du développement dominante au cours des dernières décennies,  qui repose en grande partie sur le principe d’une croissance économique illimitée, traverse actuellement une crise idéologique.
 
Le mythe de la croissance économique en tant que panacée capable de résoudre tous nos problèmes prend l’eau.


Voir également

Notre vision

5 menaces principales

Snippet - Intro WITM - ES

«¿Dónde está el dinero para las organizaciones feministas?»

La encuesta ha cerrado. ¡Muchas gracias!

Queremos expresar nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a todos los diversos grupos, colectivos y organizaciones feministas de todo el mundo que respondieron a la encuesta WITM. Su participación y sus puntos de vista han sido inestimables y enriquecerán enormemente nuestra comprensión colectiva de los recursos feministas a nivel mundial.

How did AWID get started?

AWID began in 1982 and has grown and transformed since then into a truly global organization.

Find out more:

Read From WID to GAD to Women's Rights: The First 20 Years of AWID

Snippet FEA Bauen Hotel (FR)

Un an seulement après sa fondation, les membres de Nadia Echazú ont commencé à travailler dans la haute couture et ont organisé un défilé de mode dans l'historique hôtel Bauen.

Elles ont montré cinq modèles et quelques travailleuses de la coopérative textile ont même défilé avec leurs propres créations.

C'était révolutionnaire non seulement parce qu'elles concevaient des alternatives à la mode grand public, mais aussi parce qu'elles créaient des vêtements accessibles et inclusifs pour les corps trans et travesti.

Il n'y a pas d'économies féministes sans vêtements qui nous font nous sentir incroyables et confortables!

Reclaiming the Commons

Definition

There are varied conceptualizations about the commons notes activist and scholar Soma Kishore Parthasarathy.

Conventionally, they are understood as natural resources intended for use by those who depend on their use. However, the concept of the commons has expanded to include the resources of knowledge, heritage, culture, virtual spaces, and even climate. It pre-dates the individual property regime and provided the basis for organization of society. Definitions given by government entities limit its scope to land and material resources.

The concept of the commons rests on the cultural practice of sharing livelihood spaces and resources as nature’s gift, for the common good, and for the sustainability of the common.

Context

Under increasing threat, nations and market forces continue to colonize, exploit and occupy humanity’s commons.

In some favourable contexts, the ‘commons’ have the potential to enable women, especially economically oppressed women, to have autonomy in how they are able to negotiate their multiple needs and aspirations.

Feminist perspective

Patriarchy is reinforced when women and other oppressed genders are denied access and control of the commons.

Therefore, a feminist economy seeks to restore the legitimate rights of communities to these common resources. This autonomy is enabling them to sustain themselves; while evolving more egalitarian systems of governance and use of such resources. A feminist economy acknowledges women’s roles and provides equal opportunities for decision-making, i.e. women as equal claimants to these resources.

Photo: Ana Abelenda / AWID, 2012

Learn more about this proposition

Part of our series of


  Feminist Propositions for a Just Economy

Snippet - WITM To make - FR

Pour rendre visible la diversité des formes de financement de l’organisation des mouvements féministes.

¿En qué temas trabaja AWID?

AWID trabaja para lograr la justicia de género y la realización de los derechos de las mujeres de todo el mundo.

Trabajamos para fortalecer las voces y el impacto de lxs activistas, organizaciones y movimientos por los derechos de las mujeres.

Las áreas prioritarias de AWID se relacionan con temas estrechamente vinculados con tendencias globales dominantes. Estos temas reflejan los crecientes desafíos que afectan negativamente a los derechos de las mujeres en todo el mundo.

  • Justicia Económica
  • Recursos para los Derechos de las Mujeres
  • Desafiando los Fundamentalismos Religiosos
  • Defensoras de los Derechos Humanos
  • Activismo Joven Feminista

Más información sobre las áreas prioritarias de AWID

Snippet FEA Georgia this is only the beginning (EN)

Georgia

Solidarity Network

 

THIS IS ONLY THE

BEGINNING

Key opposition strategies and tactics

Despite their rigidity in matters of doctrine and worldview, anti-rights actors have demonstrated an openness to building new kinds of strategic alliances, to new organizing techniques, and to new forms of rhetoric. As a result, their power in international spaces has increased.


There has been a notable evolution in the strategies of ultra conservative actors operating at this level. They do not only attempt to tinker at the edges of agreements and block certain language, but to transform the framework conceptually and develop alternative standards and norms, and avenues for influence.

Strategy 1: Training of UN delegates

Ultra conservative actors work to create and sustain their relationships with State delegates through regular training opportunities - such as the yearly Global Family Policy Forum - and targeted training materials.

These regular trainings and resources systematically brief delegates on talking points and negotiating techniques to further collaboration towards anti-rights objectives in the human rights system. Delegates also receive curated compilations of ‘consensus language’ and references to pseudo-scientific or statistical information to bolster their arguments.

The consolidated transmission of these messages explains in part why State delegates who take ultra-conservative positions in international human rights debates frequently do so in contradiction with their own domestic legislation and policies.

Strategy 2: Holding international convenings

Anti-rights actors’ regional and international web of meetings help create closer links between ultra conservative Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), States and State blocs, and powerful intergovernmental bodies. The yearly international World Congress of Families is one key example.

These convenings reinforce personal connections and strategic alliances, a key element for building and sustaining movements. They facilitate transnational, trans-religious and dynamic relationship-building around shared issues and interests, which leads to a more proactive approach and more holistic sets of asks at the international policy level on the part of anti-rights actors.

Strategy 3: Placing reservations on human rights agreements

States and State blocs have historically sought to undermine international consensus or national accountability under international human rights norms through reservations to human rights agreements, threatening the universal applicability of human rights.  

The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has received by far the most reservations, most of which are based on alleged conflict with religious law. It is well-established international human rights law that evocations of tradition, culture or religion cannot justify violations of human rights, and many reservations to CEDAW are invalid as they are “incompatible with the object and purpose” of CEDAW. Nevertheless, reference to these reservations is continually used by States to dodge their human rights responsibilities.

‘Reservations’ to UN documents and agreements that are not formal treaties - such as Human Rights Council and General Assembly resolutions - are also on the rise.

Strategy 4: Creating a parallel human rights framework

In an alarming development, regressive actors at the UN have begun to co-opt existing rights standards and campaign to develop agreed language that is deeply anti-rights.

The aim is to create and then propagate language in international human rights spaces that validates patriarchal, hierarchical, discriminatory, and culturally relativist norms.

One step towards this end is the drafting of declarative texts, such as the World Family Declaration and the San Jose Articles, that pose as soft human rights law. Sign-ons are gathered from multiple civil society, state, and institutional actors; and they are then used a basis for advocacy and lobbying.

Strategy 5: Developing  alternative ‘scientific’ sources

As part of a strategic shift towards the use of non-religious discourses, anti-rights actors have significantly invested in their own ‘social science’ think tanks. Given oxygen by the growing conservative media, materials from these think tanks are then widely disseminated by conservative civil society groups. The same materials are used as the basis for advocacy at the international human rights level.  

While the goals and motivation of conservative actors derive from their extreme interpretations of religion, culture, and tradition, such regressive arguments are often reinforced through studies that claim intellectual authority. A counter-discourse is thus produced through a heady mix of traditionalist doctrine and social science.

Strategy 6: Mobilizing Youth

This is one of the most effective strategies employed by the religious right and represents a major investment in the future of anti-rights organizing.

Youth recruitment and leadership development, starting at the local level with churches and campuses, are a priority for many conservative actors engaged at the international policy level.  

This strategy has allowed for infiltration of youth-specific spaces at the United Nations, including at the Commission on the Status of Women, and creates a strong counterpoint to progressive youth networks and organizations.

Key anti-rights strategies

Strategy 7: Defunding and delegitimizing human rights mechanisms

When it comes to authoritative expert mechanisms like the UN Special Procedures and Treaty Monitoring Bodies and operative bodies like the UN agencies, regressive groups realize their potential for influence is much lower than with political mechanisms[1].

In response, anti-rights groups spread the idea that UN agencies are ‘overstepping their mandate,’ that the CEDAW Committee and other Treaty Bodies have no authority to interpret their treaties, or that Special Procedures are partisan experts working outside of their mandate. Anti-rights groups have also successfully lobbied for the defunding of agencies such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

This invalidation of UN mechanisms gives fuel to state impunity. Governments, when under international scrutiny, can defend their action on the basis that the reviewing mechanism is itself faulty or overreaching.

Strategy 8: Organizing online

Conservative non-state actors increasingly invest in social media and other online platforms to promote their activities, campaign, and widely share information from international human rights spaces.

The Spanish organization CitizenGo, for example, markets itself as the conservative version of Change.org, spearheading petitions and letter-writing campaigns. One recent petition, opposing the establishment of a UN international day on safe abortion, gathered over 172,000 signatures.


Overarching Trends:

  • Learning from the organizing strategies of feminists and other progressives.
  • Replicating and adapting successful national-level tactics for the international sphere.
  • Moving from an emphasis on ‘symbolic protest’ to becoming subversive system ‘insiders.’

By understanding the strategies employed by anti-rights actors, we can be more effective in countering them.

 


[1] The fora that are state-led, like the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and UN conferences like the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission on Population and Development


Other Chapters

Read the full report