Confronting Extractivism & Corporate Power
Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) worldwide defend their lands, livelihoods and communities from extractive industries and corporate power. They stand against powerful economic and political interests driving land theft, displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods, and environmental degradation.
Why resist extractive industries?
Extractivism is an economic and political model of development that commodifies nature and prioritizes profit over human rights and the environment. Rooted in colonial history, it reinforces social and economic inequalities locally and globally. Often, Black, rural and Indigenous women are the most affected by extractivism, and are largely excluded from decision-making. Defying these patriarchal and neo-colonial forces, women rise in defense of rights, lands, people and nature.
Critical risks and gender-specific violence
WHRDs confronting extractive industries experience a range of risks, threats and violations, including criminalization, stigmatization, violence and intimidation. Their stories reveal a strong aspect of gendered and sexualized violence. Perpetrators include state and local authorities, corporations, police, military, paramilitary and private security forces, and at times their own communities.
Acting together
AWID and the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD-IC) are pleased to announce “Women Human Rights Defenders Confronting Extractivism and Corporate Power”; a cross-regional research project documenting the lived experiences of WHRDs from Asia, Africa and Latin America.
We encourage activists, members of social movements, organized civil society, donors and policy makers to read and use these products for advocacy, education and inspiration.
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"Women Human Rights Defenders confronting extractive industries: an overview of critical risks and Human Rights obligations" is a policy report with a gender perspective. It analyses forms of violations and types of perpetrators, quotes relevant human rights obligations and includes policy recommendations to states, corporations, civil society and donors.
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"Weaving resistance through action: Strategies of Women Human Rights Defenders confronting extractive industries" is a practical guide outlining creative and deliberate forms of action, successful tactics and inspiring stories of resistance.
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The video “Defending people and planet: Women confronting extractive industries” puts courageous WHRDs from Africa, Asia, and Latin America in the spotlight. They share their struggles for land and life, and speak to the risks and challenges they face in their activism.
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Challenging corporate power: Struggles for women’s rights, economic and gender justice is a research paper outlining the impacts of corporate power and offering insights into strategies of resistance.
Share your experience and questions!
◾️ How can these resources support your activism and advocacy?
◾️ What additional information or knowledge do you need to make the best use of these resources?
Thank you!
AWID acknowledges with gratitude the invaluable input of every Woman Human Rights Defender who participated in this project. This project was made possible thanks to your willingness to generously and openly share your experiences and learnings. Your courage, creativity and resilience is an inspiration for us all. Thank you!
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Snippet - WITM RESOURCES - FR
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Mayo 2015: tienen lugar las consultas sobre el Borrador del Documento Final
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Could there be multiple responses to the WITM survey on behalf of a specific group?
No, we are asking for just one completed survey per group.
María Verónica Reina
María was recognized globally for her extraordinary leadership in the disability community.
She represented the International Disability and Development Consortium during the negotiation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2001-2006).
Her work was devoted to the implementation of the goal of the Convention - realization of universal human rights by, for and with persons with disabilities for an inclusive, accessible and sustainable world.
In her words, her leadership was about “...serving the disability community, starting with small tasks that others may not wish to do”.
She passed away on October 27, 2017 in her hometown of Rosario, Argentina.
Read more about María Verónica Reina in her own words
Chinelo Onwualu Snippet | AR

تشينيلو أونوالو، مستشارة في الشؤون التحرِيرية، مع 10 سنوات من الخبرة في صياغة الاتصالات الاستراتيجية للمنظمات غير الربحية في جميع أنحاء العالم. من بين عملائها منظمة ActionAid Nigeria و BBC World Trust و Open Society Initiative for West Africa و AWID. حائزة على درجة الماجستير في الصحافة من جامعة سيراكيوز. عملت كاتبة ومحررة وباحثة في نيجيريا وكندا والولايات المتحدة. وهي أيضًا محررة في مجلة Anathema والمؤسس المشارك في Omenana، وهي مجلة من قصص الخيال الأفريقي. ظهرت قصصها القصيرة في العديد من المختارات الحائزة على جوائز، ورُشّحت لجوائز الخيال العلمي البريطانية، وجوائز نومو للخيال الأفريقي المضارب، وجائزة يوم القصة الافريقية القصيرة. تشينيلو من نيجيريا لكنها تعيش في تورنتو مع شريكها وطفلها.
Amanda Castro
Comment participer ?
- Visitez le site officiel de la Conférence FdD3 pour obtenir plus de détails et vous tenir au courant des dernières nouvelles.
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Rejoignez le Groupe de travail des femmes sur le financement du développement (site en anglais) pour en savoir plus sur leur contribution au processus sur le FdD (ou envoyez un email à l’adresse suivante : wwgonffd@gmail.com) ;
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Rejoignez le Groupe des OSC sur le FdD (ou envoyez un email à l’adresse addiscoordinatinggroup@gmail.com pour demander à vous joindre au groupe Google suivant : https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/global-social-economy).
D'autres liens importants :
- La section spéciale de discussion de l'AWID sur le FdD3
- Women’s Major Group
- Post-2015 Women’s Coalition
- WWG on FfD
- La section spéciale de discussion de l’AWID sur le programme de développement pour l'après-2015
- Le Groupe des OSC pour la troisième Conférence sur le FdD (CSOs for the 3rd FfD conference)
- RightingFinance
- Le site officiel de la conférence (en anglais)
¿Puedo responder la encuesta por fuera de KOBO y compartir las respuestas con ustedes a través de correo electrónico?
Salvo que existan cuestiones de accesibilidad o que respondas la encuesta en otro idioma, alentamos encarecidamente a usar KOBO a los efectos de contar con una recopilación y un análisis de datos estandarizados para la investigación ¿Dónde está el dinero?
Asma Jahangir
Asma fue una destacada activista pakistaní por los derechos humanos, valiente crítica de la interferencia de los militares en la política, y firme defensora del estado de derecho.
Fue la fundadora y presidenta de la Human Rights Commission of Pakistan [Comisión de Derechos Humanos de Pakistán, un grupo independiente], y una de las administradoras del International Crisis Group. Obtuvo premios internacionales, y fue Relatora Especial de Naciones Unidas sobre derechos humanos y ejecuciones extrajudiciales.
Es recordada con afecto por sus colegas y amigxs de AWID
«Con su vida, Asma reescribió la historia que a muchas nos contaron, como mujeres. Asma cambió el mundo. Lo cambió en Pakistán, y lo cambió en nuestras imaginaciones.»
#MeToo in China Snippet EN
#MeToo in China
#MeToo in China Exhibition was first held in 2019 and toured in 5 cities. The aim of the exhibition is to bring the personal experiences of the victims and activists to greater prominence and, through engagement with these stories, to inspire our audience to join in the fight. The exhibition has itself become a part of the #MeToo struggle—the exhibition has been beset by challenges on its tour throughout China, on more than one occasion even facing closure.
Cynthia Nicole
I am not able to submit a written proposal, are you accepting any other formats?
As part of our commitment to accessibility in all aspects of the AWID Forum we are accepting audio/video formats for those individuals/organizations/groups who can't submit a written application.
If you choose to send your proposal in an audio/video format, kindly follow the same order to answer the questions as detailed in the Activity Proposal Form.
To submit an audio/video file please Contact us, selecting Forum Call for Activities as the subject of your email.
Combien y a-t-il de questions dans l’enquête?
Il y a 47 questions au total, dont 27 obligatoires* et 20 autres facultatives. La plupart sont des questions à choix multiple. Nous vous invitons à répondre à toutes les questions.
Olivia Arévalo Lomas
Olivia était la cheffe spirituelle des peuples autochtones Shipibo Konibo.
Sage femme et grand-mère autochtone, elle était connue pour sa préservation de la médecine traditionnelle et des chants sacrés de son peuple (les íkaros). Olivia Arévalo était une défenseure engagée en faveur des droits culturels et environnementaux de son peuple. L’assassinat d’Olivia s’est produit dans un contexte de conflit territorial entre la communauté Shipibo et les entreprises qui souhaitent s’accaparer leurs terres pour cultiver de l’huile de palme.
Les membres de sa communauté ont déclaré: « Sa mort est une agression contre toute la communauté Shipibo. Elle était la mémoire vivante de son peuple ».
Ika Vantiani Snippet ES
Ika Vantiani
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