Moushmi Narain
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.
-
"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.
-
"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.
-
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.
-
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!
Tell us how you are using the resources on WHRDs Confronting extractivism and corporate power.
◾️ 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?
◾️ 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!
Related Content
Snippet - CSW68 - Follow Socials - EN
Follow us!
Through in-person events, lives on our socials, an exhibit booth and more; we are showing up to convene, amplify and support the voices and participation of our members, partners and allies.
Together we will Reclaim Feminist Power by uplifting feminist alternatives and visions around economies that center collective systems of care and nurture both the planet and people.
Follow us on social media for more details on how to participate! Be part of the conversations using the hashtags #AWIDatCSW68 and #ReclaimFeministPower.
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | X (Twitter)
Snippet FEA Housing is a right (FR)
Le logement est un droit | Les soins soutiennent la vie
Leyla Yıldızhan (Deniz Fırat)
What happens to the activity proposals submitted through the CfA?
- Activity proposals will initially be screened by AWID staff.
- Organizers of shortlisted proposals will then be invited to participate in a voting process, to choose among the shortlisted activities. Those with the most votes will be included in the Forum program. AWID may make a few adjustments to the final selection to ensure our program has an adequate balance across regions, constituencies, issues and methodologies.
- Our Forum Content and Methodology Committee will reach out to the organizers of selected proposals to support them in further developing their activities.
We will update the outcomes of this process in the website in due time.
English title
This is an English article
- translated from the French article
Matilde Lindo Crisanto
Snippet - WITM To share - EN
To share your lived experience with mobilizing funding for your organizing
Snippet FEA ASOM’s activists in encounters (EN)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
ASOM’s activists in encounters, parades and events
Jennifer López
Do I need a visa to attend the Forum in Taipei?
You DO NOT need a visa to attend the Forum in Taipei if you hold a passport from one of the following countries (the allowed length of your stay varies from one country to another):
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan*, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Island, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu, the United Kingdom, the United States of America,and Vatican City State, Belize, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Nauru, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore.
People with any other passport WILL NEED A VISA to come to Taipei.
Please note:
It is likely that, once you have registered to attend the Forum, you will get an event-related code that will allow you to apply for your visa electronically regardless of your citizenship.
We will let you know more about this when the Registration opens.
Activismo en el Medio Oriente y África del Norte
En nuestro Tributo Virtual 2015 honramos a cinco defensoras de derechos humanos asesinadas en la región de Medio Oriente y África del Norte. Estas defensoras trabajaron por los derechos de las mujeres y los derechos civiles, en su rol de abogadas y activistas. Sus muertes ponen en evidencia las condiciones de trabajo peligrosas y difíciles que, a menudo, imperan en sus países. Únete a AWID para honrar a estas mujeres, su activismo y su legado, compartiendo los memes aquí incluidos con tus colegas, amistades y redes; y tuiteando las etiquetas #WHRDTribute y #16Días.
Por favor, haz click en cada imagen de abajo para ver una versión más grande y para descargar como un archivo.
[scald=2417:sdl_editor_representation]
Natalia Estemirova
Snippet - WITM Start the survey 1 - FR
L’enquête est disponible en français, anglais, arabe, espagnol, portugais et russe!
Snippet FEA Aura Roig (ES)
Ven a conocer a Aura Roig, activista feminista visionaria, antropologa y directora-fundadora de la cooperativa Metzineres.
Dedicó las últimas dos décadas a la investigación, el diseño y la implementación de políticas con perspectivas de reducción de daños, derechos humanos y feminismo interseccional.
Después de experimentar y aprender de comunidades que usan drogas a través del mundo, volvió a Barcelona y creó la Xarxa de Dones que Usen Drogues (la Red de Mujeres que Usan Drogas, XADUD). XADUD era un espacio de apoyo mutuo y de solidaridad con la lucha por los derechos de los grupos marginalizados que, más tarde, se convirtió en la cooperativa Metzineres.
Actualmente, Aura está trabajando para expandir el modelo Metzineres y brindar apoyo a grupos más grandes, al mismo tiempo que documenta ampliamente su prolífico viaje y aprendizaje.
Jane Julia de Oliveira
Faire progresser les mouvements
En Europe de l’Ouest et du Sud-Est ces défenseuses des droits humains ont voué leur vie à mener des campagnes ou des recherches. Elles ont été membres de différents mouvements pour la paix ou pour les droits des femmes et ont contribué à les faire évoluer par le biais de l'action politique, de l’activisme social ou à travers la danse. Nous les remercions infiniment pour l'héritage qu'elles nous ont laissé. Nous vous invitons à vous joindre à l’AWID pour rendre hommage à ces femmes, à leur activisme et à l’héritage qu’elles nous ont laissé. Faites ces mèmes auprès de vos collègues et amis ainsi que dans vos réseaux et en twittez en utilisant les hashtags #WHRDTribute et #16Jours.
S'il vous plaît cliquez sur chaque image ci-dessous pour voir une version plus grande et pour télécharger comme un fichier
[scald=2453:sdl_editor_representation]
Nuala Fennell
Snippet - WITM about research col 2 - EN
The full “Where is the Money for Feminist Organizing” report will be published in 2026.
To learn more how AWID has been shining a light on money for and against feminist movements check out the work of our Resourcing Feminist Movements Initiative here.