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.

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?

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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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Annaliza Dinopol Gallardo Capinpin

Category
Environment
Region
Pacific
Date of death / disappearance
Cause of death / disappearance

Shot

Known as “Ate Liza,” Annaliza was the president of the Agrarian Reform Council for Mindanao Pioneers, an umbrella group in Tacurong City, Philippines.

A loved mother of four, teacher and community leader, Annaliza is remembered by her community as “she who leads when no one wants to lead, she who talks when no one wants to talk, she who stood with courage to help the agrarian reform beneficiaries to own lands.”

Annaliza was shot dead by unknown assailants in front of the Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) while on her way to Salabaca National High School in Esperanza.

Her family have said “Naghihintay pa rin kami ng hustisya para sa kanya” (we are still waiting justice for her).

 

Statements

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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)

Estoy viviendo una situación de violencia en una o más de mis relaciones, ¿AWID puede abogar en mi nombre?

AWID no es una organización que brinde servicios directos ni que defienda casos individuales

Te recomendamos buscar asesoría legal y ponerte en contacto con un refugio para mujeres o un centro de referencia en tu área.

Las "HotPeachPages" son un recurso en línea que ofrece enlaces a albergues para mujeres en todo el mundo. AWID no puede dar fe de la exactitud o la calidad de las instituciones que aparecen en esos listados, pero podría ser un buen lugar por donde empezar si no conoces organizaciones en tu zona.

Riham Al-Bader

Category
Derechos civiles y políticos
Region
Asia Occidental
Date of death / disappearance
Cause of death / disappearance

Asesinada 

Riham fue una abogada y activista comprometida con el registro y denuncia de las violaciones de derechos en Yemen.

Trabajó junto a otrxs activistas en el suministro de agua y alimentos para la población civil atrapada por las milicias huzíes en las afueras de la ciudad de Taiz.

Riham fue asesinada en febrero de 2018 pero todavía no se confirmó si la mató un francotirador o si fue alcanzada por los disparos de una aeronave. No se ha imputado a nadie por su homicidio.

 

Riham Al Bader, Yemen

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Asociación de Mujeres Afrodescendientes del Norte del Cauca

La organización comunitaria de mujeres negras en la región del Norte del Cauca en Colombia se remonta al pasado colonial del país, que está marcado por el racismo, el patriarcado y el capitalismo que sustentaron la esclavitud como un medio para explotar los ricos suelos de la región.

Estas organizadoras son las heroínas de un amplio movimiento por la autonomía negra, que lucha por el uso sostenible de los bosques y los recursos naturales de la región como elementos vitales para su cultura y sustento.

Durante 25 años, la Asociación de Mujeres Afrodescendientes del Norte del Cauca (ASOM) se ha dedicado a impulsar la organización de mujeres afrocolombianas en el Norte del Cauca. Se establecieron en 1997 como respuesta a las continuas violaciones de derechos humanos, la ausencia de políticas públicas, el manejo inadecuado de los recursos naturales y la falta de oportunidades para las mujeres en el territorio.

Han forjado la lucha para asegurar los derechos étnico-territoriales, para poner fin a la violencia contra las mujeres y obtener el reconocimiento del papel de las mujeres en la construcción de la paz en Colombia.

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To share your lived experience with mobilizing funding for your organizing

2007: la participation de la société civile est renforcée par la création du WWG sur le FdD

Le Groupe de travail des femmes sur le financement du développement   (Women's Working Group on Financing for Development – WWG on FfD) , une alliance composée d’organisations et de réseaux de défense des droits des femmes,  a été créée en octobre 2007 pour mener, dans le cadre des processus des Nations Unies sur le FdD, des activités de plaidoyer en faveur de l’égalité de genre, de l’autonomisation des femmes et des droits humains.

Troisième Dialogue de haut niveau sur le financement du développement, 23-25 octobre 2007

  • Le troisième Dialogue de haut niveau sur le financement du développement a été l’occasion d’un regain de participation de la société civile. En plus des six tables rondes, des audiences ont été consacrées à la société civile et au secteur privé.
  • Lors de la séance plénière, l’AWID a prononcé une déclaration au nom de la société civile  appelant les gouvernements à accorder une attention plus soutenue au rôle important en tant qu’agentes de développement que jouent les organisations de défense des droits des femmes et à la nécessité de favoriser la mise en œuvre de nouveaux mécanismes de financement destinés aux femmes dans les pays en développement et dans les pays les moins avancés. Cette déclaration exhortait les gouvernements à apporter un soutien plus important à l’architecture de genre des Nations Unies, de façon à ce que le système,  dans son ensemble,  puisse progresser dans son engagement en faveur de l’égalité des genres, de l’autonomisation des femmes et des droits humains, en ce qui concerne notamment  les droits économiques, sociaux, culturels et environnementaux de toutes les personnes.

So'oalo Roger

Category
Droits des LGBTQI
Region
Pacifique
Cause of death / disappearance

Naturelle

So'oalo était une fervente défenseure des droits humains, notamment en ce qui concerne les droits de la communauté LGBTQI dans le Pacifique.

Elle était membre de la Samoa Fa’afafine Association (SFA) et militait avec passion pour la reconnaissance d’un troisième genre dans le pays insulaire. Sous sa direction, la SFA a fait pression pour la reconnaissance du bien-fondé des droits de la communauté des fa’afafine et leur respect.

Elle a également été une pionnière dans l’articulation des liens entre les droits humains, l’exploitation des fa’afafines à Samoa et dans le Pacifique et la santé, le bien-être et la sécurité de la communauté LGBTQI.

Inspirante et visionnaire, on se souviendra de son dévouement admirable au service des droits de sa communauté.

 

So'oalo Roger, Samoa

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MANO CAMBIADA

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Terme des communautés noires du Cauca du Nord pour la minga, le travail collaboratif dans les fermes, basé sur l'entraide et la solidarité.

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Globe

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2014: Intergovernmental preparatory process for the 3rd FfD Conference is launched

Launch of the Intergovernmental preparatory process for the 3rd Financing for Development Conference, October 2014

  • A preparatory process, co-facilitated by Ambassador George Wilfred Talbot of Guyana and Ambassador Geir O. Pedersen of Norway, was put in place to lead discussions ahead of the 3rd FfD conference to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in July 2015.
  • As part of the preparations, two rounds of substantive informal sessions were held at the UN headquarters in New York to provide input to the drafting sessions of the outcome document.
  • The WWG on FfD was re-activated with the aim of bringing feminist and women’s rights perspectives to the discussions and deliberations ahead of and during the 3rd International FfD Conference. AWID, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) and the Feminist Task Force (FTF) are currently acting as co-facilitators of the group.
  • The WWG on FfD’s submitted two oral statements during the first round, and written input to the second round of substantive informal sessions, which highlighted that gender inequality was not visible, nor was the inclusion of other types of discrimination and inequalities. The WWG’s submission highlights gender power relations and the intersections with other categories such as race, disability, ethnicity, age, wealth and sexual identity, which underpin the unequal distribution of opportunities and resources in societies around the world.
  • Civil society organizations raised concerns about the space for their engagement in the two substantive informal sessions, including the risk that civil society space to engage in negotiations on the outcome document in January 2015 might be constricted. 

Mariam Uy Acob

Category
Civil & Political Rights
Region
Pacific
Cause of death / disappearance

Killed

Mariam was a paralegal at the Kawagib Moro Human Rights Alliance. 

Mariam was a staunch critic of militarization in Moro communities, and consistently denounced aerial bombardment and encampment. She had to seek sanctuary after exposing and calling out the injustices committed against Muslim communities in the Philippines.

She is believed to have been killed by suspected military agents because of her work as a WHRD. The assailants who killed Mariam waited for her, caught up with the vehicle she was using and shot her seven times. 

 

Mariam Uy Acob, Philippines

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Metzineres has supported over:

383

people

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 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.