Kader Ortakaya
Women Human Rights Defenders
WHRDs are self-identified women and lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LBTQI) people and others who defend rights and are subject to gender-specific risks and threats due to their human rights work and/or as a direct consequence of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
WHRDs are subject to systematic violence and discrimination due to their identities and unyielding struggles for rights, equality and justice.
The WHRD Program collaborates with international and regional partners as well as the AWID membership to raise awareness about these risks and threats, advocate for feminist and holistic measures of protection and safety, and actively promote a culture of self-care and collective well being in our movements.
Risks and threats targeting WHRDs
WHRDs are exposed to the same types of risks that all other defenders who defend human rights, communities, and the environment face. However, they are also exposed to gender-based violence and gender-specific risks because they challenge existing gender norms within their communities and societies.
By defending rights, WHRDs are at risk of:
- Physical assault and death
- Intimidation and harassment, including in online spaces
- Judicial harassment and criminalization
- Burnout
A collaborative, holistic approach to safety
We work collaboratively with international and regional networks and our membership
- to raise awareness about human rights abuses and violations against WHRDs and the systemic violence and discrimination they experience
- to strengthen protection mechanisms and ensure more effective and timely responses to WHRDs at risk
We work to promote a holistic approach to protection which includes:
- emphasizing the importance of self-care and collective well being, and recognizing that what care and wellbeing mean may differ across cultures
- documenting the violations targeting WHRDs using a feminist intersectional perspective;
- promoting the social recognition and celebration of the work and resilience of WHRDs ; and
- building civic spaces that are conducive to dismantling structural inequalities without restrictions or obstacles
Our Actions
We aim to contribute to a safer world for WHRDs, their families and communities. We believe that action for rights and justice should not put WHRDs at risk; it should be appreciated and celebrated.
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Promoting collaboration and coordination among human rights and women’s rights organizations at the international level to strengthen responses concerning safety and wellbeing of WHRDs.
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Supporting regional networks of WHRDs and their organizations, such as the Mesoamerican Initiative for WHRDs and the WHRD Middle East and North Africa Coalition, in promoting and strengthening collective action for protection - emphasizing the establishment of solidarity and protection networks, the promotion of self-care, and advocacy and mobilization for the safety of WHRDs;
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Increasing the visibility and recognition of WHRDs and their struggles, as well as the risks that they encounter by documenting the attacks that they face, and researching, producing, and disseminating information on their struggles, strategies, and challenges:
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Mobilizing urgent responses of international solidarity for WHRDs at risk through our international and regional networks, and our active membership.
Related Content
Snippet FEA EoS The Howl (ES)
El Aullido
Participación y activismo
¿Qué está en juego en este proceso para los derechos de las mujeres?
La financiación para el desarrollo encierra amenazas y oportunidades concretas para los derechos de las mujeres y los derechos humanos de todas las personas. Una financiación y políticas para el desarrollo que sean transformadoras pueden constituir un aporte importante para los cambios sistémicos que se necesitan a fin de garantizar el respeto, la protección y la realización de los derechos humanos de las mujeres.
El año 2015 es importante en el proceso de la FpD. La tercera Conferencia Internacional sobre la FpD tuvo lugar del 13 al 16 de julio de 2015 en Adís Abeba, Etiopía, y los gobiernos están finalizando la Agenda de Desarrollo Post-2015 que incluye acuerdos acerca de cómo se van a financiar los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible.
En su actual etapa, el proceso de la FpD ofrece una oportunidad importante para fijar un marco de financiación que garantice un apoyo financiero efectivo para la implementación de la Agenda Post-2015 y de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS). También constituye una oportunidad para abordar las condiciones estructurales y los cambios sistémicos necesarios para la plena implementación de otras agendas y compromisos como los tratados internacionales de derechos humanos y la Plataforma de Acción de Beijing.
En estos últimos trece años, organizaciones por los derechos de las mujeres y feministas han participado activamente en el proceso de la FpD.
¿Puedo compartir la encuesta con otrxs?
¡Sí, por favor! Te alentamos a compartir el enlace a la encuesta con tus redes. Cuanto más diversas sean las opiniones que recolectemos, más completa será nuestra comprensión del panorama financiero para las organizaciones feministas.
Snippet FEA We are living in a world (FR)
Nous vivons dans un monde où la destruction de la Nature alimente notre économie mondiale actuelle. |
Même en période de crise climatique, les gouvernements continuent d'encourager les industries agricoles à grande échelle à se développer. Ces activités empoisonnent la terre, menacent la biodiversité et détruisent la production alimentaire et les moyens de subsistance locaux. Pendant ce temps, alors que les femmes produisent la majorité de la nourriture dans le monde, elles ne possèdent presque aucune terre. |
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Et si nous percevions la terre et la Nature non pas comme une propriété privée à exploiter, mais comme une totalité avec laquelle vivre, apprendre et coexister harmonieusement ? Et si nous réparions nos relations avec la terre et adoptions des alternatives plus durables qui nourrissent à la fois la planète et ses communautés? Nous Sommes la Solution (NSS) est l'un des nombreux mouvements dirigés par des femmes qui s'efforcent d'atteindre cet objectif. Voici leur histoire. |
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I’m trying to submit a proposal but the online form is not working?
For any questions related to the Call for Forum Activities please contact us, selecting Forum Call for Activities as the subject of your email.
Tonya Gonella Frichner
Snippet - WITM To share - RU
Чтобы поделиться опытом финансирования в вашей организации
Snippet FEA Agroecology And Food (FR)
AGROÉCOLOGIE ET SOUVERAINETÉ ALIMENTAIRE EN TANT QUE RÉSISTANCE |
Aujourd'hui, la production alimentaire industrielle à grande échelle utilise des plantations à culture unique, des organismes génétiquement modifiés et d'autres pesticides qui détruisent la terre et les connaissances des communautés locales. |
L'agroécologie est une résistance à l'agriculture hyper-industrialisée qu’utilisent les multinationales. L'agroécologie donne la priorité à l'agriculture à plus petite échelle, aux cultures multiples et à la production alimentaire diversifiée, tout en centrant les connaissances et pratiques traditionnelles locales. L'agroécologie va de pair avec les revendications de souveraineté alimentaire, ou le "droit des peuples à une alimentation saine et culturellement appropriée produite par des méthodes écologiquement rationnelles et durables, et leur droit de définir leurs propres systèmes alimentaires et agricoles" (Via Campesina, Déclaration de Nyéléni).
Le rôle des femmes, des communautés indigènes et rurales et des personnes racialisées des pays du Sud Global est essentiel dans la préservation des systèmes alimentaires.
Les agroécologistes féministes s'efforcent aussi de démanteler les rôles de genre oppressifs et les systèmes patriarcaux intégrés à la production alimentaire. Comme le montrent les héroïnes de Nous Sommes la Solution, elles génèrent une agroécologie libératrice en renforçant la résilience des communautés, en autonomisant les femmes paysannes et agricultrices tout en en préservant les traditions locales, les territoires et les connaissances des communautés productrices de nourriture.
How much does registration cost?
This information will only be available when registration opens.
Our Companion Sites
The Young Feminist Wire
An online community for and by young feminists working on women’s human rights, gender equality and social justice around the world.
The Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs)
The platform is the go-to place for information and resources on safeguarding the universality of rights in international and regional human rights spaces.
The Young Feminist Fund-FRIDA
Provides funding for young feminist-led initiatives. It aims to strengthen the capacity of young feminist organizations to leverage resources for their work and to increase donors’ and allies’ commitments to resourcing young feminist activism.
Online Directory of Urgent Responses for WHRDs
A go-to site to learn about the urgent responses undertaken to protect women human rights defenders and to find tools and resources to support the work and wellness of WHRDs.
IM-Defensoras (Mesoamerican Initiative for Women Human Rights Defenders)
A regional initiative created to prevent, respond, document and make public all cases of violence against women human rights defenders in the Mesoamerican region.
The WHRD International Coalition
The WHRD IC is a resource and advocacy network for the protection and support of women human rights defenders worldwide.
Post-2015 Women´s Coalition
A Coalition of feminist, women´s rights, women´s development, grassroots and social justice organisations working to challenge and reframe teh global development agenda.
Women´s Major Group on Development
The role of the Women’s Major Group is to assure effective public participation of women’s non-governmental groups in the UN policy processes on Sustainable Development, Post2015 and Environmental matters.
Women Working Group on Financing for Development
An alliance of women’s organizations and networks to advocate for the advancement of gender equality, women’s empowerment and human rights in the Financing for Development (FfD) related UN processes.
Barbara Bergmann
Snippet - WITM Start the survey 1 - PT
O inquérito está disponível em árabe, inglês, francês, português, russo e espanhol!
Snippet FEA NSS uplifts and grows (EN)
Nous Sommes la Solution uplifts and grows the leadership of rural women working towards African solutions for food sovereignty.
What languages will be included in the Forum?
English, French, Spanish and Mandarin.
English article
English article created from Spanish site
Angiza Shinwari
Snippet - WITM about research - AR
عن استطلاع "أين المال"
استطلاع "اين المال" (أين التمويل للتنظيمات النسوية) هو ركيزة أساسية للنسخة الثالثة لأبحاثنا الموجهة نحو العمل. سيتم بحث وتوسيع نتائج الاستطلاع من خلال المحادثات العميقة مع النشطاء/ الناشطات والممولين/ات وسيتم مقارنة النتائج مع تحليلات وبحوث أخرى عن وضع التمويل للحركات النسوية وحركات العدالة الجندرية.
سيتم نشر تقرير أين المال للتنظيمات النسوية في العام 
2026.
لمعرفة المزيد عن كيف تسلّط جمعية حقوق المرأة في التنمية الضوء على على تمويل التنظيمات النسوية أو ضدها، انظروا إلى قصة "أين المال" وتقارير سابقة هنا
Snippet FEA Avellaneda, Gran Buenos Aires (ES)
Avellaneda, Gran Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cooperativa Textil Nadia Echazú
Tejiendo
VIDAS
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.