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.
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.
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;
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:
Mobilizing urgent responses of international solidarity for WHRDs at risk through our international and regional networks, and our active membership.
Related Content
Editor's Note | Lost For Words | Small Snippet AR
كلمة العدد
فقدان الكلام
عندما يصبح عملنا المتجسّد مادةً ربحية في أيدي الأنظمة التي نسعى إلى إزالتها فلا عجب أنّ جنسانيّاتنا وملذّاتنا توضَع جانباً من جديد، لا سيّما أنّها ليست مُربِحة بما فيه الكفاية. لقد تساءلنا، في مواقف عدّة خلال إنتاج هذا العدد، ما الذي سيحدث إذا رفضنا مراعاة خدمات الرأسمالية الأساسية؟ لكن هل نجرؤ على هذا التساؤل وقد أنهكنا العالم؟ ربما يتمّ تجاهل جنسانيّاتنا بهذه السهولة لأنها لا تُعتَبَر أشكالاً من أشكال الرعاية. ربما ما نحتاجه هو أن نعيد تصوّر الملذّة كشكلٍ من أشكال الرعاية الجذرية، تكون أيضاً مناهضة للرأسمالية وللمؤسساتية.
Ika Vantiani is an Indonesian artist, curator and crafter based in Jakarta. Her works explores the idea of being a woman in today’s society with the intertwined between media and consumption. Ika uses the discipline of collage and expands it into workshop, installation, and street art. Ika is the member of artist collectives including Micro Galleries, The Collage Club and It’s In Your Hands Collective.
"Nous utilisons les outils dont nous disposons pour partager notre résistance, nos stratégies et continuer à renforcer notre pouvoir d'agir et de créer de nouveaux mondes courageux et justes."
We ramped up preparations for the 13th AWID international Forum, focused a lot of energy on the Post 2015 Development Agenda and Financing for Development processes, and continued the core work of our priority areas:
We continue witnessing the rapid breakdown in democracy and democratic institutions, with spaces for dissent shrinking.
Multiple and concurrent systemic crises (energy, food, finance and climate) continue to deepen inequalities and pose major challenges.
Corporations are a leading power in determining the development agenda.
Violence against WHRDs remains an urgent problem.
Religious fundamentalisms are pervasive and increasingly powerful.
New forms of online gender-based violence have emerged.
In response, we are moving out of our silos.
Increasingly, women’s rights and other movements worldwide are articulating the systemic and intersectional nature of these and other problems. We are making better connections with the agendas of other social and environmental movements for solidarity, alliance building and collective responses. We are also seeing greater visibility of these movements fighting for justice on the ground.
Our Impact
For effective strategizing and advocacy, we need facts
To exchange knowledge and join hands in solidarity, we need a strong online community
To build our collective power, we need to work together
To influence international processes, we need to increase our access and voice
To reposition power we need to give visibility and emphasize the important role that feminist and women’s rights movements are already playing
Caroline Tagny, Coalition of African Lesbians
Carrie Shelver, Sexual Rights Initiative
Emeline Dupuis, Sexual Rights Initiative
Pooja Badarinath, Sexual Rights Initiative
Pooja Patel, International Service for Human Rights
Antje Schupp
Taller Realidades Feministas:
Casas de Respiro y Sanación para Defensoras
Ana María Hernández Cárdenas, Consorcio Oaxaca
Nallely Tello Méndez, Red Nacional de Defensoras de Derechos Humanos en México
Jelena Dordevic Liana Funes, National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Honduras
Rebeca Girón
Tania Lopes Muri, Movimento de Mulheres da Região dos Lagos
Rogéria Peixinho
Movimiento Fem Fiesta Bailable Espectacular para Afiliadxs
DJ Cozmic Cat
Historias Educación sin ataduras:
la historia de Fatoumata
Taller Voces desde el frente:
Afianzar el poder colectivo para terminar con el encarcelamiento de mujeres en todo el mundo
Claudia A. Cardona, Mujeres Libres Colombia
Phyllis Hardy, National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls
Grace Natalia, Womxn’s Voice and Women and Harm Reduction International Network
Mónica Marginet Flinch, Metzineres
Kenya Cuevas, Casa de las Muñecas Tiresias A.C.
Dawn Harrington, Free Hearts
Taller Movimiento como sanación,
Sanación para los movimientos
Kimalee Phillip
Luz Stella Uspina Murillo, Fondo Acción Urgente para América Latina y el Caribe
Sara Munarriz-Awad, Fondo Acción Urgente para América Latina y el Caribe
Tai Pelli
Everdith (Evie) Landrau
Taller Liderazgo feminista emergente:
levantando mientras escalamos
Deborah A, Black LGBTQ Migrant Project (BLMP)
Anima Adjepong, Silent Majority
Maame Adwoa Marfo, FRIDA
Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah, Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity
Panel El placer a través de las fronteras
Lindiwe Rasekoala
Lizzie Kiama
Jovana Drodevic
Malaka Grant
Ganna Dovbakh, Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA)
Priscila Gadelha, Rede Nacional de Feministas Antiproibicionistas (RENFA)
Veronica Russo, Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe de Personas que Usan Drogas (LANPUD)
Diana Edem, Heartland Alliance International
Judy Chang, International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD)
Louise Vincent, NC Urban Survivors Union
Aura Roig, Metzineres
Malicia, Live Artist
Panel Feministas jóvenes por el clima construyendo futuros radicales
Lanzamiento del video y Conversatorio
Sanam Amin, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
Maggie Mapondera, Womin African Alliance
Maria Alejandra Escalente, FRIDA
Patricia Miranda Wattimena, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact
Mara Dolan, WEDO
Andrea Vega Troncoso, WEDO
Grace Chang, Taiwan Association for Disability Rights
Angel Hsu, Taiwan Association for Disability Rights
Joyann Peng, Taiwan Association for Disability Rights
Amy Wu, Taiwan Association for Disability Rights
Taller Apoyo a la autogestión:
doulas para el aborto, acompañantes, asistencia telefónica y redes radicales de apoyo
Aditi Pinto, Inroads
Daniela Tellez Del Valle, Di RAMONA
Sandra Cardona, Necesito Abortar México
Mickreen Adhiambo, Aunty Jane Hotline and MAMA Network
Zachi Brewster, Dopo Abortion Support
Ika Ayi, Samsara