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
لقد تقدمت بطلب للمشاركة في المنتدى السابق، هل أحتاج إلى إعادة التقديم؟
نعم من فضلك. لقد تغير العالم منذ عام 2021 ونحن ندعوك لتقديم مقترح يعكس واقعك وأولوياتك الحالية.
Do you produce an annual report?
Yes, we do produce annual reports.
All our annual reports are accessible online.
Snippet Video C&H (FR)
มีมาตราการอย่างไรในการปกป้องด้านสาธารณสุขและควบคุมการระบาดของโรคโควิด19
เราจับตาดูเรื่องนี้และความเสี่ยงอื่นๆอย่างระมัดระวัง และจะนำเสนอข้อมูลด้านสุขภาพและความปลอดภัยที่คลอบคลุมเมื่อมีการเปิดให้ลงทะเบียน เพื่อให้คุณสามารถตัดสินใจได้อย่างมีข้อมูล มากกว่านั้นการจัดประชุมแบบสองรูปแบบ(ออนไลน์และกายภาพ)ถูกออกแบบให้ให้เกิดการมีส่วนร่วมอย่างมีความหมายสำหรับผู้เข้าร่วมที่เลือกจะไม่เดินทาง หรือผู้เข้าร่วมที่ไม่สามารถเดินทางได้
Escribí un artículo sobre un asunto relacionado con los derechos de las mujeres y el desarrollo. ¿Cómo puedo compartirlo con la membresía de AWID?
Juvy Magsino
Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim
Snippet FEA Tanta Gente sem casa (EN)

So many people without a home, so many homes without people.
Rising together - Logo and Button - EN
Call for Activities: Deadline extended to February 1st 2024!

Co-create the The 15th AWID International Forum in Bangkok, Thailand.
2003: le premier Dialogue de haut niveau a lieu
Premier Dialogue de haut niveau sur le financement du développement, 29-30 octobre 2003.
Les dialogues de haut niveau de l’Assemble générale des Nations Unies sur le financement du développement, tenus tous les deux ans, sont l’un des mécanismes de suivi de la Conférence de Monterrey. À la suite de ce premier dialogue, huit tables rondes ont été organisées autour de différentes questions comprenant les subventions agricoles, le commerce, l’allègement de la dette et le financement des OMD. Toutes les discussions se concentraient sur les manières de faire face aux obstacles structurels qui pesaient sur ces questions et défavorisaient les nations « en développement ».
D'autres mécanismes de suivi de la Conférence de Monterrey :
- Les réunions spéciales de haut niveau du Conseil économique et social des Nations Unies (ECOSOC) tenues chaque année sur le thème du suivi du Consensus de Monterrey et sous la direction de la Banque mondiale, du Fonds monétaire international, de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce et de la CNUCED. En outre, au cours de chacune de ses sessions de fond, l’ECOSOC consacre jusqu’à deux jours à des délibérations portant sur les priorités du FdD.
- L’organe des Nations Unies consacré aux questions fiscales, le Comité d'experts de la coopération internationale en matière fiscale, traite des différentes questions relatives aux politiques fiscales qui ont été identifiées dans le Consensus de Monterrey. Il constitue un cadre de dialogue visant à améliorer et à encourager la coopération fiscale internationale entre les autorités fiscales nationales.
Maria Luisa Posa Dominado
Terezinha Nunes Meciano
Snippet FEA Introducing Carmen Silva Ferreira (ES)
Tenemos el placer enorme de presentarte a Carmen Silva Ferreira.
Nació en Bahía, la parte noreste de Brasil. Es inmigrante, activista social y madre de 8 hijxs.
Carmen experimentó la falta de vivienda a los 35 años, después de migrar sola a São Paulo. Esto la llevó a convertirse en una feroz defensora de las comunidades vulnerables, marginalizadas e invisibilizadas más afectadas por la crisis de la vivienda. Eventualmente se convirtió en una de las fundadoras del MSTC en 2000.
Como organizadora política visionaria y líder actual del MSTC, el trabajo de Carmen ha puesto al descubierto la crisis de la vivienda de la ciudad y ha inspirado a otrxs sobre diferentes formas de organizar y gestionar las ocupaciones.
Se mantuvo firme al frente de varias ocupaciones. Uno de ellos es la Ocupación 9 de Julho, que ahora sirve como escenario para la democracia directa y un espacio donde todxs pueden ser cuidadxs, escuchadxs, apreciadxs y trabajar juntos.
Carmen ha sido celebrada durante mucho tiempo por su audacia al devolver la vida a edificios abandonados en el corazón de São Paulo.
¡Si quieres saber más sobre Carmen, puedes seguir su cuenta de Instagram!
Snippet - CSW68 - March 12 - FR
Jour 2
12 Mars
2011: The fifth High-level dialogue kick starts Post-2015 discussions
The Fifth High- Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, 7 – 8 December 2011, marked the beginning of the Post 2015 development agenda discussions, and the link to financing for development. The conference gave a special focus to increasing aid to finance the MDG’s. In his closing remarks, the Secretary General called on members to begin to consider the post-2015 development framework.
Mai Ghoussoub
Lorraine Gradwell
Snippet FEA ASOM Challenges Story 1 (FR)
DÉFIS
- Changement climatique
- Accès aux crédits
- Intermédiaires