Mia Berden
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.
-
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
En quelles langues les informations seront-elles disponibles sur le Forum ?
Anglais, français, espagnol et chinois mandarin.
Snippet FEA Metzineres activists (FR)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Des militants de Metzineres en action |
Feminist Realities Magazine
Main image
_frmagazine-tile-homeen.jpeg
Description
Feminist realities are the living, breathing examples of the worlds we know are possible.
Add to stories
On
Snippet - WITM Survey will remain open - EN
Watch the "Where is the Money?" Webinar now.
On July 11, 2024, we had an amazing conversation with great feminists on the state of the funding ecosystem and the power of "Where is the Money?" research.
Special thanks to Cindy Clark (Thousand Currents), Sachini Perera (RESURJ), Vanessa Thomas (Black Feminist Fund), Lisa Mossberg (SIDA), and Althea Anderson (Hewlett Foundation).
Bessy Ferrera
Bessy Ferrera fue una defensora de los derechos humanos de las personas trans, de las trabajadoras sexuales y de las personas seropositivas en Honduras, durante toda su vida.
Bessy también fue integrante de Arcoíris, una organización que apoya a la comunidad LGBTI+. También fue una persona de referencia para la Plataforma Derechos Aquí y Ahora de Honduras, y abogó enérgicamente por la ciudadanía plena de las personas trans, y por la aprobación de una ley de identidad de género que permitiera a las personas trans cambiar su identidad de género legalmente.
"Desde principios de año [2019] la comunidad trans ha sufrido una serie de ataques, por defender, por reivindicar derechos". - Rihanna Ferrera (hermana de Bessy)
Bessy era una trabajadora sexual, y a principios de julio de 2019, fue asesinada a tiros por dos hombres mientras trabajaba en las calles de Comayagüela. Quienes la asesinaron fueron posteriormente arrestados.
Bessy es una de las muchxs defensorxs de los derechos LGBTI+ en Honduras que fueron asesinadxs por su identidad y su trabajo. Otras compañeras han sido: Cynthia Nicole, Angy Ferreira, Estefanía "Nia" Zúñiga, Gloria Carolina Hernández Vásquez, Paola Barraza, Violeta Rivas y Sherly Montoya.
El caso de Bessy es emblemático por su injusticia y por reflejar un problema mucho más amplio, que es el de la violencia sistemática a la que se enfrenta la comunidad LGBTI+ en Honduras, ya que el Estado ni garantiza los derechos que ofrece y ni brinda protección. Esto ha creado una cultura de impunidad.
A pesar de los riesgos a los que se enfrentan lxs defensorxs LGBTI+ en Honduras, continúan a diario con su trabajo para desafiar y resistir la violencia, y luchar contra el estigma y la discriminación.
"Si muero, que sea por algo bueno y no por algo inútil. No quiero morir huyendo, como unx cobarde. Si muero, quiero que la gente diga que morí luchando por lo que es mío". - integrante de Arcoíris.
Qu'advient-il des propositions envoyées à travers l'appel à activités ??
- Les propositions d’activité seront initialement présélectionnées par l’équipe de l’AWID
- Les organisateurs·trices des propositions retenues seront ensuite invité·e·s à voter pour choisir les activités finales. Celles qui auront obtenu le plus de votes seront incluses au programme du Forum. L'AWID pourra procéder à quelques ajustements à la sélection finale pour s'assurer que notre programme présente un équilibre adéquat entre les régions, les groupes d'intérêt, les enjeux et les méthodologies.
- Notre Comité contenu et méthodologie du Forum prendra contact avec les organisateurs·trices des propositions sélectionnées pour les aider à développer davantage leurs activités.
Nous mettrons le site à jour avec les informations pertinantes le moment venu.
Snippet FEA Get Involved 2 (EN)
While in Sao Paulo, Brazil, you can visit the Ocupação 9 de Julho and have a collaborative meal. You can buy their products in their online store from abroad.
Visit the Association of Afro-Descendant Women of the Northern Cauca’s online store where you can find beautiful handcrafted products.
There are several ways to support Metzineres: you can make a financial donation, donate materials and services, or propose a training course, workshop, or activity (for more information, see here).
Who we are & what we do
Strategic Plan 2023-2027
Fierce Feminisms: Together We Rise
We are excited to share our new Strategic Plan (2023-2027) with the world.
Fierce Feminisms is our way forward, acknowledging both the multiplicity of feminisms and the value of fierce and unapologetic drive for justice. The state of the world and of feminist movements calls for brave conversations and action. We look forward to working together with our members, partners and funders in creating the worlds we believe in, celebrating the wins and speaking truth to power in service of feminist movements globally.
Download: Fierce Feminisms: Together We Rise
The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is a global, feminist, membership, movement-support organization.
For 40 years, AWID has been a part of an incredible ecosystem of feminist movements working to achieve gender justice and women’s human rights worldwide.
Our vision
GGAADD | Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) - modified
AWID envisions a world where feminist realities flourish, where resources and power are shared in ways that enable everyone, and future generations, to thrive and realize their full potential with dignity, love and respect, and where Earth nurtures life in all its diversity.
Our mission
Our mission is to support feminist, women’s rights and gender justice movements to thrive, to be a driving force in challenging systems of oppression, and to co-create feminist realities.
Our tactics
We advance our work through these tactics:
Influencing, advocacy and campaigning
We collaboratively leverage our access, power, resources and relationships to strategically influence policy and practice. We aim to advance feminist agendas through our work with policy makers, funders and activists in regional and global spaces. We also work to influence feminist and women’s rights movements to centre historically oppressed movements as part of efforts to strengthen our collective power and influence.
Convening and connecting
We use our convening power to facilitate dialogue and strategize on key issues. We connect our members and allies with one another, sharing and exchanging resources, ideas and action across relevant issues. We organize and facilitate spaces to strengthen and engage across movements, to imagine and envisage new futures, to develop effective influencing tactics and to co-create powerful agendas and processes.
Solidarity and bridge-building
We work to mobilize our members and the movements we support to strengthen collective action in solidarity with feminist causes and defenders at risk. We build partnerships, engage in active listening and ongoing, long-term, solidarity. We work with defenders to build a body of knowledge and support networks of solidarity on protection and wellbeing.
Arts and creative expression
We recognize the unique and strategic value of cultural and creative strategies in the struggle against oppression and injustice. We work with artists who centre feminist voices and the narratives of historically oppressed communities. In this emerging tactic, we see art and creative expression helping us envision a world where feminist realities continue to flourish and be celebrated.
Our initiatives
Our initiatives work at the intersections of the sites of change we work to address, the movements we prioritize, and the tactics we use:
Advancing Universal Rights and Justice
We monitor, document and make visible how anti-rights actors are operating and colluding in multilateral spaces and support feminist, women’s rights and gender justice movements and allies to counter their influence and impact.
Building Feminist Economies
Working on extractivism, tax justice and corporate accountability, we build knowledge on corporate power and influence; advocate for corporate accountability and equitable distribution of wealth; and amplify feminist proposals for just economies.
Resourcing Feminist Movements
We develop accessible, action-oriented analysis on the state of resourcing for feminist movements. We aim to influence funders’ policies and practices, deepen and sustain funding for feminist social change, and support movements’ needs and strategies.
In addition to the impact we aim to have in the world, AWID is expressly committed to strengthening our own organizational learning and resilience in order to further strengthen global feminist movements.
Our donors
Thank you!
Without the generous funding and support from our donors, our work would not be possible
Natalia Estemirova
Snippet - WITH Video tutorial - EN
Click here to watch a video tutorial to support you in filling in the survey.
Yelena Grigoriyeva
Yelena Grigoriyeva, que ses ami·e·s appelaient souvent Lena, était une défenseure connue des droits des personnes LGBT en Russie.
Membre de mouvements démocratiques, pacifistes et LGBT, Yelena était une féroce opposante au président Vladimir Poutine et son administration. Elle a notamment exprimé son opposition à l’annexion de la péninsule ukrainienne de la Crimée par la Russie ainsi que critiqué les mauvais traitements infligés aux détenu·e·s.
Yelena a fait part de sa bisexualité en 2019.
« Sa déclaration m’a surprise et je ne l’approuvais pas. Je lui ai dit : « Écoute, Lena, tu portes déjà une cible sur la poitrine du fait de ton activisme politique. Tu viens de t’en peindre une autre dans le dos », Olga Smirnova, compagne de lutte politique et amie.
Yelena a effectivement reçu plusieurs menaces de mort, et des proches ont déclaré que son nom figurait sur un site Web homophobe qui incitait ses visiteur·euse·s à tuer les personnes LGBT. Elle a fait part de ces menaces à la police, mais l’État russe ne l’a pas protégée.
Mais même dans une société où l’opposition politique, les activistes et les membres de la communauté LGBT, qui se battent pour leurs droits, font face à une violence croissante, Yelena continuait à défendre la justice sociale et l’égalité.
« Elle ne manquait pas une seule action militante. Et ils l’ont arrêtée plus de fois que je n’ai pu en compter », Olga Smirnova.
Yelena a été assassinée le 21 juillet 2019, à proximité de chez elle. Un suspect a été arrêté, mais certaines sources et plusieurs de ses ami·e·s et compagnes et compagnons de lutte pensent que ce suspect sert de bouc émissaire, et qu’en fait, il s’agit d’un assassinat politique ciblé.
Pour la famille et les ami·e·s de Yelena, son assassinat demeure irrésolu, bien que le suspect ait avoué.
En 2013, la Russie a passé une loi interdisant la propagation de ce qu’elle a appelé la « propagande gay ». En 2014, Human Rights Watch a publié un rapport à ce propos (en anglais et en russe).
Ai-je besoin d’un visa pour assister au Forum à Taipei ?
Vous N’AVEZ PAS besoin d’un visa pour assister au Forum à Taipei si vous détenez un passeport émis par l’un des pays suivants (la durée de séjour autorisée varie d’un pays à l’autre) :
Allemagne, Andorre, Australie, Autriche, Belgique, Belize, Bulgarie, Brunei, Canada, Chili, Chypre, Croatie, Danemark, Espagne, Estonie, Eswatini, État de la Cité du Vatican, États-Unis, Finlande, France, Grèce, Guatemala, Haïti, Honduras, Hongrie, Îles Marshall, Islande, Irlande, Israël, Italie, Japon*, Lettonie, Liechtenstein, Lituanie, Luxembourg, Malaisie, Malte, Monaco, Nauru, Nicaragua, Norvège, Nouvelle-Zélande, Palaos, Paraguay, Pays-Bas, Philippines, Pologne, Portugal, République de Corée, République dominicaine, République tchèque, Roumanie, Royaume-Uni, Russie, Saint-Christophe-et-Niévès, Sainte-Lucie, Saint-Marin, Saint-Vincent-et-les-Grenadines, Singapour, Slovaquie, Slovénie, Suède, Suisse, Tuvalu.
Les personnes détentrices de tout autre passeport AURONT BESOIN D’UN VISA pour se rendre à Taipei.
Remarque :
Une fois inscrit·e au Forum, il est probable que vous receviez un code relatif à l’événement vous permettant de demander un visa en ligne, quelle que soit votre nationalité.
Nous vous donnerons plus d’informations à ce sujet après l’ouverture du processus d’inscription.
Snippet FEA EoS The Ivy (EN)
The Ivy
Community and neighborhood
Recordando a lxs defensorxs que ya no están con nosotrxs
AWID honra a lxs feministas y defensoras de los derechos humanos que han muerto y cuyas contribuciones al progreso de los derechos humanos se echa mucho en falta.
Celebrando a lxs activistxs y las defensoras de derechos humanos
El Tributo de AWID a las defensoras de derechos humanos es una exhibición fotográfica que presenta a activistxs del feminismo, de los derechos de las mujeres y de la justicia social de todo el mundo que ya no están con nosotrxs.
El Tributo fue lanzado por primera vez en 2012, en el 12º Foro Internacional de AWID, en Turquía. Tomó la forma de una exposición física de retratos y biografías de feministas y activistxs que fallecieron. La iniciativa fue descrita por lxs participantes del Foro como una manera única, emotiva y energizante de conmemorar nuestra historia colectiva.
En el 13º Foro Internacional, en Brasil, honramos a lxs activistas y a las defensoras de derechos humanos con una ceremonia de inauguración de un mural en cuatro idiomas, un espectáculo de danza y un ritual brasileño.
Entre los eventos, el Tributo permanece como una galería en línea que se actualiza cada año como parte de la Campaña de los 16 Días de Activismo Contra la Violencia de Género (25 de noviembre al 10 de diciembre).
Contribuciones de todo el mundo
Desde 2012, a través de nuestro Tributo anual a las defensoras de derechos humanos que ya no están con nosotrxs, hemos presentado más de 400 feministas y defensorxs de 11 regiones y 80 países.
AWID quiere agradecer a las familias y organizaciones que compartieron sus historias personales y contribuyeron a este homenaje. Nos unimos a ellxs para continuar con el notable trabajo de estas mujeres y redoblar esfuerzos para asegurar que se logre justicia en los casos que permanecen en la impunidad.
Visite la exhibición en línea del Tributo a las Defensoras de Derechos Humanos
La violencia y las amenazas contra las defensoras de derechos humanos persisten
Además de rendir homenaje a estxs increíbles activistas, el Tributo arroja luz sobre la gravedad de la situación de las defensoras de derechos humanos que han sido asesinadas o están desaparecidas.
Un tercio de las personas presentadas en el Tributo fueron activistas asesinadxs o están desaparecidxs en circunstancias sospechosas. Fueron atacadxs específicamente por ser quiénes eran y por haber desafiado:
- El poder del Estado
- La heteronormatividad
- Los fundamentalismos
- Las corporaciones
- El patriarcado
- La delincuencia organizada
- La corrupción
- La militarización…
Mujeres como Agnes Torres, de México, fueron asesinadas debido a su identidad de género y orientación sexual; o Cheryl Ananayo, una activista ambientalista de Filipinas que fue asesinada mientras luchaba contra una compañía minera; o Ruqia Hassan, una periodista y bloguera independiente siria asesinada por sus críticas al Estado Islámico de Iraq y Levante (EIIL, ISIS en inglés). Y muchas otras.
Con el Tributo a las defensoras de derechos humanos lxs traemos a todxs a nuestra memoria colectiva y llevamos su legado de lucha como nuestra antorcha en los movimientos feministas y por los derechos de las mujeres. Reconocemos que la seguridad y el autocuidado deben ser una prioridad en todas nuestras agendas políticas. Y hacemos un llamamiento a los gobiernos y a los organismos internacionales para que aborden colectivamente la violencia contra lxs feministas y las defensoras de derechos humanos.
Creemos que este es un paso crítico para asegurar la sostenibilidad de nuestros movimientos por la igualdad de género, por los derechos de las mujeres y por justicia para todxs.
Visite la exhibición en línea del Tributo a las Defensoras de Derechos Humanos
Parvin Paidar
I am an individual activist, not working with any group, organization and/or movement at this moment, should I still fill the survey?
No, we appreciate your work but are not asking for responses from individuals at this time.
Nadyn Jouny
The personal is political - and fiery and courageous Nadyn Jouny personified this feminist mantra. Nadyn experienced firsthand the pain of structural violence in legal systems that strip women of their rights.
When she decided to file for divorce, the religious Shitte courts under the Lebanese Personal Status laws, denied her custody of her young son Karam. Nadyn, like so many other women across Lebanon and other countries, was caught in the impossible pain of leaving an unwanted and abusive relationship and also losing the rights to her child. But Nadyn fought back, as she would until her last day.
She used her media savvy to become an outspoken voice to women fighting discriminatory family laws in Lebanon and internationally. Nadyn co-founded the self-funded group, “Protecting Lebanese Women” (PLW) and banded with many other Lebanese mothers facing similar custody issues. Together, they advocated to raise awareness of the injustices they were facing, protesting in front of the religious courts for their rights and bringing international media attention to extreme injustices they were facing.
Nadyn also worked with ABAAD - Resource Center for Gender Equality, another women’s rights organization in Lebanon, to campaign for women’s rights, equality in family law and custody and against forced and early marriages.
For many of her colleagues, she came to “symbolize a Lebanese mother’s fight against suppression and misogyny of all sorts," using “her personal experiences and her individual journey of empowerment to give hope to others that they can be a catalyst for positive change.”- ABAAD - Resource Centre for Gender Equality, Lebanon
On October 6, 2019 Nadyn was tragically killed in a car accident on her way to protest unfair tax increases in a country already facing spiralling financial crisis. Nadyn Jouny was only 29 years old at the time of her death.
