Philippe Leroyer | Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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

CFA 2023 - Call for Activities is live- EN

The Call for Activities is Live!

The Deadline to submit activities has been extended to February 1st, 2024

 

In the spirit of the Forum’s theme, we invite a diversity of activity topics and formats that:

  • Facilitate genuine connection and interaction among participants
  • Foster healing and regeneration in various forms, as individuals, as communities and as movements
  • Inspire and challenge us to thrive together as communities and movements

#1 - Sexting like a feminist Tweets Snippet ES

Y mi número 1: porque sabes que la cosa va en serio cuando se invoca a los poderes superiores

Image of a tweet with a woman fainted on a set of stairs. Text says: I want to cum so hard my ancestors awaken and rejoin the struggle.

‘Quiero acabar/venirme/correrme tan fuerte que despierte a mis ancestrxs y haga que vuelvan a sumarse a la lucha’

Olivia Arévalo Lomas

Olivia était la cheffe spirituelle des peuples autochtones Shipibo Konibo.

Sage femme et grand-mère autochtone, elle était connue pour sa préservation de la médecine traditionnelle et des chants sacrés de son peuple (les íkaros). Olivia Arévalo était une défenseure engagée en faveur des droits culturels et environnementaux de son peuple. L’assassinat d’Olivia s’est produit dans un contexte de conflit territorial entre la communauté Shipibo et les entreprises qui souhaitent s’accaparer leurs terres pour cultiver de l’huile de palme.

Les membres de sa communauté ont déclaré: « Sa mort est une agression contre toute la communauté Shipibo. Elle était la mémoire vivante de son peuple ».

 


 

Olivia Arévalo Lomas, Peru

Snippet - WITM Who should - ES

¿Quién debería responder la encuesta?*

La encuesta está orientada a agrupaciones, organizaciones y movimientos que trabajan específica o primordialmente por los derechos de las mujeres, las personas LBTQI+ y la justicia de género, en todos los contextos, en todos los ámbitos y en todas las regiones. Si alguno de estos es el pilar fundamental de tu agrupación, colectivo, red o cualquier otro tipo de organización —ya sea que esté registrada, sea de reciente creación o de larga data—, te invitamos a responder la encuesta.

*En esta oportunidad, no estamos solicitando respuestas de individuos ni de fondos feministas o de mujeres.

Obtén más información sobre la encuesta:
Consultar las preguntas frecuentes

Privacy and cookies - before 25 Apr 2023

AWID Privacy Policy, Your rights to privacy and cookies

This policy governs all pages hosted at www.awid.org, and any other websites under the control of the AWID (the “Website”) and registrations for these sites. It does not apply to pages hosted by organisations other than AWID, to which we may link and whose privacy policies may differ. Please read the following policy to understand our privacy policy regarding nature, purpose, using and sharing of your personal identifiable information that is collected via this website.

1. Types of information collected on this site

Generally, you can browse this website without submitting your personal information to us. However, in some circumstances, we will ask for your personal information.

1.1 Information you provide to us

When you are on the website and are asked for personal information, you are sharing that information only with AWID.

1.1.1 The information you provide to get updates from AWID:

When you register to use the website – for example, subscribe to receive emails from us or apply to become a member - you provide us with the mandatory information about you like Name, country, language to receive email updates and email address. This information is provided by you through secure forms and is stored on secure servers.

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Also, while becoming a member or registering for events, you may need to provide payment information. AWID doesn’t store any credit card information on its servers and uses payment gateway to process the payment information.

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When you communicate with AWID, provide optional information through forms on the website or use the site to communicate with other members, we collect information about your communication and any information you choose to provide.

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1.2 Information that is automatically collected (third party cookies)

In addition, when you interact with the Website, our servers may keep an activity log that does not identify you individually (“Non-Personal Information”). Generally, we collect the following categories of Non-Personal Information:

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For more information about cookies, please see www.allaboutcookies.org.

If you do not wish to receive cookies you can easily modify your web browser to refuse cookies, or to notify you when you receive a new cookie, see how here.

2. Use of information collected on this website

AWID uses the information we collect about you to:

  • Better understand how you are using our website and what we could do to improve your experience.
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3. Distribution of information

If you have subscribed to AWID´s e-newsletters or email updates or you have become a member, we will send you regular communications as specified in the relevant area of the website. You are able to unsubscribe from any of the e-newsletters or email updates at any time by using the unsubscribe information provided in our emails.

4. Accessing, changing and removing information

The accuracy of your individual identifying information is important to AWID. We are always looking for ways to make it easier for you to review and correct the information that AWID maintains about you through our website. If you change your email address, or if any of the other information we hold is inaccurate or out of date, please write to us here.

  • Where you have provided AWID with consent to use your personal data, you can withdraw it any time by sending us a communication and specifying which consent you are withdrawing. Please note that the withdrawal of your consent does not affect the lawfulness of any processing activities based on such consent before its withdrawal.
  • Where applicable, you may also have a right to receive a machine-readable copy of your personal data. If you would like to have a copy of the personal data we hold on you or if you think that we hold incorrect personal data about you, please write to us.
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Except as explained below, AWID will not disclose any of your personally identifiable information, and will not sell or rent lists containing your information to third parties. AWID may disclose information when it has your permission to do so or under special circumstances, such as when it believes in good faith that the law requires it.

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We are continuously implementing and updating administrative, technical, and physical security measures to help protect your information against unauthorized access, loss, destruction, or alteration. Some of the safeguards we use to protect your information are firewalls and data encryption, and information access controls. If you know or have reason to believe that your AWID membership credentials have been lost, stolen, misappropriated, or otherwise compromised or in case of any actual or suspected unauthorized use of your AWID membership account, please contact us through on Contact Us.

7. Changes to this policy & Contacting us

This policy may change from time to time. The changed policy will be posted on this website and Last updated date at the end of the policy will be updated. There will be an email update sent to you for the revised policy and if you do not agree with the revised policy, you will have the option to cancel you registration(s) with us. You can also write to us here. We welcome your feedback!

Last updated: May 2019

CFA 2023 - Submit Button - EN

Intro to tweets snippet FR

Comme ces tweets le montrent, sextoter comme une féministe est à la fois sexy, drôle – et chaud. Mais sans jamais perdre de vue son engagement en faveur de l’équité et de la justice.

Carmen Griffiths

Carmen was the Head of the Construction Resource and Development Collective (CRDC) and was instrumental in supporting women’s involvement in the construction industry in Jamaica.

She also worked on issues of disaster preparedness for rural and urban women. She worked closely with women (especially single mothers) teaching them how to use hurricane straps and other technology to secure their homes. She worked in the area of water and sanitation and was a strong advocate for sustainable environmental management and development.

She was a part of the Huairou Commission and advocated for grassroots women on such issues as shelter, energy, and sustainable livelihoods.

 


 

Carmen Griffiths, Jamaica

Snippet - WITM to claim - ES

To claim your power as an expert on the state of resourcing for feminist movements

Sin trabajadorxs domésticxs no hay economía de los cuidados

Un Manifiesto

Como movimientos feministas y sindicales, juntxs en solidaridad, articulamos los siguientes puntos como una visión colectiva de las economías de los cuidados con los derechos de lxs trabajadorxs domésticxs como eje central.

Nuestro manifiesto responde a un contexto complejo:

El trabajo doméstico y de cuidado estuvo en la primera línea de fuego durante y después de la pandemia de COVID-19, al proporcionar los medios para sobrellevar las múltiples crisis globales que se intersectan. El Banco Mundial, el Fondo Monetario Internacional y otras instituciones multilaterales también reconocen la importancia del trabajo doméstico y de cuidados para el sostenimiento de la economía. Sin embargo, vemos que esta atención adopta un enfoque utilitarista (es decir, el trabajo de cuidados contribuye a sostener a la economía "productiva") centrado en el lucro, sin reconocer los cuidados como un derecho humano y un bien público, ni prestar atención a lxs trabajadorxs que realizan la mayor parte de este trabajo.

El manifiesto está disponible en inglés, francés, español, amárico y tailandés.

Descargar el manifiesto completo

2023 - Hybrid like never before: in person - ar

هجين (hybrid) كما لم يحدث من قبل

لأول مرة، يعرض منتدى جمعية حقوق المرأة في التنمية ثلاثة طرق للمشاركة

الحضور الشخصي

سيجتمع المشاركون/ات في بانكوك، تايلاند. ننتظر بفارغ الصبر!

#2 - Sexting like a feminist Tweets Snippet EN

Who doesn’t like a visual cue?

Kate McInturff

Desde su paso por Peacebuild hasta la Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action [alianza feminista canadiense para la acción internacional], Amnistía Internacional y el Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA, centro canadiense para las alternativas políticas), Kate tuvo durante toda su vida una pasión por los derechos de las mujeres y la igualdad de género y dedicó su carrera a luchar contra la desigualdad y a hacer del mundo un lugar más compasivo.

Fue integrante del Comité Coordinador de Social Watch [observatorio social] y colaboró con los informes del Observatorio Social Nacional canadiense. Como investigadora senior en el CCPA, Kate fue aclamada a nivel nacional por hacer la investigación, escribir y producir el informe anual «Los mejores y los peores lugares para ser mujer en Canadá».

Murió tranquilamente, rodeada de su familia, luego de una batalla de tres años con el cáncer de colon. Sus seres queridos la describen como «una feminista divertida, valiente y sin remordimientos».


 

Kate McInturff, Canada

Snippet - WITM Why now_col 2 - EN

Resourcing feminist movements is fundamental to securing a more just and peaceful present and liberated future.

While funders committed significantly more money to gender equality over the last decade, still only 1% of philanthropic and development funding has actually been moved to directly resource feminist-led social change. 

In solidarity with movements that continue to be invisibilized, marginalized and without access to core, long-term, flexible and trust-based funding, the WITM survey highlights the actual state of resourcing, challenges false solutions, and points to how funding models must change for movements to thrive and meet the complex challenges of our times.

Renforcement des mouvements

Related Content

CFA 2023 - what you need to know - ar

ما الذي تحتاج/ين معرفته؟

  • سيتم إعطاء الأولوية للأنشطة التي تسهل وتشجع الاتصال والتفاعل بين المشاركين/ات.
  • إذا كان من الممكن إجراء نشاطك عبر الإنترنت أو بشكل هجين (ربط المشاركين/ات في الموقع وعبر الإنترنت)، يرجى النظر في كيفية توليد مشاركة حقيقية ومشاركة نشطة من المشاركين/ات عبر الإنترنت.
  • نشجع اللقاءات والحوارات والتبادلات بين الحركات والأقاليم وبين الأجيال.
  • يرجى تصميم النشاط بطريقة تسمح بالمرونة في عدد المشاركين/ات. في حين أن بعض الأنشطة قد تقتصر على مجموعات أصغر، إلا أن الأغلبية ستحتاج إلى استيعاب أعداد أكبر.
  • إذا كان نشاطك يناسب عددًا من أشكال التقديم أو لا يناسبه أي شيء، فستتمكن من الإشارة إلى ذلك في نموذج الطلب.

اللغات التي يمكنك إرسال طلبك بها

  •  لغات تقديم الطلبات: سيتم قبول الطلبات باللغات الإنجليزية والفرنسية والإسبانية والتايلاندية والعربية.
  •  لغات المنتدى: سيتم توفير الترجمة الفورية في الجلسات العامة للمنتدى باللغات الإنجليزية، الفرنسية، الإسبانية، التايلاندية والعربية، بالإضافة إلى لغة الإشارة الدولية (ISL)وربما أكثر. بالنسبة لجميع الأنشطة الأخرى، سيتم توفير الترجمة الشفوية في بعض هذه اللغات،  ولكن ليس جميعها، وربما بلغات أخرى، مثل اللغة السواحيلية والبرتغالية. 

Manal Tamimi | Snippet ES

Portrait Manal Tamimi

Manal Tamimi es una activista y defensora de los derechos humanos palestina. Tiene cuatro hijxs y posee una maestría en derecho humanitario internacional. Debido a su activismo, fue arrestada en tres ocasiones y sufrió más de una herida, incluso balas explosivas reales, algo prohibido en el plano internacional. Su familia también es blanco de agresiones: sus hijxs han sido arrestados y sufrido heridas con munición activa más de una vez. El último hecho fue un intento de asesinato contra su hijo Muhammad, quien recibió un disparo en el pecho cerca del corazón, unas semanas después de ser liberado de las prisiones de la ocupación en las que había estado dos años. Su filosofía de vida: si tengo que pagar un precio por ser palestina y no por un delito que haya cometido, me niego a morir callada.