Human Rights Council (HRC)
The Human Rights Council (HRC) is the key intergovernmental body within the United Nations system responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. It holds three regular sessions a year: in March, June and September. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the secretariat for the HRC.
The HRC works by:
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Debating and passing resolutions on global human rights issues and human rights situations in particular countries
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Examining complaints from victims of human rights violations or activist organizations on behalf of victims of human rights violations
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Appointing independent experts (known as “Special Procedures”) to review human rights violations in specific countries and examine and further global human rights issues
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Engaging in discussions with experts and governments on human rights issues
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Assessing the human rights records of all UN Member States every four and a half years through the Universal Periodic Review
AWID works with feminist, progressive and human rights partners to share key knowledge, convene civil society dialogues and events, and influence negotiations and outcomes of the session.
With our partners, our work will:
◾️ Raise awareness of the findings of the 2017 and 2021 OURs Trends Reports.
◾️Support the work of feminist UN experts in the face of backlash and pressure
◾️Advocate for state accountability
◾️ Work with feminist movements and civil society organizations to advance rights related to gender and sexuality.
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WHRDs from Sub-Saharan Africa
In our 2015 Online Tribute to Women Human Rights Defenders No Longer With Us we are commemorating four women from Sub-Saharan Africa, three of whom were murdered due to their work and/or who they were in their gender identity and sexual orientation. Their deaths highlight the violence LGBT persons often face in the region and across the globe. Please join AWID in honoring these women, their activism and legacy by sharing the memes below with your colleagues, networks and friends and by using the hashtags #WHRDTribute and #16Days.
Please click on each image below to see a larger version and download as a file




Ruth Alicia López Guisao
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Hospital | Content Snippet ES
Hospital
«Este sería un buen momento para repensar cómo podría ser la revolución. Quizás no sera una marcha por las calles de cuerpos enojados y sin discapacidades. Quizás será más como el mundo detenido porque todos los cuerpos que hay en él están exhaustos: porque el cuidado debe ser priorizado antes de que sea demasiado tarde.»
- Johanna Hedva
Los hospitales son instituciones, espacios vivientes del capitalismo, y lo que se manifiesta cuando alguien está supuestamente haciendo reposo allí es un microcosmos del sistema en que vivimos.
Las instituciones están organizadas para separarnos de nuestros sistemas de cuidados: en ellas nos encontramos aisladxs en estructuras rígidamente jerárquicas, y a menudo sentimos como si ese cuidado fuera algo que se nos hace a nosotrxs, en lugar de algo dado/recibido como parte de una conversación. Debido a su integración en la demanda capitalista, el cuidado institucional está compartimentado: una persona trata tu pierna y solo tu pierna, otra persona trata tu presión arterial, etc.
El mes pasado, la fotógrafa Mariam Mekiwi tuvo que someterse a una cirugía y documentó el proceso. Sus imágenes de entornos esterilizados (luces blancas de neón, filas y filas de estructuras repetitivas), con una paleta de colores desteñidos, reflejan un lugar que estaba vaciado de vida y de movimiento. Esta fue una de las formas en que Mariam mantuvo vivo su propio espíritu. Era una forma de protesta desde dentro de los confines de una institución con la cual tenía que interactuar.
Las fotos constituyen un retrato de algo increíblemente vulnerable, porque observar a alguien atravesar el colapso de su propio cuerpo es siempre un recordatorio sagrado de nuestra fragilidad. Son también un testimonio de la fragilidad de estos sistemas de cuidado, que nos pueden ser negados por diversas razones: desde no tener dinero hasta no estar en un cuerpo considerado lo suficientemente valioso, un cuerpo que es quizás demasiado femenino, demasiado queer, o demasiado marrón.
El cuidado experimentado como algo desencarnado y solitario, que puede ser revocado en cualquier momento, no nos ayuda a prosperar. Y es muy diferente del modo en que los seres humanos se comportan en la realidad cuando cuidan unos de otros. ¿En qué sería diferente nuestro mundo si nos comprometiéramos a desmantelar las actuales estructuras capitalistas referidas a nuestra salud? ¿Cómo sería nuestro mundo si lo reinventáramos en forma radical?
Juvy Capion
Research methology
Over eight years, we did four global surveys and built a research methodology.
In 2013, we published three global reports. These reports confirm that women’s rights organizations are doing the heavy lifting to advance women’s rights and gender equality by using diverse, creative and long-term strategies, all while being underfunded.
Our 2010 global survey showed that the collective income of 740 women’s organizations around the world totaled only USD 104 million. Compare this with Greenpeace International, one organization with a 2010 budget of USD 310 million1. Imagine the impact these groups could have if they were able to access all the financial resources they need and more?
AWID’s WITM research has catalyzed increased funding for women’s rights organizing. WITM research was a driving force behind the Catapult crowdfunding platform, which has raised USD 6.5 million for women’s rights. The Dutch Government cited WITM research as a reason for its unprecedented MDG 3 Fund of EU 82 million. WITM research has also led to the creation of several new funds: FRIDA – The Young Feminist Fund, the Indigenous Women’s Fund, Fundo Elas, the Mediterranean Women’s Fund and the Rita Fund.
Funding trends analyses
While the WITM research has shed important light on the global funding landscape, AWID and partners have identified the need to dig deeper, to analyze funding trends by region, population and issue. In response, organizations are now using AWID’s WITM research methodology to do their own funding trends analyses. For example, in November 2013, Kosova Women’s Network and Alter Habitus – Institute for Studies in Society and Culture published Where is the Money for Women’s Rights? A Kosovo Case Study.
At the same time, AWID continues to collaborate with partners in Where is the Money for Indigenous Women’s Rights (with International Indigenous Women’s Forum and International Funders for Indigenous Peoples) and our upcoming Where is the Money for Women’s Rights in Brazil? (with Fundo Elas).
Several organizations have also conducted their own independent funding trends research, deepening their understanding of the funding landscape and politics behind it. For example, the South Asian Women’s Fund was inspired by AWID’s WITM research to conduct funding trends reports for each country in South Asia, as well as a regional overview. Other examples of research outside of AWID include the collaboration between Open Society Foundations, Mama Cash, and the Red Umbrella Fund to produce the report Funding for Sex Workers Rights, and the first-ever survey on trans* and intersex funding by Global Action for Trans* Equality and American Jewish World Service.
Ofelia Maria Mosquera Usuga
CREDITS | Content Snippet ES
Agradecimientos
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Consejo editorial Co-editorxs Diseño e ilustración Estratega de las comunicaciones Editora de la versión árabe Responsable de la traducción
Corrección |
Traducciones árabes
Corrección
Corrección |
Parveen Rehman
7. Synthesize your research findings
Now that you have analyzed all your data – from your survey, interviews, desk research and potentially other sources – you can create your final product.
In this section:
- Create your final product
1. Write clearly
2. Make it pretty- Gather review and inputs
1. Polish your results
2. Facilitate the feedback
Create your final product
Your final product will be the document that will summarize, analyze and criticize your data. That will be the piece that you will share with your community to present and explain your research to your audience.
At AWID, we often write a comprehensive written report that analyzes each set of data and synthesizes all of our findings, then later create smaller products, such as infographics and summaries (explained in the subsequent section “Finalize and format”).
1. Write clearly
- Organize your data as you would like to tell a story. You can follow the order of your survey. Or you can regroup some questions to lead to your conclusion in a smooth and progressive way.
- Adapt your language to your audience. Use universal language and avoid jargon or too technical terms.
Importance of the editor
An editor will proofread, ensure concise writing, conduct fact-checking, point out inconsistencies that need to be resolved, arrange the flow of the document and possibly suggest titles.
Your editor should preferably be someone who understands and knows your WITM work but who was not directly involved in the research. This will bring in a fresh perspective.
2. Make it pretty
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Use the data collected to create graphs and tables. These type of visuals are a compelling way to highlight the main findings of your research and validate your analysis.
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Source relevant images that can illustrate your report.
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Highlight key-numbers and/or powerful testimonials.
Remember: The more accessible your product is, the more people will want to read (and share!) it.
Gather review & inputs
At this point, you have collected all your data, analyzed it and transformed it into your final product, likely in a long report.
1. Polish your results
Before moving on to the next steps – you should share your final research product with your advisor organizations, activists, and donors.
This is a great moment to check the following points:
- Are there any key points missing in your analysis of the present funding landscape and trends?
- Are there any key points missing in your conclusions?
- Are there any inaccuracies in the data that need to be corrected?
- General suggestions on strengthening the report to achieve your goals as listed in your research framing.
Once you have inputted all feedback from your advisors, be sure to run it by your editor once more.
This will now be the final, completed version of your report. If you intend to publish the final report in other languages, now is the time to send it for translation.
2. Facilitate the feedback
- Your advisors are likely busy with their regular responsibilities. Be sure to request feedback within a reasonable deadline.
- Keep your request for feedback brief and specific, so it is easy for them to respond. If you like, you can simply copy and paste the bullet points we have provided.
- If you are publishing in multiple languages, ensure you have advisors who can also review the final translated versions of your product(s).
This is a significant contribution from your advisors. Consider offering them some form of recognition.
Previous step
Next step

Estimated time:
• 2 - 5 months
People needed:
• 1 or more research person(s)
• 1 Editor (or web-editor if you create an online product)
• Translator(s), if done in more than one language
Resource needed:
• List of advisor organizations, activists, and donors.
• Concept note (from “Frame your research” section)
• Survey topline results
• Prepared interview questions
• Interview results
• Desk research data
• All other data used in report
Previous step
Next step
Ready to Go? Worksheet
Maria das Dores dos Santos Salvador
Prudence Nobantu Mabele
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Rahma Abdulkadir
Agroécologie et souveraineté alimentaire
Le contexte
La recherche de moyens alternatifs de production alimentaire fondés sur la durabilité environnementale gagne du terrain dans toutes les régions du monde. Cette quête mondiale présente une caractéristique centrale : la nécessité de mobiliser les populations rurales, en particulier les femmes, tenant compte de leurs priorités et de leurs connaissances locales par le truchement de l’agroécologie.
Définition
L’agroécologie est une façon de pratiquer l'agriculture ou de faire appel aux technologies qui ne nuit pas à l'environnement. Cette approche propose de rompre avec le modèle de développement rural hégémonique reposant sur les grandes exploitations et la monoculture qui profitent essentiellement aux entreprises agricoles et renforcent l'exclusion sociale.
Dans le contexte de l'agriculture familiale, l'agroécologie représente une forme de résistance au modèle de développement actuel et aux problèmes sociaux, culturels, environnementaux et économiques que ce modèle implique. L’agroécologie se pose en alternative face au manque d'autonomie financière des agriculteur-trice-s et symbolise une résistance face au modèle d'agroentreprises actuel.
Perspective féministe
Il se pourrait que les efforts uniquement axés sur l'agroécologie ne suffisent pas à résoudre tous les problèmes de la marginalisation et de l'invisibilité des femmes. Il est alors crucial d’adopter une perspective féministe afin d'analyser les normes associées à la notion de famille telle qu'actuellement constituée en tant qu'institution parfaite, ainsi que les normes relatives à la condition de subordination des femmes.
Plus simplement, il importe d'inclure une réflexion sur les rôles de genre socialement construits pour faire avancer le potentiel émancipateur de l'agroécologie dans ce débat.

Pour en savoir plus sur cette proposition :
- Agroecology: Exploring opportunities for women’s empowerment based on experiences from Brazil (Agroécologie : explorer les possibilités d'autonomisation des femmes à partir d’expériences menées au Brésil), AWID et ActionAid, 2011 (article en anglais).
- Semeuses de luttes et d'espoirs : Pour le féminisme et la souveraineté alimentaire! par La Via Campesina. Ce document relate des échanges de la IVe Assemblée des femmes de la Via Campesina, où l’on a discuté de la crise du capitalisme et des défis liés à la construction d’un féminisme rural et ouvrier.
