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Special Focus

AWID is an international, feminist, membership organisation committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights

Protection of the Family

The Issue

Over the past few years, a troubling new trend at the international human rights level is being observed, where discourses on ‘protecting the family’ are being employed to defend violations committed against family members, to bolster and justify impunity, and to restrict equal rights within and to family life.

The campaign to "Protect the Family" is driven by ultra-conservative efforts to impose "traditional" and patriarchal interpretations of the family, and to move rights out of the hands of family members and into the institution of ‘the family’.

“Protection of the Family” efforts stem from:

  • rising traditionalism,
  • rising cultural, social and religious conservatism and
  • sentiment hostile to women’s human rights, sexual rights, child rights and the rights of persons with non-normative gender identities and sexual orientations.

Since 2014, a group of states have been operating as a bloc in human rights spaces under the name “Group of Friends of the Family”, and resolutions on “Protection of the Family” have been successfully passed every year since 2014.

This agenda has spread beyond the Human Rights Council. We have seen regressive language on “the family” being introduced at the Commission on the Status of Women, and attempts made to introduce it in negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.


Our Approach

AWID works with partners and allies to jointly resist “Protection of the Family” and other regressive agendas, and to uphold the universality of human rights.

In response to the increased influence of regressive actors in human rights spaces, AWID joined allies to form the Observatory on the Universality of Rights (OURs).  OURs is a collaborative project that monitors, analyzes, and shares information on anti-rights initiatives like  “Protection of the Family”.

Rights at Risk, the first OURs report, charts a map of the actors making up the global anti-rights lobby, identifies their key discourses and strategies, and the effect they are having on our human rights.   

The report outlines “Protection of the Family” as an agenda that has fostered collaboration across a broad range of regressive actors at the UN.  It describes it as: “a strategic framework that houses “multiple patriarchal and anti-rights positions, where the framework, in turn, aims to justify and institutionalize these positions.”

 

Related Content

Snippet FEA Audio A Caring Economy (FR)

AWID in 2016: Co-Creating Feminist Futures

AWID is pleased to share our 2016 Annual Report.

2016 was an incredible year for AWID, we convened the 13th International AWID Forum in Bahia, Brazil, a space for strategizing and alliance building with feminists and other justice movements, which was attended by over 1800 participants from 120 countries and territories across the globe.

We know that women’s rights and feminist movements are key actors in creating sustainable transformative change. Within our movements, organizing, resisting and responding to the challenging context is sharpening, and in our increasingly connected world, the potential for collective action across diverse movements has dramatically grown.

This is the crucial work that AWID seeks to amplify and support every day.


What we achieved in 2016

We expanded solidarity and joint action across diverse movements

A highlight of 2016 was our ground-breaking 13th International Forum with the theme: “Feminist Futures: Building Collective Power for Rights and Justice”, where we harnessed the thinking and energy of nearly 500 partners, presenters, panelists, moderators, artivists, writers, facilitators, IT innovators, and performers, many of them leaders in their movements. We also supported the convening of the first and historical Black Feminisms Forum (BFF) organised by a working group of Black Feminists from across the world.

We strengthened knowledge of issues and strategies

We contributed to collective advocacy

AWID, in partnership with other feminist and women’s rights organisations, engaged in advocacy and dialogue to explore better solutions for women’s rights agendas including our work with the Count Me In! consortium .

We increased the visibility of movements

The experiences of women with disabilities, Black and Afro-descendant women, sex workers, Indigenous women, trans and intersex people, domestic workers and how their lives are impacted by multiple oppressions and violence were placed front and center of the Forum process.

We also launched the 2016 WHRD Tribute to commemorate defenders who are no longer with us, during the 16 Days of activism, and thanks to the contributions from our members,

We drove attention to groups and issues that do not usually receive adequate mainstream media coverage through our partnership with The Guardian and Mama Cash.


Our members

 

Laura Lee

Laura était une activiste et une avocate de premier plan qui a mené une campagne courageuse en faveur de la dépénalisation du travail du sexe en Irlande.

On se souvient d'elle comme « une combattante de la liberté pour les travailleurs et les travailleuses du sexe, une féministe, une mère pour certainEs et une amie nécessaire pour beaucoup ».

Laura militait pour que les personnes de l'industrie du sexe soient reconnu-e-s comme des travailleurs et travailleuses sujets de droits. Elle a activement milité en faveur de la dépénalisation, notamment en engageant une procédure judiciaire devant la haute cour de Belfast qui concernent des dispositions criminalisant l’achat de services sexuels. Laura a déclaré que son intention était de porter l'affaire devant la Cour européenne des droits de l'homme.

 


 

Laura Lee, Ireland

Snippet - Intro WITM - RU

Основываясь на 20-летней истории привлечения более объемного и качественного финансирования для достижения социальных изменений под руководством феминисток(-ов), AWID приглашает вас принять участие в новом опросе: 

«Где же деньги для феминистских объединений?»

(далее – «Где деньги?»)

Пройти опрос!Руководство

Пожалуйста выберите язык, на котором вы хотите отвечать на вопросы в правом верхнем углу страницы

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IN NUMBERS

2021: Feminist Power in Action

In 2021, AWID, along with many other organizations, was coming to grips with the implications of the on-going global pandemic for how we work and our role in this particular time. The year taught us three critical lessons about navigating this moment as a global feminist movement-support organization.

Download the full 2021 Annual review


English language cover for the 2021 AWID Annual Report. It shows a collage of protests fists raised, along with flowers and a silhouette of a person with short hair in the back.

Through dialogue and exchanges critical to their work, AWID connected thousands to feminists from around the world.

Our experience in 2021 reaffirmed the importance of building and sustaining a global feminist community, and AWID’s core mission to support feminist movements as a whole. We believe that at this moment, a strong community bound by a shared vision and collective care is the foundation of all social change and transformation.

Download the full 2021 Annual review

Razan Al-Najjar

Razan was a 21-year-old volunteer medic in Palestine.

She was shot as she ran toward a fortified border fence, in an effort to reach a casualty in the east of the south Gaza city of Khan Younis.

In her very last Facebook post, Razan said: “I am returning and not retreating,” adding: “Hit me with your bullets. I am not afraid.”

 


 

Razan Al-Najjar, Palestine

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Para reivindicar o seu poder como especialista sobre o estado dos recursos de movimentos feministas;

Snippet Intro The Feminist Realities Magazine (ES)

La revista de las Realidades Feministas

Las Realidades Feministas proclaman y personifican la esperanza y el poder.

Las encontramos en todo lo que nos muestra que existen otras formas de vivir, de pensar y de hacer,  desde las expresiones cotidianas que se evidencian en cómo nos relacionamos con otrxs hasta los sistemas alternativos de gobernanza y de justicia. Las realidades feministas son formas de resistencia a sistemas de poder como el patriarcado, el capitalismo y la supremacía blanca. 

Son propuestas poderosas que nos orientan hacia la idea de lo que es posible y nos muestran cómo los procesos de organización feminista están abriendo caminos hacia la justicia en movimientos y comunidades de todo el mundo. 

Descargar la revista completa (PDF)

Explorar la revista

Lucy O.

Biography

With over ten years of finance experience, Lucy has devoted her career to for profit and furthering nonprofit missions. She also worked and volunteered at non-for-profit organizations. From the fast-paced world of Finance, Lucy has passion for staying tuned with tech skills in the finance field. Lucy joined AWID in 2014. During her spare time she enjoys music, traveling, and variety sports.

Position
Accounting Coordinator
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Sue Hoya Sellars

Sue fue artista, activista y maestra y nació en 1936 en Maryland, Estados Unidos.

Creó arte para mujeres y sobre mujeres. Como lesbiana feminista, y durante un tiempo también separatista, se dedicó a la creación de espacios sólo para mujeres. En 1976 compró tierras que todavía son conservadas por mujeres que van temporariamente a hacer arte. Sue mantuvo una apasionada posición en la protección de las mujeres y las niñas.

Con su innovador enfoque futurista, clásico y antropológico, llenaba cada habitación en la que entraba con su intelecto, su excentricidad auténtica, su ingenio implacable y su humor. Sus ideas acerca de la conciencia y la creatividad siguen inspirando a mucha gente.


 

Sue Hoya Sellars, USA

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A pesquisa está disponível até 31 de julho de 2024

Participe da pesquisa!

Snippet FEA Bauen Hotel (FR)

Un an seulement après sa fondation, les membres de Nadia Echazú ont commencé à travailler dans la haute couture et ont organisé un défilé de mode dans l'historique hôtel Bauen.

Elles ont montré cinq modèles et quelques travailleuses de la coopérative textile ont même défilé avec leurs propres créations.

C'était révolutionnaire non seulement parce qu'elles concevaient des alternatives à la mode grand public, mais aussi parce qu'elles créaient des vêtements accessibles et inclusifs pour les corps trans et travesti.

Il n'y a pas d'économies féministes sans vêtements qui nous font nous sentir incroyables et confortables!

Kasia Staszewska

Biography

Kasia viene apoyando la labor de los movimientos feministas y por la justicia social desde hace 15 años. Antes de sumarse a AWID, se lideró las acciones de política e incidencia ActionAid y Amnistía Internacional, a la vez que participaba en procesos de organización feministas y de distintas agrupaciones por la justicia social en Polonia, en pro del acceso al aborto y contra la violencia en las fronteras europeas. Es una apasionada del financiamiento para la movilizaciónfeminista en toda su audacia, riqueza y diversidad. Reparte su tiempo entre Varsovia y su aldea comunitaria de trabajo artesanal en el bosque. Le encanta tomar saunas y adora con locura a su perro Wooly.

Position
Gerente, Financiamiento de los Movimientos Feministas
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Ottilie Abrahams

Ottilie était une militante féministe, éducatrice et politicienne namibienne.

Elle était l'une des fondatrices de l'Organisation populaire du Sud-Ouest africain (SWAPO), du Yu Chi Chan Club (groupe révolutionnaire armé) et du Front de libération nationale du Sud-Ouest africain (SWANLIF). Ottilie a également été une des fondatrices de la Namibian Women’s Association et du Girl Child Project. Tout au long de sa vie, Ottilie a plaidé en faveur du droit de discuter, de penser, de contester et de réclamer. Elle a mobilisé des femmes, organisé des assemblées d’étudiants et d’enseignants et critiqué d'autres camarades pour leur élitisme et leur corruption.

Ottilie a œuvré sans relâche pour démanteler le patriarcat et faire émerger une démocratie participative, féministe, libératrice et transformatrice.

Ottilie disait souvent : « Je me reposerai quand je serai morte. »


 

Ottilie Abrahams, Namibia

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شكر

ان جمعية حقوق المرأة في التنمية ممتنة للعديد من الأشخاص الذين/ اللواتي ساعدت أفكارهم/ن، تحليلاتهم/ن ومساهماتهم/ن على تصميم استطلاع "أين المال" على مدار السنوات.

نشكر جزيل الشكر أعضاء/ عضوات AWID والنشطاء/ الناشطات الذين/ اللواتي شاركوا/ن في استشارات استطلاع "أين المال؟" وقاموا/ن بتجربة الاستطلاع وأعطونا بسخاء من وقتهم/ن وتحليلاتهم/ن وقلوبهم/ن.

نقدر بشكل عميق الحركات النسوية، الحلفاء/ الحليفات والصناديق النسوية بمانقدر بشكل عميق الحركات النسوية، الحلفاء/ الحليفات والصناديق النسوية وهنا بعض منها وليس جميعها: Black Feminist Fund, Pacific Feminist Fund, ASTREA, FRIDA Young Feminist Fund, Purposeful, Kosovo Women's Network, Human Rights Funders Network, CEECCNA Feminist Fund e PROSPERA, على بحثكم/ن الرائع عن وضع التمويل، تحليلكم/ن الدقيق والمناصرة المستمرة لتمويل وقوة أكبر وأفضل للحركات النسوية وتنظيمات العدالة الجندرية في جميع السياقات.

انضموا/من للمجتمع العالمي من النسويات/ين اللواتي/ اللذين يرفعن/وا صوتهم/ن ويتحدثن/وا عن التمويل، ويطالبن/وا بتمويل وبقوة أكبر وأفضل للنسويات/ين في كل مكان