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

Special Focus

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

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

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).

Watch here! 

Watch with Arabic interpretation.

I can’t attend the Forum in person, how else can I participate?

More than just an event, the AWID Forum is part of our Feminist Realities Journey, with many spaces to come together, online and offline, for sharing, discussing, strategizing and co-creating feminist realities.

Learn more about the Feminist Realities Journey and everything that will happen before the Forum. Join our mailing list to stay tuned for Post-Forum announcements!

We are exploring options to participate virtually at the Forum and we will share information when we know what we can offer.

Tribute test

This year we are honoring 18 Women Human Rights Defenders from the Latin America and the Caribbean region. Alone 15 of those were murdered, among which 6 are journalists and 4 LGBTQI and/or sex workers’ rights defenders. Please join us in commemorating the life and work of these women by sharing the memes below with your colleagues, friends and networks and by tweeting using the hashtag #AWIDTribute.


 

Snippet FEA Metzineres activists (FR)

A crowd of people sitting in front of a banner which says ‘support, don't punish”;
Photo of two women talking to each other, one of them is holding a handheld fan.
Crowd of people with a black banner that says Metzineres in yellow.
Photo of four people sitting on the ground and talking
Photo people with plants around them, most of them sitting and clapping to a person who is walking in the middle

 

Des militants de Metzineres en action

Snippet - WITH Video tutorial - EN

Icon representing video content. It is a clapperboard with rounded corners and a play button at the center.

Click here to watch a video tutorial to support you in filling in the survey.

Will the AWID Forum still be in Taipei in light of the COVID-19?

AWID is closely monitoring the global COVID 19 situation and for now anticipates continuing with the Forum as planned.

If at any moment the situation demands  something different, we  will let you know right away.

The 14th AWID International Forum is scheduled to take place 20-23 September 2021 in Taipei,.

More information

Defensoras de la región del Pacífico

Las 3 defensoras de derechos humanos del Pacífico que honramos en el Tributo Virtual  de este año trabajaron en los medios, defendieron los derechos de las personas con discapacidad y promovieron los derechos de las mujeres. Extrañamos sus contribuciones y las honramos mediante este Tributo. Únete a AWID para honrar a estas defensoras de derechos humanos, su trabajo y su legado, compartiendo los memes aquí incluidos con tus colegas, amistades y redes; y tuiteando las etiquetas #WHRDTribute y #16Días.


Por favor, haz click en cada imagen de abajo para ver una versión más grande y para descargar como un archivo.  

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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).

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.

Guadalupe Campanur Tapia

Guadalupe was an environmental activist involved in the fight against crime in Cherán, Mexico.

Guadalupe helped to overthrow the local government in April 2011 and participated in local security patrols including those in municipal forests.  She was among the Indigenous leaders of Cherán, who called on people to defend their forests against illegal and merciless logging. Her work for seniors, children, and workers made her an icon in her community.

She was killed in Chilchota, Mexico about 30 kilometers north of her hometown of Cherá.

 


 

Guadalupe Campanur Tapia, Mexico

Why did AWID decide to change the Forum location from Bali to Taipei?

Events in Indonesia, in late 2019 - in particular, signs of intensifying militarization and backlash against LGBTQ rights - led us to question AWID’s ability to maintain a reasonably safe and welcoming environment for the diversity of participants we aspire to bring together at the Forum.

After careful consideration the AWID Board of Directors decided to change the venue for the 14th International AWID Forum, in November 2019 from Bali to Taipei.

Taipei offers  a strong degree of logistical capacities, and is accessible for many travellers (with a facilitated e-visa process for international conferences).  

For more details:

Kit de réseaux sociaux sur le Forum de l’AWID

Aidez-nous à faire parler du Forum de l’AWID 2016 !

Ce kit inclut des messages types adaptés pour Twitter, Facebook LinkedIn et Instagram ainsi que des images qui peuvent être utilisées pour accompagner ces messages.

L’utilisation de ce kit est simple, il vous suffit de suivre les étapes suivantes :

  1. Choisissez ci-dessous vos messages favoris :
    Twitter
    Facebook 
    LinkedIn

  2. Téléchargez vos images préférées
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Instagram

  3. Faites correspondre vos messages et images préférés comme bon vous semble.
  4. Partagez-les sur vos comptes réseaux sociaux personnels et/ou professionnels.
Et voilà : vous pouvez désormais commencer !

Twitter

Faites correspondre vos messages préférés avec les images types adaptés pour Twitter


Tweets pour votre compte personnel

Rejoignez-moi au #AWIDForum, LE lieu pr se connecter ac D mouvements 2 droits D femmes & 2 justice sociale http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Hâte 2 repenser les #HorizonsFéministes ac D activistes D droits D femmes & 2 la justice sociale au #AWIDForum ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Je suis tellement ravie 2 participer au #AWIDForum en mai prochain. Nous pouvons désorms ns inscrire. Rejoignez-moi ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr


Tweets pour votre compte institutionnel

Inscriptions désormais ouvertes pour le #AWIDForum! Costa do Sauípe, Brésil, 8-11 sept. 2016 http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Participez au #AWIDForum, 1 rassemblement historique mondial d'activistes 2 la justice sociale & D droits D femmes http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Participez au #AWIDForum pour célébrer les acquis de nos mouvements & analyser les leçons tirées pour aller de l’avant : http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

#AWIDForum : bien plus qu’un simple événement, la possibilité de rompre l’oppression & faire avancer la justice http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Participez au #AWIDForum pour célébrer, repenser et renouveler nos mouvements & nos réflexions. http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr


Horizons féministes

Créons ensemble des #HorizonsFéministes. Inscrivez-vous au #AWIDForum 2016. Costa do Sauípe, Brésil http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Rejoignez-nous pour ré-imaginer & co-créer des #HorizonsFéministes au #AWIDForum 2016. Inscrivez-vous: http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

#HorizonsFéministes: saisir l'opportunité au #AWIDForum de faire avancer nos visions pour un monde juste http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Nous serons 2000 activistes D mouvements sociaux au #AWIDForum, élaborant des stratégies sur nos #HorizonsFéministes http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr


Construction de mouvements transversaux

Nous sommes bien plus qu’une lutte à enjeu unique. Rejoignez-nous au #AWIDForumhttp://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Participez au #AWIDForum, un espace de stratégies entre mouvements et d’influence pour notre pouvoir collectif: http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Mobiliser la solidarité & le pouvoir collectif à travers les mouvements sociaux au #AWIDForumhttp://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Briser les cloisons entre nos mouvements. Ré-imaginer & co-créer nos futurs. Tou-te-s au #AWIDForum http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

« Etre solidaire » est un verbe. Mettons-le en action au #AWIDForum: http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr


Messages spéciaux

Les bailleurs qui s’engagent avec les mouvements sociaux & de droits des femmes au #AWIDForumhttp://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Médias et mouvements: amplifier les #HorizonsFéministes au #AWIDForumhttp://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

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Facebook 

Faites correspondre vos messages préférés avec les images types adaptés pour Facebook
Vous pouvez aussi envoyer ces messages via les messages privés de Twitter qui n’ont pas de limite de caractères.


Messages pour votre profil personnel


N’attendez plus! Nous pouvons tou-te-s nous inscrire au Forum de l’AWID 2016. L’idée de retrouver des camarades activistes et ré-imaginer ensemble nos horizons féministes me réjouit tellement… Rendez-vous au Brésil ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Je suis tellement ravie à l’idée de participer au Forum de l’AWID en mai prochain… Et nous pouvons désormais nous inscrire ! Rejoignez-moi ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Je me réjouis à l’idée de ré-imaginer des horizons féministes avec 2000 personnes venant d’incroyables mouvements de droits des femmes et de justice sociale au Forum de l’AWID. Inscrivez-vous et retrouvez-moi au Brésil ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

 


Messages pour la page de votre organisation


Les inscriptions sont désormais ouvertes pour le Forum de l’AWID 2016 qui aura lieu à Costa do Sauípe au Brésil. Bien plus qu’un simple événement, il s’agit d’un espace clé pour les activistes des droits des femmes et de la justice sociale afin de se rassembler et de ré-imaginer nos horizons féministes. À ne pas manquer ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Rejoignez-nous au Forum de l’AWID 2016 au Brésil! Des activistes et des mouvements du monde entier se rassembleront pour célébrer, élaborer des stratégies, inspirer et renouveler nos luttes collectives ainsi que nos réflexions. Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Le Forum de l’AWID 2016 constituera un rassemblement mondial historique d’activistes et de mouvements de droits des femmes et de la justice sociale. Rejoignez-nous pour faire tomber les cloisons, renforcer la solidarité et tirer profit de notre pouvoir collectif. Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

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LinkedIn

Le Forum de l’AWID 2016 constituera un rassemblement mondial historique d’activistes et de mouvements de droits des femmes et de la justice sociale. Rejoignez-nous pour célébrer, élaborer des stratégies, inspirer, se renouveler et tirer profit de notre pouvoir collectif. Les inscriptions sont désormais ouvertes ! http://forum.awid.org/forum16/fr

Instagram

Téléchargez vos images préférées pour Instagram


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Snippet FEA EoS The Ivy (EN)

An illustration of a vine with vine like leaves in neon with purple background

The Ivy
Community and neighborhood

¿Cómo puedo acceder a la encuesta?

La encuesta está disponible en KOBO, una plataforma de fuente abierta para recopilar, gestionar y visualizar datos. Para participar, simplemente haz clic en el enlace a la encuesta aquí. Sigue las instrucciones para responder la encuesta. 

Winnie Madikizela- Mandela

A Winnie la han descripto como una «militante agitadora» que luchó contra el régimen  del apartheid en Sudáfrica.

Fue encarcelada numerosas veces y en varias ocasiones fue encerrada en celdas de aislamiento. Ma’Winnie, como la recuerdan afectuosamente, era conocida por hablar abiertamente sobre los desafíos que las mujeres negras enfrentaron durante y después del apartheid, habiendo sido ella misma sometida a esas brutalidades como madre, esposa y activista durante la lucha. Fue más allá del concepto erróneo que sostiene que el liderazgo está basado en el género, la clase o la raza. A pesar de haber sido una figura controvertida, es recordada por muchxs por su nombre en xhosa, «Nomzamo», que significa «la que soporta las pruebas».

Ma’Winnie sigue siendo una inspiración para muchxs, especialmente las jóvenes sudafricanas.

Su muerte incentivó un creciente movimiento bajo el lema: «Ella no murió, se multiplicó».

 


 

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, South Africa