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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

Women Human Rights Defenders

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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

Type

Doris Valenzuela Angulo

Read in: English French Spanish
Category
Droits civils et politiques
Region
Amérique latine
Date of death / disappearance
Cause of death / disappearance

Assassinat

Doris Valenzuela Angulo était une activiste sociale, leader et défenseure des droits humains afrodescendante de Buenaventura, en Colombie. Elle faisait partie du réseau national Comunidades Construyendo Paz en Colombia (CONPAZ, Communautés construisant la paix en Colombie) composé d’organisations présentes dans les communautés affectées par le conflit armé œuvrant en faveur de la non-violence et la justice socio-environnementale.

Doris s’opposait à la violence paramilitaire continue, aux pressions incessantes des mégaprojets cherchant à déplacer sa communauté, et à la complicité de  l’État. Confrontée à l’un des contextes les plus difficiles de son pays, elle joua un rôle de premier plan dans l’initiative de résistance non-violente sans précédent Espacio Humanitario Puente Nayero, un lieu urbain conçu pour assurer la cohésion communautaire, la sécurité, la créativité et l’action collective. 

Ce combat non-violent unique en son genre des familles de l’Espacio Humanitario Puente Nayero attira l’attention et le soutien des agences tant locales qu’internationales. En septembre 2014, la Commission interaméricaine des droits de l’Homme accorda des mesures de protection préventives à la communauté, ordonnant au gouvernement colombien d’adopter des mesures nécessaires en vue de protéger la vie et l’intégrité physique des habitant·e·s. Les menaces et la violence des paramilitaires se poursuivirent néanmoins. Malgré l’assassinat de son fils Cristian Dainer Aragón Valenzuela en juillet 2015,Doris continua à mettre toute son énergie à éviter le recrutement forcé des enfants et des jeunes par les néo-militaires. Elle devint alors également une cible, recevant constamment des menaces pour son activisme et le travail qu’elle accomplissait.

Les incessantes agressions et menaces de mort dont elle était l’objet forcèrent Doris à quitter la Colombie. Elle vécut en Espagne de février 2017 à février 2018, dans le cadre du programme de protection temporaire d’Amnesty International pour les défenseur·e·s des droits humains en danger.

Doris a été assassinée en avril 2018 à Murcie, en Espagne, par son ex-compagnon. Elle n’avait que 39 ans. 

Hommages :

« Doris, cette année passée avec toi nous a montré combien une personne peut avoir la capacité de transformer et créer de l’espoir en dépit des événements profondément négatifs et dévastateurs qui jalonnent sa vie... Nous poursuivons notre engagement à défendre tous les droits humains. Ton courage et ta lumière nous guideront toujours. » - Montserrat Román, Amnesty International, Groupe de La Palma, Espagne

Extrait de « Mots pour Doris Valenzuela Angulo », d’Elsa López

« ... Tu le savais. Tu l’as toujours su. Et malgré tout cela, tu as résisté sans faillir à tant d’injustice, de misère, de persécution. Tu t’es élevée, fière et acharnée, contre ceux qui continuaient à vouloir que tu abandonnes tout espoir, que tu t’abaisses, que tu te rendes. Debout, tu as réclamé haut et fort ta liberté et la nôtre, qui était la tienne. Rien ni personne n’est parvenu à paralyser tes efforts pour changer le monde et le rendre plus généreux et plus vivable. Tu vis parmi nous, aujourd’hui plus vivante que jamais malgré la mort. Tu vis encore par tes actes, par ton courage, par ta grandeur lorsque tu pleurais pour cette terre promise que tu invoquais à chacun de tes cris, pour tous ces déserts que tu as habités. Toi. Toujours en vie. Doris Valenzuela Angulo.
Ce ne sont que des mots. Je sais. Je le sais, moi aussi. Mais les mots nous unissent, nous protègent, nous donnent la force et le soutien nécessaires pour continuer à aller vers la lumière que tu défendais tant... »

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Vous voulez construire le Forum avec nous ?

Devenez membre de l'AWID et participez à notre prochain événement "Forum Dreaming" le 20 juin.

The 2023 Feminist Calendar

Image of a calendar on a flat surface. The images decorating each month change every second: first there is a naked person sitting enjoying a hot drink in relaxation, then we see two pink hands over a blue background and finally a couple riding a motorcycle. This looks indefinitely.

AWID is a part of an incredible ecosystem of feminist movements working to achieve gender justice and social justice worldwide. With our 40th anniversary, we are celebrating all that we’ve built over these last 40 years. As a global feminist movement support organization we know that working with 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.

The 2023 Feminist Calendar is our gift to movements. It features the artwork of some of our amazing AWID members.

This is the cover for the 2023 Feminist Calendar. It shows a diverse group of people of all ages embracing and holding hands.

Use it. Print it. Share it. 

Get it in your preferred language!

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English Print Quality |  Digital Version
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Crear | Résister | Transform

Crear | Résister | Transform is for you and all the amazing feminist and social justice activists that you know. Let’s come together to share our resistance strategies, co-create some feminist magic, and transform this world together.

 A Festival for Feminist Movements!

Diana Isabel Hernández Juárez

Read in: English French Spanish
Category
Environment
Region
Latin America
Date of death / disappearance
Cause of death / disappearance

Killed

Diana Isabel Hernández Juárez was a Guatemalan teacher, human rights defender and environmental and community activist. She was the coordinator of the environmental program at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish on the South coast of the country. 

Diana dedicated her life to co-creating environmental awareness, working especially closely with local communities to address environmental issues and protect natural resources. She initiated projects such as forest nurseries, municipal farms, family gardens and clean-up campaigns. She was active in reforestation programmes, trying to recover native species and address water shortages, in more than 32 rural communities.

On 7 September 2019, Diana was shot and killed by two unknown gunmen while she was participating in a procession in her hometown. Diana was only 35 years old at the time of her death.
 

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Take the Quiz!

"Where is the money for feminist organizing?"

How much do you know about feminist resourcing? 📊 Take AWID's "Where is the Money for Feminist Organizing?" quiz to test your knowledge:

 

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What will be different about this Forum?

With up to 2,500 participants on-site and 3,000 virtual/hybrid participants, it will be the largest AWID Forum ever. We envision multiple spaces for meaningful connection, learning, exchange, strategic conversations, healing and celebration. It is the first time we gather in this space since the pandemic, and we can’t wait.

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OURS 2021 - Chapitre 1

Chapitre 1

Promouvoir les programmes féministes : principales avancées en matière de genre et de sexualité

Alors que les fondamentalismes, les fascismes et autres systèmes d’oppression se métamorphosent et trouvent de nouvelles tactiques et stratégies pour consolider leur pouvoir et influence, les mouvements féministes persévèrent et célèbrent leurs victoires nationales, régionales et internationales.

En lire plus

Jaitun

Read in: English French Spanish
Category
Derechos sexuales y reproductivos
Region
Asia
Asia del Sur
Date of death / disappearance
Cause of death / disappearance

Natural

Jaitun, comúnmente conocida como «Amma», estaba comprometida con garantizar los derechos reproductivos de las mujeres y niñas de India. Se dedicó, particularmente, a abogar por quienes viven en la pobreza y son más marginadas, incluidas las mujeres y niñas dalit y musulmanas.

Jaitun fue la fuerza vital detrás del caso Jaitun versus Janpura Maternity Home & Ors. Su perseverancia por la justicia llevó a que la Corte Suprema de Delhi emitiera una sentencia innovadora, que obligó al gobierno indio a hacerse responsable del incumplimiento de cierto número de obligaciones legalmente vinculantes, tales como la atención a la salud reproductiva y el derecho a la alimentación.

A su hija Fatema, quien vivía por debajo de la línea de pobreza, se le negaron los servicios reproductivos, y tuvo que dar a luz en público, bajo un árbol. En ese momento, tanto Jaitun como Fatema estaban en situación de calle, ya que su casa había sido demolida por el gobierno como parte del programa de reurbanización y gentrificación de Nueva Delhi.

«Desde entonces, esta sentencia ha sido utilizada por innumerables abogadxs y activistas de todo el mundo, incluyendo al ex-Relator Especial de la ONU sobre el derecho a la salud, no solamente como fuente de inspiración, sino como una sólida plataforma para promover la justicia.» - Jameen Kaur

Jaitun ha sido una inspiración para que muchas otras mujeres que viven en la pobreza reclamen sus derechos. Falleció en 2017.

«Con la muerte de Jaitun, hemos perdido una incomparable guerrera de la justicia, pero su espíritu de desafío pervive.» -Jameen Kaur

«En mis dieciocho años como defensora de los derechos humanos, nunca he encontrado una mujer que me inspirara ni que conmoviera mi espíritu de la forma en que lo hacía Amma. Su sonora valentía, su inimitable humor (solíamos compararla con la actriz de Bollywood, Hema Melini) cuando se sentía molesta porque habíamos pasado tanto tiempo lejos de ella... con un brillo en los ojos, decía “Ustedes se han olvidado de Amma, Amma ahora no les habla”, y luego con gran dramatismo se ponía de espaldas para darse vuelta enseguida riendo y estirando los brazos para un abrazo. Su bondad y, en definitiva, su amor y su alegría por el amor y el derecho de todxs nosotrxs a vivir con dignidad. La extraño terriblemente.» - Jameen Kaur

WITM - Refreshed Intro Text - ES

🚨Nuevo informe disponible en inglés🚨

¿Dónde está el dinero? Un llamado basado en evidencia a dotar de recursos a las organizaciones feministas

Este nuevo informe revela las realidades de los recursos de las organizaciones feministas y por los derechos de las mujeres en una época de turbulencias políticas y económicas sin precedentes. A partir de un análisis de más de una década desde el último informe de AWID ¿Dónde está el dinero? (Regando las hojas, dejando morir las raíces), se hace un balance de las conquistas, las brechas y las amenazas crecientes en el panorama del financiamiento.

En el informe se celebra el poder las iniciativas de los movimientos para configurar la dotación de recursos en sus propios términos y, a la vez, se da la voz de alarma sobre los recortes masivos de las ayudas, el declive de la filantropía y el aumento de las reacciones adversas. 

Se hace un llamado a los donantes para que inviertan copiosamente en las organizaciones feministas, pues estas son la infraestructura esencial para la justicia y la liberación. También se invita a los movimientos a reinventar modelos audaces y autodefinidos para una dotación de recursos fundada en el cuidado, la solidaridad y el poder colectivo.

¡Descarga el informe! (en inglés)

¿Cómo puedo financiar mi participación en el Foro de AWID?

Si tu grupo u organización recibe financiamiento, es posible que desees discutir con tus donantes desde ahora si pueden apoyar tu viaje y participación en el Foro. Muchas instituciones planifican sus presupuestos para el próximo año a principios de 2023, por lo que es mejor no retrasar esta conversación para el próximo año.

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.

1.1.2 The payment information you provide to become member or registering for a paid event:

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.

1.1.3 The optional information you chose to give us as AWID member (with consent)

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.

1.1.4 Information you provide us through contact forms or when you directly communicate with us

When you communicate with us, we collect your communication and any other information you choose to provide us.

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:

  • We may collect certain demographic data such as age and gender as part of collecting personal information;
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  • We also collect and store certain other information regarding our users’ use of the Website so that third parties may provide us with reports and analysis regarding usage and browsing patterns of the Website.

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.
  • Communicate with you via email to share resources and analysis in the field of women's rights, connect with you and provide opportunities to engage with our work, keep you updated about developments at AWID and with our partners.
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    • Verify or authenticate information provided by you (such as to verify your authorization to act as an agent on behalf of a nonprofit organization).
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    • Resolve any disputes with any of our users or customers and enforce our agreements with third parties.
    • Enforce our Terms of Use and other policies.

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.
  • You also have the right to ask us to delete your personal data or restrict how it is used. There may be exceptions to the right to erasure for specific legal reasons which, if applicable, we will set out for you in response to your request.
  • At any time, regardless of applicable law, you may object to us processing your personal information for direct marketing purposes. You may, at any time, ask AWID to cease processing your data for these direct marketing purposes by Contacting Us.

 

5. Sharing information

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.

6. Information security

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

Primer: Spot key groups and debunk their narratives

Primer:

Spot key groups and debunk their narratives

Are you a UN policy maker and want to know the main anti-rights groups and discourses to look out for? Or a feminist looking for quick counter-arguments? This 8-page primer provides key information at a glance.

Get the primer

Isabel Cabanillas de la Torre

Read in: English French Spanish
Category
Droits économiques, sociaux et culturels
Region
Amérique latine
Date of birth
Date of death / disappearance
Cause of death / disappearance

Assassinat

Isabel Cabanillas de la Torre était une jeune artiste et activiste féministe très appréciée de Ciudad Juárez, au Mexique. Elle était connue pour ses belles peintures textiles, très expressives. Les yeux faisaient partie des représentations emblématiques de son travail. Ses peintures murales ont métamorphosé les immeubles décrépis et laissés à l’abandon du centre-ville de Ciudad Juárez, ornant leurs façades de messages de vie et de commentaires politiques.

Isabel voulait, à travers son art et son activisme politique, attirer l’attention sur les violences basées sur le genre omniprésentes dans sa ville natale. Elle était bénévole dans le réseau Mesa de Mujeres pour l’Observatoire citoyen sur le genre, qui supervise le travail des juges, procureurs et avocats de la défense dans les affaires de féminicides et autres violations basées sur le genre. Elle était également membre de Hijas de su Maquilera Madre, un collectif féministe dont le nom fait référence aux filles de mères qui travaillent dans les maquiladoras, ou zones de traitement pour l’exportation. Certaines de ces mères ont figuré parmi les premières victimes de féminicide dans la ville.

Le dernier projet d’Isabel, toujours en cours, était une installation artistique pour protester contre une entreprise canadienne qui cherchait à extraire du cuivre dans le désert de Samalayuca. 

Le 18 janvier 2020, Isabel a été tuée par balle alors qu’elle rentrait chez elle à vélo dans le centre de Juárez, dansce qui semble avoir été un acte ciblé, son corps ayant été retrouvé à côté de son vélo.

Le meurtre d’Isabel a déclenché une nouvelle vague d’indignation contre les féminicides dans la région, des centaines de personnes ont manifesté jusqu’au pont frontalier entre le Mexique et les États-Unis, le bloquant pendant des heures et scandant « Ni Una Menos » (pas une de plus) alors que des collectifs féministes continuaient de manifester contre les meurtres de femmes dans tout le pays. Au cours de la seule année 2019, 3 142 femmes et filles ont été tuées au Mexique. Un grand nombre ont été spécifiquement ciblées du fait de leur genre.

Elle adorait faire du vélo.

« Le vélo était son symbole de liberté. Il symbolisait le fait d’être libre dans les rues. » - Marisol (une amie d’Isabel) 

Snippet - COP30 - The People's Summit - ES

La Cumbre de los Pueblos

La cumbre por el clima organizada por y para los movimientos.

📅 12 - 16 de noviembre de 2025
📍 Universidad Federal de Pará, Belém

Más información aquí