WHRD Tribute

Tribute: Remembering feminist activists who changed our world

In this online gallery, we pay tribute to over 450 courageous feminists and activists from all regions of the world and 88 countries who are no longer with us.

We bring them all into our collective memory and carry their legacy of struggle as our torch in feminist and women’s rights movements.

Remembering feminist activists who changed our world - art by <a alt="artist Louisa Bertman's website" href="http://www.louisabertman.com" target="_blank">Louisa Bertman</a><br />

Remembering feminist activists who changed our world - art by Louisa Bertman
Ayanda was a transwomxn, sex worker, activist, poet. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/ayanda-denge">Read more ></a>

Ayanda was a transwomxn, sex worker, activist, poet. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/ayanda-denge">Read more ></a>

Ayanda was a transwomxn, sex worker, activist, poet. Read more >

Paulina was an ancestral Maya Achí authority and a human rights defender. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/paulina-cruz-ruiz">Read more ></a>

Paulina was an ancestral Maya Achí authority and a human rights defender. Read more > Sara was a bold Egyptian LGBTQI+ rights activist. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/sara-hegazy">Read more ></a>

Sara was a bold Egyptian LGBTQI+ rights activist. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/sara-hegazy">Read more ></a>

Sara was a bold Egyptian LGBTQI+ rights activist. Read more >

Stacey was a self-identifying queer disabled woman of colour and a trailblazer. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/stacey-park-milbern">Read more ></a>

Stacey was a self-identifying queer disabled woman of colour and a trailblazer. Read more > Barbara was a political and human rights activist from Uganda. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/barbara-allimadi">Read more ></a>

Barbara was a political and human rights activist from Uganda. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/barbara-allimadi">Read more ></a>

Barbara was a political and human rights activist from Uganda. Read more >

Rosane was a Brazilian environmental and human rights activist. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/rosane-santiago-silveira">Read more ></a>

Rosane was a Brazilian environmental and human rights activist. Read more > Cristina was a tireless defender of the rights of Nasa people. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/cristina-bautista">Read more ></a>

Cristina was a tireless defender of the rights of Nasa people. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/cristina-bautista">Read more ></a>

Cristina was a tireless defender of the rights of Nasa people. Read more >

Leah was a Lumad woman of Mindanao in the Philippines. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/leah-tumbalang">Read more ></a>

Leah was a Lumad woman of Mindanao in the Philippines. Read more > Esther was a prominent and valued land rights activist from Kenya. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/esther-mwikali">Read more ></a>

Esther was a prominent and valued land rights activist from Kenya. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/esther-mwikali">Read more ></a>

Esther was a prominent and valued land rights activist from Kenya. Read more > Mirna Teresa was a leader and a fervent defender of the Indigenous territory. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/mirna-teresa-suazo-martinez">Read more ></a>

Mirna Teresa was a leader and a fervent defender of the Indigenous territory. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/mirna-teresa-suazo-martinez">Read more ></a>

Mirna Teresa was a leader and a fervent defender of the Indigenous territory. Read more > Lorena was a trans Latina woman and activist from New York City. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/lorena-borjas">Read more ></a>

Lorena was a trans Latina woman and activist from New York City. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/lorena-borjas">Read more ></a>

Lorena was a trans Latina woman and activist from New York City. Read more > “Yaye Kadia” was a feminist with a committment in advocating for Mauritanian women’s rights. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/aissata-kane">Read more ></a>

“Yaye Kadia” was a feminist with a committment in advocating for Mauritanian women’s rights. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/aissata-kane">Read more ></a>

“Yaye Kadia” was a feminist with a committment in advocating for Mauritanian women’s rights. Read more > Nilcéa was a Brazilian feminist activist, politician and academic. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/nilcea-freire">Read more ></a>

Nilcéa was a Brazilian feminist activist, politician and academic. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/nilcea-freire">Read more ></a>

Nilcéa was a Brazilian feminist activist, politician and academic. Read more >

Dorothy was a well-known songwriter and a fervent advocate of the struggle against apartheid. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/dorothy-masuka">Read more ></a>

Dorothy was a well-known songwriter and a fervent advocate of the struggle against apartheid. Read more >

Rosa Candida was a Guatemalan social worker, union leader and labor rights defender. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/rosa-candida-mayorga-munoz">Read more ></a>

Rosa Candida was a Guatemalan social worker, union leader and labor rights defender. Read more >

Isabel de la Torre was a young feminist artist and activist from Mexico. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/isabel-cabanillas-de-la-torre">Read more ></a>

Isabel de la Torre was a young feminist artist and activist from Mexico. Read more > Gloria was a fervent defender of land and water in Equador. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/gloria-chicaiza">Read more ></a>

Gloria was a fervent defender of land and water in Equador. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/gloria-chicaiza">Read more ></a>

Gloria was a fervent defender of land and water in Equador. Read more >

María was an Afro-descendent and indigenous land defender. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/maria-digna-montero">Read more ></a>

María was an Afro-descendent and indigenous land defender. Read more > Roxana was a philosopher, lesbian, poet, politician and LGBT activist from Costa Rica. <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/roxana-reyes-rivas">Read more ></a>

Roxana was a philosopher, lesbian, poet, politician and LGBT activist from Costa Rica.  <a href="http://www.awid.org/whrd/roxana-reyes-rivas">Read more ></a>

Roxana was a philosopher, lesbian, poet, politician and LGBT activist from Costa Rica. Read more >

Fadila fought against land discrimination directed against tribal women in Morocco. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/fadila-m">Read more ></a>

Fadila fought against land discrimination directed against tribal women in Morocco. Read more >

‘Amma’ was committed to ensuring the reproductive rights of women and girls in India. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/jaitun">Read more ></a>

‘Amma’ was committed to ensuring the reproductive rights of women and girls in India. Read more >

Lina was a Tunisian blogger, activist and linguistics lecturer. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/lina-ben-mhenni">Read more ></a>

Lina was a Tunisian blogger, activist and linguistics lecturer. Read more > Sarah was a pioneer of Pan-African cinema. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/sarah-maldoror">Read more ></a>

Sarah was a pioneer of Pan-African cinema. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/sarah-maldoror">Read more ></a>

Sarah was a pioneer of Pan-African cinema. Read more >

Maritza was an Afro Colombian a community leader and women human rights defender. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/maritza-quiroz-leiva">Read more ></a>

Maritza was an Afro Colombian a community leader and women human rights defender. Read more >

Laurie was an actor, director, dancer, playwright, and poet in the United States. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/laurie-carlos">Read more ></a>

Laurie was an actor, director, dancer, playwright, and poet in the United States. Read more >

Diana Isabel was a Guatemalan teacher, human rights defender and environmental activist. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/diana-isabel-hernandez-juarez">Read more ></a>

Diana Isabel was a Guatemalan teacher, human rights defender and environmental activist. Read more > Mena was a prominent TV journalist, women’s rights advocate and cultural adviser in Afghanistan.<a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/mena-mangal">Read more ></a>

Mena was a prominent TV journalist, women’s rights advocate and cultural adviser in Afghanistan.<a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/mena-mangal">Read more ></a>

Mena was a prominent TV journalist, women’s rights advocate and cultural adviser in Afghanistan.Read more >

Juli was an Australian feminist who practiced intergenerational leadership. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/juli-dugdale">Read more ></a>

Juli was an Australian feminist who practiced intergenerational leadership. Read more > Sylvia was a tireless community organizer and leader in the United-States. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/sylvia-robinson">Read more ></a>

Sylvia was a tireless community organizer and leader in the United-States.  <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/sylvia-robinson">Read more ></a>

Sylvia was a tireless community organizer and leader in the United-States. Read more >

Binta was an activist for social, economic, cultural and political justice in Senegal. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/binta-sarr">Read more ></a>

Binta was an activist for social, economic, cultural and political justice in Senegal. Read more > Hevrin was a prominent Syrian Kurdish political leader in the region of Rojava. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/hevrin-khalaf">Read more ></a>

Hevrin was a prominent Syrian Kurdish political leader in the region of Rojava. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/hevrin-khalaf">Read more ></a>

Hevrin was a prominent Syrian Kurdish political leader in the region of Rojava. Read more > Doris was an Afro-descendant social leader and human rights defender from Colombia. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/doris-valenzuela-angulo">Read more ></a>

Doris was an Afro-descendant social leader and human rights defender from Colombia.  <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/doris-valenzuela-angulo">Read more ></a>

Doris was an Afro-descendant social leader and human rights defender from Colombia. Read more >

Janet was a human rights lawyer from the United States. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/janet-benshoof">Read more ></a>

Janet was a human rights lawyer from the United States. Read more >

‘Sua’ was a longstanding member of the Fiji YWCA movement.  <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/mereani-naisua-senibici">Read more ></a>

‘Sua’ was a longstanding member of the Fiji YWCA movement. Read more >

Yamile was a well-known lawyer, community leader and political activist in Colombia.  <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/yamile-guerra">Read more ></a>

Yamile was a well-known lawyer, community leader and political activist in Colombia. Read more >

Cynthia was a sociologist, writer, academic, photographer and peace activist. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/cynthia-cockburn">Read more ></a>

Cynthia was a sociologist, writer, academic, photographer and peace activist. Read more >

Nadyn personified the feminist mantra "The personal is political". <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/nadyn-jouny">Read more ></a>

Nadyn personified the feminist mantra "The personal is political". Read more >

‘La Maga’ was an historian, activist demanding justice for the victims of femicide.  <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/magaly-quintana">Read more ></a>

‘La Maga’ was an historian, activist demanding justice for the victims of femicide. Read more >

Carol was a trailblazer for women’s sexual and reproductive rights in South Africa.  <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/carol-thomas">Read more ></a>

Carol was a trailblazer for women’s sexual and reproductive rights in South Africa. Read more > Molara was a feminist thinker, writer, editor, social critic, poet, and activist. <a href="https://www.awid.org/whrd/molara-ogundipe">Read more ></a>