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On The Road To Istanbul: Activities Regarding Women Human Rights Defenders At The 12th AWID Forum - An update is available here


Coalition Condemns the Apparent Retaliation of the Azerbaijan Authorities Against Human Rights Defender Leyla Yunus
24th August 2011

The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD IC) condemns the actions of the authorities in the unlawful destruction of the property owned by Leyla Yunus on the night of the 11 August 2011. The building, owned by human rights defender Leyla Yunus and her husband, was destroyed by bulldozers the day after she gave an interview to the New York Times newspaper criticizing a "beautification" project in the capital Baku. The coalition is concerned that the demolition of the property appears to be an act of retaliation by the authorities, targeting Leyla Yunus for her open criticism of government endorsed forced evictions and the demolition of buildings in central Baku as part of a reconstruction project… Read more


Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition Statement denouncing the assassination of Ana Fabricia Cordoba

We are deeply saddened by the assassination of Ana Fabricia Cordoba, a committed women human rights defender, a leader of displaced communities, and a member of the Ruta Pacifica de las Mujeres, on 7 June 2011 in Medellin, Colombia. This killing is the latest killing of a leader of displaced communities and of those campaigning for land restitution. Read more



Oral Statement of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition on the Women Human Rights Defenders' Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

Mr. President,

Front Line, on behalf of the Women Human Rights International Coalition, welcomes the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders on women human rights defenders. Her report raises the seriousness of the violations against defenders of women's human rights and gender equality particularly LGBTI defenders and advocates of sexual and reproductive rights. These defenders are particularly at risk, but often are not considered as human rights defenders entitled to support and protection. Read more



Statement of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition on the Women Human Rights Defenders' Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 16th session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. Read more


Oral Intervention by Mary Jane N. Real Civil Society Representative for the High Level Segment, General Segment
16th session of the Human Rights Council, 2 March 2011 Read more




Civil Society Section
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights


*** Update ***

The UN Human Rights office continues with preparations for Human Rights Day 2010 on 10 December, with the focus on human rights defenders who act to end discrimination.

We hope you are also developing your own activities and promotional materials.

Check our web site:http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/HRDay2010.aspx

To help mark Human Rights Day, we have developed public information materials including a poster, information note, defender stories, videos and visual designs that you can download from our site. They can be used on 10 December and throughout 2011. Read more

Respect Universality in Principle and Practice:  Defend Women’s Human Rights

March 1st, 2010

As women human rights defenders and members of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD IC), we note with grave concern the circumstances under which Gita Sahgal, a member of the WHRD IC Executive Committee and head of the Gender Unit of the International Secretariat of Amnesty International (AI), is currently under suspension on the same day that she publicly questioned  the specific alliances entered into by AI in its advocacy to defend victims of torture in Guantanamo Bay.  Read more


Archives


The Center for Women's Global Leadership is pleased to announce that the 2012 16 Days Campaign continues with the global theme: From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women! This year’s Campaign marks our third year of advocacy on the intersections of gender-based violence and militarism.

The sub-themes of the Campaign are:

  • Sexual and gender-based violence committed by state agents, particularly the police or military
  • Proliferation of small arms and their role in domestic violence
  • Sexual violence in and after conflict

The global theme announcement is available in 38 languages from the CWGL 16 Days website: http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/2012-campaign/theme-announcement

The 2012 Take Action Kit can be downloaded or requested at: http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/2012-campaign/2012-take-action-kit.