Bravely Defending Women's Rights Worldwide
Countless women human rights defenders across the globe risk imprisonment, harassment, torture, and even death to defend human rights - including their own. In addition, men and women in countries around the world work tirelessly at grave risk to themselves to ensure women can enjoy their full human rights. You can defend these human rights defenders!
Much of what has been gained in regards to women's human rights has been thanks to the efforts of women themselves. Women activists have broken social norms and cultural taboos to speak out, leading brave and inspiring campaigns for their rights.
They have achieved dramatic changes in laws, policies and practices even though they encounter additional risks as activists and human rights defenders because of their gender and due to the issues they address. As women work to reclaim their rights, they often have to challenge social conventions and deeply entrenched beliefs, risking their own alienation from colleagues and even family and friends.
Most of the advances that women have made towards claiming their rights have been the result of grass roots campaigning, usually by independent women's rights organizations. Some work for their "disappeared" relative or are community activists, fighting for basic economic and social rights such as freedom from want. Many are lawyers seeking justice for the underrepresented. They campaign against torture, domestic violence, equal treatment at work or for land rights and access to credit.
What's more, countless women and men risk their lives specifically to work for women's human rights and gender equality. You can take action to save the lives of women human rights defenders and those who defend women's human rights!
