WUNRN
ADDRESSING GAPS IN THE
DEFENSE OF WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
Direct Link to Full 32-Page CWGL
Report:
The
Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) is pleased to publish this report
on the ongoing efforts being taken by the Women Human Rights Defenders
International Coalition (WHRD IC) and its allies to shed light on the unique
challenges women human rights defenders face and to create new systems of
advocacy on their behalf.
The
2009 meeting of defenders was a collaborative effort between the WHRD IC and
CWGL to bring together women working specifically on defenders’ rights. The
strategic conversation on Addressing Gaps in the Defense of Women Human
Rights Defenders was convened with the knowledge that more than a decade
after the recognition of women’s rights as human rights at the 1993 UN World
Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria and subsequently at the 1995
Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, there continue to be many
gaps in the integration of women’s concerns into the international human rights
agenda. While the women’s movement has been steadfast in raising awareness of
women human rights defenders’ issues, the fact remains that most women
defenders still do not receive support from international human rights entities
and are often unaware of such possibilities.
Furthermore,
defenders continue to confront challenges posed by the eroding of secular
space, by the view of culture as a static concept, and the backlash against
feminist and sexual rights organizing. The primary goal of the meeting,
therefore, was to develop specific strategies, suggestions and solutions that
the defender community could use for the protection and support of women human
rights defenders.
We
hope that this publication will further continue discussion on women human
rights defenders and advance implementation of meaningful action in their
defense.
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