#womxnresist

[humanrightsconnected]

WomxnRESIST: Rohingya womxn embrace legal empowerment as part of their nonviolent struggle

Photo: Oslo Freedom Forum, Reka Nyari

Wai Wai Nu resists the ethnic genocide of the Rohingya through education. She founded Women Peace Network to educate Burmese youth out of hatred and to disrupt the cycle of political violence in her country. Her #MyFriend Twitter campaign promotes tolerance and understanding in interracial friendships. Wai Wai Nu started Justice for Women to connect Rohingya refugees to women lawyers and was named Time Magazine's Next Generation Leaders for her activism.

WATCH Wai Wai Nu explain her resistance through education.

Wai Wai Nu is one of many womxn resisters in Myanmar. She's joined by groups like Shanti Mohila, or peace women, a group of Rohingya women fighting for justice for their community. Through international law, Shanti Mohila is attempting to bring an end to the ethnic persecution they face. The 400 women sent a request to the International Criminal Court asking for an investigation of ethnic genocide to be conducted, signing with 20 pages of their fingerprints. Thanks to this letter, the ICC has begun a preliminary examination, the first step towards an investigation.

WATCH: How Rohingya activists use art to disrupt.

ICYMI

Here’s how 5 human rights defenders fight for the Rohingya.

HRC highlights womxn-led movements in a special series called WomxnRESIST Wednesdays. WomxnRESIST’s coverage is inclusive and explores the intersectional resistance of all womxn. This week’s post was developed by Community Engagement Intern Danielle London and Community Engagement Associate Alannah Bonalos.

[humanrightsconnected]

Womxn Resist Wednesday: The First of Their Kind

This week, we talked all about womxn in politics. Our resistors all started as grassroots activists who entered the political arena to scale-up their impact. Check out a quick recap of all the womxn we mentioned this week on our Instagram:

Aisha Rateb, Egypt's first female ambassador who pushed for gender equity.

Gertrude Mongella, the first president of the Pan-African parliament and advocate for womxn in politics around the globe.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a champion of the people, sharing the importance of self-care while in office.

Ada Colau, an activist for tenants who continues to organize for her community

Marielle Franco, a Black bisexual woman from a favela who shifted representation and power in Brazil.

Keep reading to hear about four more incredible resisters!

Shabnam Mausi

Before ever getting elected, Shabnam Mausi worked as a social worker, helping to better her community from the grassroots level. Once electeed to the Legislative Assembly, she became the first openly transgender Indian to hold any public office.  She amplifies her activism with her political positionally to speak against discrimination towards transgender folks, hijras, eunuches, and cross-dressers in India. Shabnam also inspires other transgender Indians to participate fully in life, rather than on the margins.

WATCH one film's interpretation of her mobilizing campaign.

Dr. Habiba Sarābi

When Dr. Habiba had to flee Afghanistan to Pakistani, she began to secretly teach girls in refugee camps. She continued to advocate for women as she worked for civil society organizations focused on education and humanitarian assistance for women. Because of her leadership in these fields, she became the first female governor of a providence in Afghanistan. With her new role, she works to gain international support for the Hazara minority she represents. Helping to rebuild the political world of Afghanistan after the Taliban, Dr. Habiba keeps up the fight for women's rights. LISTEN to Dr. Habiba explain her tremendous impact.

Carmen Muñoz Quesada

Carmen is a Costa Rican politician using her platform to advocate for feminism and the LGBTQIA community. As a congresswoman in the legislative assembly, she pushed for recognition of same-sex unions. Now, as the first lesbian minister in Costa Rica as the Vice-Minister of Government and Police, she continues to advocate for the Queer community. STAY UPDATED with her political activism through her twitter

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

Jóhanna began her career as a labor activist in Icelandic unions. After 14 weeks of protest in 2009, following the financial crisis the year earlier, she was appointed prime minister, thanks in part to her civil resistance. This appointment made her the first openly gay prime minister any where in the world. Jóhanna was tasked with leading Iceland out of a financial crisis and guiding their first left-wing government. She did this while using her political position to champion women’s rights in the workplace and passing legislation to support gender equity.

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[humanrightsconnected]

WomxnRESIST: Womxn of the Great Return March

WHO is Ahed Tamimi?

Ahed is a Palestinian teenager who spent 8 months in an Israeli prison for standing up to a soldier after her cousin was shot in the head with a rubber bullet by an Israeli soldier. Her arrest drew international attention to the imprisonment of Palestinian children and thrust the young activist into the spotlight of the resistance. Already a leader against Israeli occupation, Ahed plans to go to law school to fight for Palestinians in international courts. >> READ about Ahed's resistance in her own words

INCLUSIVITY + VISIBILITY will only strengthen Palestinian womxn resistance.

LEARN MORE about the Great Return March + VISUALIZE Palestinian womxn resistance.

HRC highlights womxn-led movements in a special series called WomxnRESIST Wednesdays. WomxnRESIST’s coverage is inclusive and explores the intersectional resistance of all womxn. This week’s post was developed by Community Engagement Intern Danielle London and Community Engagement Associate Alannah Bonalos.

[humanrightsconnected]

WomxnRESIST: Meet the Pioneers of the Transgender Rights Movement

This October, HRC highlights womxn-led movements every Thursday in a special series called WomxnRESIST. WomxnRESIST’s coverage is inclusive and explores the intersectional resistance of all womxn.

Language as a resistance tool

It’s important to use accurate terminology to create inclusive and respectful spaces for transgender and gender non-conforming people. 

Meet the pioneers of the Transgender Rights Movement

9 Amazing Transgender Women Who Changed History

Milestones in the American Transgender Movement

Victoria Cruz preserves Marsha P. Johnson's legacy in a new Netflix documentary

“Not only was Argentina the first Latin American nation to legalize marriage equality, but it has also enacted some of the most progressive transgender rights laws in the world.”

- “Latin America has become an unlikely leader in LGBT rights” by Anna-Catherine Brigida

This week’s WomxnRESIST was developed by the HRC team: Program Assistant Rosalie Candau, Community Engagement Intern Arianna Arquette and Community Engagement Associate Alannah Bonalos.

[humanrightsconnected]

WomxnRESIST: Inspired by Berta

Berta’s daughters pick up where their mother left off

Who is Berta Cáceres?

Berta resisted against environmentally destructive projects that would displace the Lenca, an indigenous community in Honduras, and won the Goldman Environment Prize in 2015 for her activism and fight for justice. She co-founded COPINH (Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras) to magnify the defense of indigenous peoples and the environment together.

The global community of human rights defenders suffered a great loss after her murder in 2016. Seven men were eventually convicted of her murder two weeks ago.

Berta's daughters campaign across the country, continuing their mother's work

How can I defend environmental human rights?

Check out our EHRD Action Guide and pursue your own path to environmental human rights resistance

Follow COPINH and join the fight against the oppression of indigenous peoples and the destruction of the planet

Womxn resist amid extreme violence in Honduras

How do womxn human rights defenders resist in a country where the extent of femicide is so dire and extreme?

WATCH: Karen Mejía reminds us of the “defender inside all of us”

What challenges do womxn human rights defenders face?

No country has achieved gender equity, and womxn human rights defenders face more levels of danger and oppression than defenders who identify themselves as men.

Womxn resist multiple facets of oppression in defense for human rights.

Womxn of color are not given the same platform and voice and are often "written out of history."

Support Womxn Human Rights Defenders

Public support for womxn human rights defenders is essential for their advocacy and safety.

TAKE ACTION: Sign this petition and support 10 Womxn Human Rights Defenders

Take a sneak peek behind Vienna Rye's tribute to 400 womxn human rights defenders.

HRC highlights womxn-led movements every Thursday in a special series called WomxnRESIST. WomxnRESIST’s coverage is inclusive and explores the intersectional resistance of all womxn. This week’s WomxnRESIST was developed by the HRC team: Program Assistant Rosalie Candau, Community Engagement Intern Arianna Arquette and Community Engagement Associate Alannah Bonalos.

[humanrightsconnected]

WomxnRESIST: Womxn Resistance isn’t new

Nigerian woxmn challenged colonial power in 1929

When elected Igbo leaders were stripped from power and replaced with oppressive British warrant chiefs, thousands of womxn organized and participated in a massive anti-colonial rebellion.

How did they resist?

By "sitting on a man" or "making war on a man." Womxn used song and dance to publicly ridicule and shame warrant chiefs forcing many to resign.

Read more about the Igbo womxn's rebellion here.

Learn + Engage

Igbo womxn redefined how womxn uniquely resist. Here's how you can implement their tactics into your own movement.

HRC highlights womxn-led movements every Thursday in a special series called WomxnRESIST. WomxnRESIST’s coverage is inclusive and explores the intersectional resistance of all womxn.

This week’s WomxnRESIST was developed by the HRC team: Program Assistant Rosalie Candau, Community Engagement Intern Arianna Arquette and Community Engagement Associate Alannah Bonalos.

[humanrightsconnected]

WomxnRESIST: A Transresistance Guide for Activists and Allies

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Find up-to-date resources that explain transgender people’s rights

WATCH

Resistance While Queer, Trans, and Black

ALLYSHIP

3 ways to support incarcerated trans people

What can allies do to defend trans rights? Getting Curious with Jonathan van Ness and Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality

AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Meet the pioneers of the transresistance movement

HRC highlights womxn-led movements every Thursday in a special series called WomxnRESIST. WomxnRESIST’s coverage is inclusive and explores the intersectional resistance of all womxn. This week’s WomxnRESIST was developed by the HRC team: Program Assistant Rosalie Candau, Community Engagement Intern Arianna Arquette and Community Engagement Associate Alannah Bonalos.

[humanrightsconnected]

WomxnRESIST: The womxn of #EleNão are tired of political setbacks. So they're mobilizing for change.

Catch up on womxn leading the #EleNão campaign in Brazil in this week's WomxnRESIST!

What you need to know about the upcoming election

The Stakes Couldn't Be Higher in Brazil's Presidential Election. Here's What to Know.

What sparked the #EleNão movement?

We’re millions of diverse women....

Today, we are together with our heads held high on the streets of Brazil, because a presidential candidate speaks based on hatred, intolerance, authoritarianism, and backwardness.

Read the full manifesto here.

How do we maintain hope in democracy and human rights in the rise of populism?

"Bolsonaro’s political platform is filled with unreal “quick fixes” to structural issues such as violence, and it tastes like honey to those who do not mind – or even approve – rights restrictions. He seduced a great part of the middle class with this discourse that includes zero tolerance on criminals, without tackling the real problem – poor education and lack of State presence in low income communities."

-Igor Farias, Brazilian lawyer and Master student in International Law at the University of Lisbon

If you enjoyed this week's WomxnRESIST, stay tuned for the next HRCblog! Igor Farias dives deep on the socio-political frustrations that face the nation.

This October, HRC will highlight womxn-led movements every Thursday in a special series called WomxnRESIST. Follow us and get next week's post straight from your newsfeed!

This week’s WomxnRESIST was developed by the HRC team: Program Assistant Rosalie Candau, Community Engagement Associate Alannah Bonalos and Education and Communications Associate Sabrina Sanchez.

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WomxnRESIST: Fighting for Gender Equality -- Saudi Arabian Womxn in the Driver’s Seat

I have proudly been called disrespectful for defying laws that disrespected me. I have been proudly called a corruptor for encouraging my fellow Saudi women to speak up for themselves.

-Manal al-Sharif

WATCH: "A Saudi Woman Who Dared to Drive”

Manal al-Sharif ignited a movement that challenged a decades-long driving ban imposed on Saudi womxn.

Those who resisted are now in jail

Saudi Arabia Detains More Women’s Rights Activists

Two more women human rights activists arrested in unrelenting crackdown

Why did Saudi Arabia lift the driving ban on women only now?

International support to pressure Saudi government

The #Beep4Freedom campaign calling King Salman to release the detained defenders 

TAKE ACTION: Sign this petition and demand the release of womxn rights defenders

Photo Credit: thesalamproject

HRC highlights womxn-led movements every Thursday in a special series called WomxnRESIST. WomxnRESIST’s coverage is inclusive and explores the intersectional resistance of all womxn.

This week’s WomxnRESIST was developed by the HRC team: Program Assistant Rosalie Candau, Community Engagement Intern Arianna Arquette and Community Engagement Associate Alannah Bonalos.

[humanrightsconnected]

WomxnRESIST: Resisting Populism with Nonviolence

“Women know how to reach out to each other for support...When we have a problem, we ask more women to come help. We’re not afraid to ask.”

- Lydia Ozuna, Grassroots Volunteer in Texas

United States

Inspired by the womxn's marches, a grassroots group organized in massive numbers for Beto O'Rourke and womxn candidates for office for the 2018 midterm elections.

Womxn in the U.S. organized marches every January since Trump's election in 2016. Activists are planning for 2019's main march in Washington, DC as well as sister marches across the U.S. In the U.S.? RSVP to a march near you.

Philippines

Womxn's political participation and leadership = RESISTANCE. Meet Geraldine Roman, the first transgender lawmaker in the Philippines and why she fights for anti-discriminatory bill that propels LGBTQ+ rights forward.

Brazil

#EleNao grew from social media to the streets and proved to be a massive movement against now-president of Brazil Jair Bolsanaro. The closed Facebook Group has almost 4 million members and womxn continue to resist the sexist, racist, homophobic, and destructive policies of the current president.

"The slogan “not him” may need to be replaced after the election, but the sentiment and political agency that these women have harnessed is unlikely to go anywhere."

Russia

Watch Nadya Tolokonnikova explain what it's like to be an activist in Russia. The activist group Pussy Riot brings international attention to Russia's human rights abuses. Through public music performances and individual acts of resistance, Pussy Riot denounces Putin's authoritarian and populist regime. Their activism highlights widespread violations of human rights in Russia that target womxn LGBTQ+ folx, and poor and vulnerable individuals.

HRC highlights womxn-led movements every Thursday in a special series called WomxnRESIST. WomxnRESIST’s coverage is inclusive and explores the intersectional resistance of all womxn. This week’s WomxnRESIST wasdeveloped by the HRC team: Program Assistant Rosalie Candau, Community Engagement Intern Arianna Arquette and Community Engagement Associate Alannah Bonalos.

[humanrightsconnected]

WomxnRESIST: Resisting Populism Part II

How does nonviolence work against Populism in India and Turkey?

In this week's WomxnRESIST, we show how womxn combat populism in India and Turkey with nonviolence. Don’t forget to check out our last post on Resisting Populism if you haven’t done so already!

INDIA

Access to Justice

Vikalp was founded in 1996 to increase access to justice for womxn and girls in an unjust and antiquated rural court system in India -- particularly in Gujarat state. 'Nari Adalats' are courts that provide an avenue to justice for womxn in rural villages. After they lost support from the government, Vikalp stepped in to reignite their potential. To combat governmental and societal oppression of womxn, access to justice in rural areas is vital. In these courts where womxn can bring their cases, be heard, and win a judgment in their favor, have improved legal and social situations for dozens of womxn in villages.

Womxn votes shift priorities, agendas

Collective organizing along with increased access to education is pushing womxn to the polls, pressuring candidates to use platforms that support womxn in their social and economic policies. The higher number of womxn candidates running for office helps erode populism by focusing more and more on the rights of disadvantaged groups, as womxn candidates often highlight these plights.

Turkey

Building solidarity for womxn’s rights

A Womxn's Meeting held last January to build solidarity for womxn's rights in Turkey. 155 organizations discussed the rising rates of violence against womxn among the social struggles of womxn living under populist political leaders in central government.

"Despite everything, we, as women and LGBTI+ individuals, are making a call to everyone to widen the bases of togetherness, raise our voices, be together and take strength from each other. Because we believe in each other, we believe in women and women's movement."

- Women are Strong Together

Redefining memes

Turkish women protested against compulsory hijab laws by removing their and using the popular hashtag #10YearChallenge to launch a conversation behind their decision.

"There is no possible way to describe how beautiful it feels to live as you believe and as you want"

- Nazan Balkaya

READ their stories here. 

ICYMI: Revisit Part I here.

HRC highlights womxn-led movements every Wednesday in a special series called WomxnRESIST. WomxnRESIST’s coverage is inclusive and explores the intersectional resistance of all womxn. This week’s WomxnRESIST was developed by the HRC team: Program Assistant Rosalie Candau and Community Engagement Associate Alannah Bonalos.