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Event Detail

International Campaign on Women Human Rights Defenders Launched

Dates: June 30, 2004 to July 03, 2004

Venue Information

Event Details

The Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) recently launched the International Campaign on Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD) to bring attention to WHRD concerns and their need for protection. The campaign was launched at the Asia-Pacific NGO Forum on Beijing +10 (AP NGO Forum) held on 30 June - 3 July 2004 at Mahidol University in Salaya, Thailand.

The campaign is envisioned as a critical response to the increasing human rights violations committed by state and non-state actors on WHRDs world-wide. It recognises the need to look at the gender-specific risks and vulnerabilities WHRDs are subjected to in the course of their advocacy work such as harassment, detention, abduction, surveillance and censorship. In addition, they face threats of sexual violence, assault and other gender-specific abuses. The WHRDs face extra hostility because they constantly challenge patriarchal cultural stereotypes and fundamentalist religious impositions when working on women-specific rights and issues.

APWLD called on the women's groups participating in the AP NGO Forum to join this initiative. They led two rallies during the first two days of the Forum and held a roundtable discussion about WHRDs with Amnesty International (AI). APWLD also conducted press interviews and asked WHRDs to deliver testimonials about their experiences.

The campaign was developed by representatives of women's and human rights groups from different regions. The International Co-ordinating Committee is composed of APWLD, AI, Forum Asia, Center for Women's Global Leadership, International Service for Human Rights, Frontline, Inform, Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT) or World Organisation Against Torture, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

For more information about this campaign, please contact:
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
Santitham YMCA Building 3rd floor
Room 305-308, 11 Sermsuk Road
Soi Mengrairasmi, Chiangmai 50300
Thailand
Tel: (66) (0) 53 404-613 to 14
Fax: (66) (0) 53 404-615
E-mail: apwld@apwld.org
Website: http://www.apwld.org