{"id":1543120,"date":"2024-03-08T15:30:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T15:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/humanrightsdefenders.blog\/?p=26210"},"modified":"2024-03-08T15:30:01","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T15:30:01","slug":"march-8-2024-was-again-international-womens-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2024\/03\/08\/march-8-2024-was-again-international-womens-day\/","title":{"rendered":"March 8, 2024 was again International Women\u2019s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Like every year, many organisations used the occasion to focus on the role of women human rights defenders. Here a selection of this year’s actions [for earlier posts see: https:\/\/humanrightsdefenders.blog\/tag\/international-womens-day\/<\/a>]: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Global Voices<\/strong> has released a special coverage called Empowering voices: Women in politics<\/a>, which explores the state of women\u2019s political participation around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Human Rights First<\/strong> referred to a new report<\/a> reveals that WHRDs face increasing harassment and threats from a global movement against gender equality and LGBTQI+ rights. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation<\/a>, a leading feminist women\u2019s rights organization, released Hope and Resistance Go Together: The State of Women Human Rights Defenders 2023, <\/a> a report that found discouraging growth in harassment of WHRDs. The foundation surveyed 458 women\u2019s and queer rights activists and interviewed 25 activists representing WHRDs from 67 countries affected by violence or conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They found that 75% reported facing harassment for their activism, a 15% increase from two years ago, and 25% of respondents have received death threats. Most harassment comes from government authorities, but increased harassment from far-right groups and anti-gender equality actors is also driving these startling statistics. Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) across the world face resistance and violence. In 2022, at least 401 HRDs were killed<\/a> for their peaceful work. But some of the obstacles facing WHRDs are distinct. https:\/\/humanrightsfirst.org\/library\/recognizing-women-human-rights-defenders-on-international-womens-day\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Human Rights Watch<\/strong> on 7 March carried a piece by Macarena S\u00e1ez<\/a> who says inter alia:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this International Women\u2019s Day, we march for the one in three women<\/a> who experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. We cheer for countries like Argentina<\/a>, Colombia<\/a>, and Ireland<\/a> that value our autonomy to choose to be pregnant and have legalized access to safe abortion<\/a>, while protesting that abortion is still or again illegal in many places, including US states like Alabama and Texas<\/a>. At the same time, we march to honor the women who marched before us, like the Mexican women who organized the first feminist congress<\/a> in 1916 to push for family law reforms and their right to vote, and the Nigerians who waged their \u201cWomen\u2019s War<\/a>\u201d against colonization and patriarchal laws in 1929. Their struggles sadly mirror the reality of many women around the world today \u2013 especially women who belong to historically marginalized groups \u2013 who continue to rally against violence and abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fearing the power of women\u2019s solidarity and collective actions, governments have stifled women\u2019s speech<\/a> through restrictions on movement, censorship, smear campaigns, and criminal prosecutions. In highly repressive contexts, like Afghanistan<\/a> and Iran<\/a>, women suffer arbitrary detention, and even enforced disappearance and torture, for their activism. Meanwhile, social media companies<\/a> have not done enough to protect women from online violence, chilling<\/a> women\u2019s freedom of expression on and offline. These barriers make it hard for women\u2019s equality to become reality. Gender justice requires an enabling environment<\/a> in which women can express themselves, speak and spread their political views, and participate in political and public life. Instead of repressing or tolerating the repression of women, governments should recognize our collective actions \u2013 and consequent power \u2013 and enshrine our rights in laws, policies, and practice. [https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2024\/03\/07\/womens-voices-have-power-drive-change<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amnesty International<\/strong> on 8 March highlighted three prominent women who reveal why sexual and reproductive rights are a major human rights issue : Charlotte Bunch, USA<\/u> Leila Hessini, Algeria<\/u> Marge Berer, UK<\/u> [https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/campaigns\/2024\/03\/three-prominent-women-reveal-why-sexual-and-reproductive-rights-are-a-major-human-rights-issue\/<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n On 8 March 8, 2024 Almyra Luna Kamilla and Rosalind Ratana \u2028opined in IMHO<\/strong> on “Navigating the storms of repression: The resilience of young women rights defenders in Asia<\/strong>” <\/p>\n\n\n\n