Women human rights defenders

Women human rights defenders work courageously for the protection of human rights, including the right of access to health and education, the rights of minorities, and sexual and reproductive rights.

Women human rights defenders enrich and advance protection of human rights in unique ways, across the fields of economic, social and cultural rights and civil and political rights.

Yet they also face specific discrimination, derogatory accusations or baiting just because they are women human rights defenders.  They may even face physical or sexual violence in retaliation against their work.

Amnesty International is working to systematically document the particular contribution of women human rights defenders; highlighting their courage and conviction and the unique contributions they make to the advance of human rights locally and globally.

Key points

Women often face particular risks when campaigning for human rights because they may challenge and defy cultural or social beliefs.

Amnesty International believes that women human rights defenders sometimes need the greatest support to enable their voices to be heard and recognized.

What Amnesty International is doing

Amnesty International urges the authorities in Iran to allow women to protest without the fear of arrest. Women campaigning for gender equality face arrest and imprisonment for their part in peaceful demonstrations.