Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) are all women and girls working on any human rights issue (“women defenders” and “girl defenders”), and people of all genders who work to promote women’s rights and rights related to gender equality. It also includes any civil society actors who may not self-identify as human rights defenders or those who work on non-traditional human rights fields (journalists, health workers, environmental activists, peacebuilders, private actors, development and humanitarian actors, etc.). It includes lesbian, gay, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) activists, as issues related to orientation and gender identity are part of achieving gender equality.
The State has the primary responsibility to ensure an enabling environment for all human rights defenders and to protect defenders from threats and attacks. The international community as well as UN presences on the ground also have a responsibility to support, engage meaningfully and protect them. Prompt investigation of intimidation, threats, violence and other abuses against women human rights defenders should be undertaken. In practice, however, WHRDs are often left without effective, inclusive and gender-responsive protection mechanisms.
