At the 2012 AWID Forum in Istanbul AWID launched their first Tribute to Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), Feminists and LBTQI activists who are no longer with us to express gratitude for their significant contributions to our collective struggle to live in a world free from gender-based discrimination and violence, where all identities are respected and celebrated. Every year since the 2012 AWID Forum, through the online version of the Tribute, AWID commemorates and celebrates WHRDs who have fought tirelessly for human rights and justice.While numerous WHRDs and activists have passed away due to accidents, illnesses and natural disasters, many honored in past Tributes were one too many killed or disappeared due to who they are, their work and activism. Let’s continue building together the collective memory of our struggles and movementsAWID calls for your participation and for the 2016 Tribute invites you to join us in co-creating the Tribute in two ways:
- Send details of women human rights defenders who are no longer with us, for inclusion in our Online Tribute, which will be unveiled on November 25th. as part of our contributions to the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign, which takes place every year from November 25 to December 10, 2016. We invite you to submit stories (biographies and photos) of feminists, WHRDs and LGBTQI activists from your country or region who are no longer with us.
- At the AWID Forum in Brazil in September, a painted mural will feature names, portraits and stories of activists and WHRDs no longer with us. If you are attending the Forum, we invite you to join us in creating a sacred space to honor the memory of the activists and WHRDs dear to your heart and your movement by bringing with you their names, photos, stories and poems. Join us for a ceremony to commemorate and celebrate activists and WHRDs who have passed away or have been killed due to their identities and activism. The unveiling of the mural will be accompanied by ritual, music, and dance as we honor their memory, and celebrate the courage and passion of activists and WHRDs struggling for justice every day.
Watch the WHRD Tribute Mural in the making by artist Pia Love:Read the submission guidelines and send your contributions to membership@awid.org. Deadline for submissions is 30 September 2016. The biographies and photos you send will be added to our online exhibit, shared with our partners, as well as highlighted through social media and email communications during the 16 Days of Activism.AWID especially encourages submissions concerning groups routinely rendered invisible, such as young women, disabled women, sex workers, LGBTQI, and indigenous women.VISUAL: Part of AWID Tribute