Defenders of Justice

Women's Fund in Georgia

Georgia

"Social transformation is fundamental because we want women, girls, and transgender people to live in a safe, equal, and free environment."

Women’s Fund in Georgia is a grant-making organization supporting women’s rights groups and individual activists for social change with financial resources, capacity building, and promoting the culture of feminist philanthropy. Women’s Fund in Georgia also supports women human rights defenders, whose work and commitment are not acknowledged or valued in Georgia. The group established the annual Kato Mikeladze Award, given on November 29, Women Human Rights Defenders’ day, to recognize the significant work of defenders.

Vision Spring Initiative

Nigeria

"Movement building is fundamental because collectively women’s voices can transform the world."

Vision Spring Initiatives fights for gender justice in Nigeria. Part of their work includes mentoring girls and creating “circles of learning” to help enable young people to find their voices. Vision Springs Initiative launched the #mybodymyright campaign, led by young people, holding government stakeholders accountable,and demanding comprehensive sexuality education and services.

Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (TICAH)

Kenya

"Women’s empowerment is fundamental because when a woman decides, she thrives."

Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (TICAH) protects women and girls from abuse and exploitation in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa. Their work challenges stigma and discrimination towards abortion and contraception choices. TICAH offers community hotlines, creates networks to connect women and girls with organizations to meet their specific needs, works on community organizing, and works to demonstrate the connection between good contraception choices and women’s power.

The A Project

Lebanon

"Reproductive justice is fundamental because class, race, borders, fascists, misogynists, and transphobes affect our bodies just as directly as doctors do, and with the same sharpness of their scalpels.”

The A Project works on reproductive rights with women and trans* people from different socioeconomic and national backgrounds in Lebanon. Through their sexuality hotline, trained volunteers provide counseling and support to callers about issues including sexuality, gender, and reproductive health. The A Project also works on expanding the conversation around sexual and reproductive health and rights through training, retreats, solidarity groups, blogs, podcasts, and research.

Dalit Women Rights Forum

Nepal

“A discrimination-free society is fundamental because children should live a dignified life with their rights secured.”

Dalit Women Rights Forum (DWRF) works for the protection and promotion of human rights, particularly the rights of Dalit women (considered as “impure” and “untouchable”in Nepal) and other marginalized women, by helping them to get justice for caste-and gender-based-discrimination. The group has launched the “Women Human Rights Defenders Empowerment Project,” which aims to protect and promote women human rights defenders, who are at high risk in Far West Nepal.