by Mary Adams, AWC The Hague, and Marelie Manders, Heidelberg IWC
At the Malta Interim Meeting, Human Rights Team Co-Chairs Mary Adams and Marelie Manders shared the team’s key initiatives and invited all FAWCO members to get involved. You can view their presentation here.
Four pillars of action
The Human Rights Team organizes its work around four focus areas:
- End Gender-Based Violence
The team leads FAWCO’s participation in the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, running from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) through December 10 (Human Rights Day). The campaign’s orange color, chosen by the United Nations, symbolizes a brighter future free of violence. - Amplify Diverse Voices
Through book discussions, the Living Stones project, and the FAWCO Write Forward initiative, the team creates space for stories that might otherwise go unheard. Earlier this year, author Alicia Partnoy joined the team’s book discussion of The Little School, sharing her firsthand account of survival during Argentina’s Dirty War. - Connect to Global Policy
The Human Rights Team links FAWCO’s grassroots advocacy to international policy frameworks through NGO CSW Geneva, the FAWCO UN Liaison and engagement with the Beijing Platform for Action. The team has been exploring the 12 Critical Areas of Concern from the Beijing Platform through a dedicated series. - Address Intersectionality
Human rights issues don’t exist in isolation. The team collaborates across Global Issues Teams on topics like Razia Jan’s work for Afghan girls’ education (with Education), climate justice and the “double standard” at COP (with Environment), and the nexus of health and human rights.
One key message from the presentation: you don't need a special invitation to participate. Every FAWCO member is already a Global Issues Teams member and a Human Rights Team member. The team hosts regular open meetings, book discussions, and awareness campaigns that any member can join. Contact Mary and Marelie if you are interested.
