The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), as the Secretariat of the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), and the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) are proud to present the new publication, ‘Making Institutions Count: Strengthening Support for WHRDs in Asia by NHRIS.’

Across Asia, women human rights defenders (WHRDs) have been at the forefront of movements seeking to secure and advance human rights for all. WHRDs have consistently raised their voices to defend the most vulnerable and marginalised communities and groups, striving to ensure the realisation of human rights in the face of abuse and injustice.

In recent years, while WHRD-led movements have gained traction, they have been strongly impacted by increasingly repressive and authoritarian actors, especially when they have challenged the norms and practices that uphold the unjust status quo. While being at the frontline of movements for human rights, WHRDs are facing serious risks, not only as human rights defenders (HRDs), but also as women (cis- or trans-) or non-binary individuals.

The growing human rights- and gender-based violations against them, combined with the other challenges they already face, require greater support and recognition by all stakeholders, including national human rights institutions (NHRIs), with gender-specific responses and protection measures to create a safe and enabling environment.

For the PDF version of this report, click here