CALL FOR WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER STORIES
Are you a woman organizing? Are you defying patriarchy? Are you working to end any kind of oppressions? Are you defending rights somewhere in the
world?
On November 29th, the world will mark women human
rights defenders day.
A Human rights defender is a person who, individually or in collectives (movements/
organisations) with others, acts to promote or protect human rights.
More than ever, today, everywhere in the world, there are women’s
movements, feminist movements, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) movements,
social justice movements, etc. These movements exist because everyday,
individuals are organizing, speaking out, resisting, defying, claiming rights,
painting a poster to express their rage or hope or ideas, building political
consciousness, creating new ways to make our world a better place where we can
all live in freedom. Despite the fact that women’s contributions are often
invisibilised, minimized or erased when stories of movements are told, many
movements are built on the backs of women, and many are inspired into being by
the bravery of women. Many women are running or are active organisations and
movements.
Who is
the Coalition of African Lesbians
The Coalition of African
Lesbians (CAL) is network of organizations that are committed to speak out and
challenge patriarchy, hetero‐sexism and homophobia in Africa. The
network was started in 2003 as an idea in response to growing invisibility and
lack of political voice of lesbian women, bisexual women and trans‐diverse persons within
sexuality activism in Africa. At the core of CAL’s work is support for and
amplifying the voices and experiences of human rights defenders.
About this
call for submissions
Are you falling asleep with your computer on your lap?
Do your anxiety levels hit the roof as you approach your
place of work?
Do you find yourself thinking about work in your sleep?
Then, you are suffering from Human Rights Defender Syndrome.
On the occasion of International day for women human rights
defenders, CAL invites you to share your story as a woman human rights
defender, from any part of the world, from whatever space you are defending
rights from. This call is directed at all women human rights defenders
including but not limited to Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered women.
You can
make your submissions in the following formats:
·
Written story (preferably accompanied by pictures where
possible): 1500-2500 words
1. Photo Essays:
submitted as TIFF or JPG files/ resolution of 100 ppi.
2. Video or Audio Clips: 7-15 minutes
How you
can tell your story:
Many activists, especially women, do not like writing, or talking
about themselves. It may help if you have a friend ask you some questions to
get started or record you on video or recorder.
In what
Languages:
·
English
·
French
·
Portuguese
·
Spanish
·
Arabic
What
will happen to your story?
In celebrating women human rights defender people of diverse
backgrounds, CAL will publish the stories on its website and social media. If we get enough submissions, the stories will
be put into a book format with copies send to you and/or organization. Video
and audio clips will be placed online with a link to your organization’s
website. CAL will not be selling any of the materials derived from this call
this project.
For more information or to send your stories
Sipho Mthathi: sipho@cal.org.za
Mariam Armisen: mariam@cal.org.za
