Women’s Rights are Human Rights

Celebrated every year on March 8th. Mark this important day all week or during all of March! Please choose at least one action for the month of March and share this page with others.

Support human rights of women worldwide

Advocate for Narges Mohammadi in Iran. Iranian authorities have been subjecting jailed human rights defender and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Narges Mohammadi to torture and other ill treatment by deliberately denying her access to adequate healthcare to coerce her into adhering to Iran’s degrading compulsory veiling laws. This places Narges Mohammadi’s health at great risk, particularly as she has serious heart and lung conditions.   TAKE ACTION HERE

Advocate for Zeynab Jalalian in Iran. Zeynab, an advocate for the empowerment of Kurdish women, was arrested for her peaceful activism. Zeynab is in an Iranian prison cell thousands of kilometers away from her family, making it difficult for her elderly parents to visit her. She has been subject to beatings and threats of sexual violence and the prison continues to deny her access to healthcare. Zaynab’s health is deteriorating – she has trouble breathing, and is currently at risk of losing her eyesight due her injuries from torture. TAKE ACTION HERE

Advocate for Manizha Seddiqi, an Afghan women human rights defender. Manizha disappeared on October 9, 2023, and later found in Taliban custody. She was sent to prison on December 5, 2023. She does not have access to lawyers or regular family visits while in prison and is at risk of torture and other ill treatment. She has not been charged with any offenses. TAKE ACTION HERE

Advocate for Fatma al-Arwali, a Yemeni woman human rights defender. Fatma al-Arwali, is facing the death penalty in Yemen. Fatma was the former head of the Yemen office of the Women Leadership Union of the Arab League and was active in promoting women’s rights. She was convicted by the Huthi-controlled Specialized Criminal Court (SCC), denied legal representation. Fatma has been subjected to numerous human rights abuses by the Huthi’s security forces with her arrest in August 2022, including abduction, incommunicado detention, and torture. TAKE ACTION HERE

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Good news! The U.S. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was reauthorized in 2022. And the White House outlined a National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence in 2023.

UN Women theme this year is #InspireInclusion

When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world.

And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.