Women’s rights are at risk globally. Human rights defenders like Manahel al-Otaibi and Narges Mohammadi have been unjustly imprisoned for peacefully taking a stand.
With one click, you can take action for all six women who should be celebrated, not imprisoned.
Manahel al-Otaibi faces an 11-year prison sentence in Saudi Arabia just for writing tweets supporting women’s rights and posting pictures of herself enjoying a day at a shopping mall. In the pictures, she is not wearing the abaya, a traditional robe. These things alone were enough for the authorities to target her.
Just a few months ago, we learned that Manahel had been brutally stabbed in the face while in prison, leaving her with two deep wounds. Her situation is dire, and we must act now.
Narges Mohammadi is an Iranian rights defender, and her health is failing. Iran’s authorities convicted Narges of several trumped-up offences in connection with her human rights work and sentenced her to 16 years in prison in 2016. She was finally released in 2020 but in April 2022 was once again sentenced to over 10 years in prison and 154 lashes, charged with “spreading propaganda against the system”.
She has suffered several heart attacks and yet is being denied the health care she desperately needs. We must act now.
Pakhshan Azizi is an Iranian humanitarian aid worker, at risk of imminent execution. She was detained and forcibly disappeared solely in relation to her peaceful human rights activities, including providing support to women and children in northeast Syria who were displaced following attacks by the Islamic State armed group.
On February 5th, her lawyer said he was notified the Court has rejected the request for a review of the conviction and that her execution could now be carried out at any moment. Urgent global action is needed.
Maryia Kalesnikava is a brave political activist who dared to speak out against the repressive Belarus government ahead of the 2020 presidential election. On 7 September 2020, she was abducted by the Belarus authorities and later sentenced to 11 years in prison on false charges. Her family haven’t heard from her for over a year.
Maryia is imprisoned in terrible conditions. She has limited access to the healthcare she needs and is isolated from other inmates inside the prison. We can help bring her home.
Manun Wongmasoh is a transgender woman facing online abuse and violence for speaking up for human rights. Born into a religious family, her experiences of anti-trans discrimination within her community inspired her to become an independent advocate for the protection of Muslim LGBTI people in Thailand. But her brave work has been met with online backlash by internet users including messages with threats of violence or sexual harassment.
The Thailand government must put a stop to digital violence against women and LGBTI activists. The online space is crucial for their right to freedom of expression, especially in countries like Thailand, where speaking out against the government is criminalised.
Justyna Wydrzyńska is an activist whose work is critical in advocating against Poland’s restrictive abortion laws. In 2021, the public prosecutor brought charges against Justyna for “helping with an abortion” after she supported a pregnant woman in an abusive relationship to access abortion pills.
Whilst the court has since found that Justyna did not have a fair trial and has agreed to a retrial, her fight isn’t over. It is critical we continue demand the prosecutor general take all necessary measures to ensure that Justyna’s unjust conviction, and its alarming precedent, is overturned. Access to safe abortion is a human right.
Sign the petition to defend women's rights and stand in solidarity with these brave and peaceful advocates on the frontlines.