FAWCO is bringing Human Rights in Focus during an online event from November 4–6, 2021. Our goal is to raise awareness of human rights issues for women and girls, discuss advocacy and actions you can take, and highlight the impact that both international and national member clubs have made through volunteerism, fundraising and campaigns. Check out the AGENDA. Each day’s sessions focus on a different theme: Human rights for women, human trafficking, and lesser-known violence against women.
Tickets to all sessions are free of charge.
FAWCO members can register here, guests please email for tickets.
Attend sessions of interest and discover how FAWCO is making a lasting impact to make the world a better place for women and girls.
Thursday, November 4
Features a keynote address delivered by Kimberly Emerson of Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch investigates and reports on abuses happening in all corners of the world. Emerson’s talk will address how challenges to democracy are putting human rights at risk. Next, Dr. Tricia Callender will teach us about the concept of intersectionality. What are the intersection points of racial identity, sexuality, gender, disability and nationality?
Erica Higbie and our UN team will present an UN-developed advocacy tool as an example of FAWCO’s participation and impact at the international level. The FAWCO Refugee Network believes that human rights have no borders. Join a conversation to learn more about the challenges women face in migration. Listen to a Target Project update by Amanda Lane on the Collateral Repair Project. Journalist Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Heather Barr of Human Rights Watch will update us on the situation of women in Afghanistan, who have faded from the news (have you noticed)?
Author, domestic violence advocate and FAWCO member Paula Lucas will share her own experiences of violence to women living abroad; while Melissa Morbeck of NoMore will highlight support resources in the Global Directory.
Friday, November 5
The focus is on Human Trafficking. Valiant Richey of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe will deliver the opening keynote address on how to solve the issue of demand in human trafficking.
Did you attend the Stand Up Against Human Trafficking Symposium in 2016? Four guest speakers will return to discuss the victims’ journeys five years later. Listen to a special Target Impact update from Courtney Skiera-Vaughn on Free the Girls.
How can we safeguard our children from human trafficking? A guest panel will discuss their strategies to empower children and prevent child exploitation. To wrap up the day, Lisa Cohen, Senior Supervising Producer of the CNN Freedom Project, will amplify the voices of survivors as she shares the stories of victims of debt bondage in India, child exploitation in Senegal, and how students are making a global difference with #myfreedomday.
Saturday, November 6
Shines a light on Lesser-Known Violence Against Women, with a keynote address delivered by Kelsey McKay. For six years, McKay exclusively prosecuted strangulation-related crimes ranging from assault and sexual assault to capital murder.
Child marriage ends children’s rights to education, health and protection. Our guest panel will discuss opportunities on how to stop forced marriages. Listen to a special update from Tharien van Eck on the Target Project Safe Alternatives for Female Genital Mutilation Elimination. Hibo Wardere, author and relentless advocate in the fight against FGM, will discuss her book, Cut: One Woman’s Fight Against FGM in Britain Today.
We conclude presentations on Saturday, November 6 with a focus on Advocacy. Beth Ellen Holimon, an activist dedicated to global gender equality, will conduct an advocacy workshop to help you understand how you can be a human rights champion in a way that suits your lifestyle. Our closing keynote speaker is Jessica Buchleitner, a storyteller, communicator and diplomat, who will talk about individual empowerment in Everything Begins with You.
Expo booths will also be open on Sunday, November 7
Join on Sunday to browse the booths and learn more about the presenters, their content and other thoughts on human rights topics that we could not squeeze into three days. We also proudly share where you can find more information about FAWCO and The FAWCO Foundation’s impact on human rights.