Letter asks governments around the world to protect women activists

Read about women activists (retrieved from NEWSELA ):

March 8 was International Women's Day. 

That day, a letter was published in the Guardian newspaper. It asked governments to protect women activists. Women activists fight for human rights. They are trying to make the world better. Seventy-six people signed the letter. Many of them are very famous. 

One was Emma Watson. She is an actress. She played Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" movies. Watson is also an activist for women's rights. 

The letter says that women activists face danger when they speak out. It asks world leaders to protect them. All women need to be heard and respected. They have the right to make their own choices, it says. The letter asks governments to stop attacks on women activists. The signers also want more respect for women's rights groups.

The United Nations (U.N.) is an international group. Countries come together at the U.N. to protect human rights and solve global problems. The U.N. promised to protect women activists in 2013. Michel Frost reports about human rights defenders to the U.N. In February, he said women were facing more danger.

Being An Activist Can Be Dangerous

Frost said women activists face attacks. The danger comes not just from the government. They are also attacked by their communities. Activists can face danger even from their own families.

Some activists have even been killed. Berta Cáceres worked to protect the environment. Marielle Franco was a Brazilian official. They were both murdered for their activism. 

Helen Kezie-Nwoha said safety is a problem for women activists. She runs Isis-Women's International Cross-Cultural Exchange. Her group records attacks against women's rights activists. It is based in Uganda, an African country.

Many well-known people signed the letter. They said now is a good time to fight the problems women face. Power is growing behind the #MeToo movement. Thanks to the #MeToo movement, more women are speaking out. They are sharing stories of being mistreated by men. 

Womankind Worldwide organized the letter signing. The group helps women's rights activists in Africa and Asia.

Fighting For Human Rights

Caroline Haworth runs Womankind Worldwide. She said the letter shows women around the world trying to help. Many people want to help women's rights activists. They are fighting for others. Growing problems in the world are also putting women's rights at risk.

Another letter was also published on International Women's Day. A group called One organized the letter signing. One fights for human rights. 

The letter was written to world leaders. Forty-five activists from 15 African countries signed it. They want more to be done to end the unfair treatment of women in African countries. The speed of change is not fast enough, they say.