Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR): An effective framework for empowering grassroots women & strengthening feminist movements in Asia Pacific

Abstract

The intertwined crises of climate change, deepening inequalities, deteriorating democratic space and growing fundamentalisms have serious ramifications for the poor and marginalized women of Asia Pacific. To address the challenges of these crises, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), a regional feminist network in Asia and the Pacific, is working to empower rural, indigenous, migrant and urban poor women in the region. Using the conceptual framework of Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR), APWLD is supporting some of the most affected grassroots communities to build their capacities by documenting their concerns, local experiences of human rights violations, recommendations for solutions, and engaging in advocacy. This paper will look at case stories of how FPAR has been helping to bring about structural change and strengthen feminist movements across the Asia Pacific region.

Abstract in Bangla

Keywords:

• feminist movements
• Asia Pacific
• development
• human rights
• climate justice

Acknowledgement

The case stories presented in this paper were taken from APWLD’s work. These cases have been documented in APWLD’s publications listed under the notes section below. The researchers cited in this paper have given permission to use their real names for the purpose of this publication.

Notes on contributor

Trimita CHAKMA works at Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) as the Research and Communications Officer. Prior to joining APWLD, Trimita was a mentor for APWLD's Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) team researching sexual violence against indigenous women and girls of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and their access to justice with Kapaeeng Foundation from 2012 to 2014. Trimita is well known to many feminist and indigenous people’s movements in Bangladesh. She organized VDAY’s “The Vagina Monologues” in Dhaka from 2010 to 2014 and coordinated the “One Billion Rising Bangladesh” campaign to raise awareness about violence against women from 2012 to 2014.

Notes

1 For more information on APWLD’S Breaking out of Marginalisation programme, refer to Our Rights! Our Voices! Our Resources! (2014). Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development (APWLD).

2 For more information on APWLD’S Climate Justice programme, refer to Women Warming Up: Building Resilient, Grassroots Feminist Movements for Climate Justice in Asia-Pacific! (2015) Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development (APWLD).

3 Article published by SRD in July 2015. A Policy Advocacy Event Related to Climate Change. Retrieved from http://www.srd.org.vn/index.php/advocacy-research