It was a great joy and privilege to join Rahmah A. Abdulaleem and Saphira Rameshfar, along with moderator, Tschika McBean as panelist on this event.
“It is widely accepted that “we cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” The prevailing narratives about religion in general, advancing religious freedom, and the impact of these two engagements on gender equality are frequently negative. Undoubtedly, in some instances, elements of religion have been the main contributor to gender inequality. Yet, in other circumstances, religion has been a catalyst for creating programs that advance gender equality. It contains a reservoir of transformative insights, which can potentially recast the conversation about religion’s role in advancing gender equality. Hence, at their core, all religions embody a system of knowledge that can illuminate our moral capacities.
As religious knowledge and grassroots experiences coalesce to explore gender equality in more profound and more meaningful ways, prospectively, a different and more complete narrative, highlighting the interconnections between the advancement of gender relationship and religion, can develop. This panel invites various perspectives and approaches to examine how religion can advance gender equality, thereby creating a more vibrant and complete narrative on this topic.”
Moderator:
Tschika McBean
Panelists:
Cynthia Brix and William Keepin – Co-Directors of Gender Equity and Reconciliation International (GERI)
Rahmah A. Abdulaleem, Esq., -Executive Director at KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights
Saphira Rameshfar– United Nations Representative – Baha’i International Community