The Global Conference on Women’s Rights in Islam or Gender Conference Women’s Rights on Islam (GCWRI) will be held from 14 to 16 May 2024 at ‘Aisyiyah University (Unisa) Yogyakarta as a medium for mutual learning.

This was conveyed by Peter K. Munene, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Faith to Action Network (F2A) on Monday (13/5) at the GCWRI Press Conference at Unisa Yogyakarta. Peter said that he is looking forward to learning from the experiences of Muhammadiyah-‘Aisyiyah in fulfilling women’s rights.

“We and others present from other countries at this conference also want to learn from each other from the experiences of Muhammadiyah-‘Aisyiyah regarding the fulfillment of women’s rights in Indonesia,” he said.

Peter explained that Faith to Action Network is an inter-religious, cultural, national, and inter-continental organization founded in 2011. Various organizations from Indonesia including Muhammadiyah, NU, Buddhism, and others participated and became part of the inception of this inter-faith organization.

Askuri as Chair of the organizing committee stated that this global conference would be attended by 200 participants representing countries such as Egypt, the United States, England, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Netherlands, Palestine, Kenya, Lesotho, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Congo, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Togo, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, South Sudan and Lebanon.

Peter added that the Faith to Action Network’s focus cuts across three interlinked program areas: family health and well-being with a special focus on sexual reproductive and health rights, women’s rights and gender justice, and promoting peaceful co-existence through the respect for Freedom of Religious Beliefs. Therefore, this conference will bring together various experts with backgrounds from various countries.

“The approach to meeting various issues in this conference is that we invite various experts, even though the location is in Indonesia, experts will come from various countries, including experts with cultural and religious backgrounds. “We also use this to learn from Muhammadiyah’s experiences,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chancellor I Unisa Yogyakarta, Taufiqurrahman conveyed Unisa Yogyakarta’s commitment and support for this global conference on women’s rights as well as being a promotional event for Unisa Yogyakarta, so that it is taken into account in the global realm.

“The study of contemporary women’s Islamic rights is very relevant. “Of course, because this conference is international, it is part of Unisa’s commitment to take part in global forums, part of the internationalization program as well,” he said.

Taufiq also hopes that this activity will strengthen Unisa’s internationalization, as well as position Unisa Yogyakarta as a center for women’s education with a progressive Islamic perspective.