Faith to Action Network members believe all people are created equal.
We know that every human being is valuable and must be respected. Human beings possess inherent dignity.
We are concerned that women’s leadership and participation are questioned, hindered and rolled back in families, communities, societies and politics. Most worrying, women’s inherent dignity is routinely violated, with one in three women globally experiencing violence. Many women’s rights violations including child marriage, female genital mutilation and other harmful practices are justified in religious terms, in stark contradiction with the basic tenets of our faiths.
We concede that sometimes teaching and interpretations of holy texts and practice have not demonstrated the basic truth that everybody is created equal. In many instances, problematic interpretations of sacred texts have allowed boys and men to have more opportunities than girls and women.
Therefore, we seek to promote the positive re-interpretations of sacred texts to reflect the dignity of all human beings. Our communities of faith continue to strive to teach and exemplify the principle that all people, regardless of sex or gender, are created equal. We encourage our members to reflect on their internal norms and practices, to revisit harmful traditions and to amplify life-giving norms and practices. Drawing on our moral and physical resources, we champion women’s rights and gender equality in laws, policies, societal norms, and people’s behaviours.