Faith-based oppression of women must end, African faith leaders say

Kenya's Dr. Agnes Abuom, testifies to members of the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Caucus during the Interfaith Summit on Africa. Photo: Rick Reinhard Photography

July 31, 2006

Sacred texts that have been misinterpreted to oppress women must be correctly interpreted, according to faith leaders from Africa and others attending an interfaith summit on Africa.

The summit, held in Washington DC from July 19-21, was sponsored by Church World Service and the All Africa Conference of Churches.

The Summit brought together African faith leaders and their U.S. counterparts to discuss problems that plague Africa, and to strengthen interfaith ties. It also provided a forum for African faith leaders to express their concerns to U.S. policymakers. There were 15 women among the 52 African delegates.

Participants in a dialog on the status of women said reinterpreted scriptures of Africa’s faith communities must be disseminated through preaching, publishing and educational curricula. Culture and tradition must not be the final arbiters of women’s status, they pointed out.

Other key recommendations of the group dialoging on the status of women included:

• support for formal and informal education—in schools, homes and faith gatherings—of men and women, to promote gender equality and update understandings of the roles and status of both sexes.
• support for women who hold elected office and other policy/decision making positions, encouraging them to enact policies that end gender discrimination and abuse.
• building significant, sustainable markets for women with home-based income-generating activities & micro-enterprises.