Security, freedom from fear and the protection of life are among the most fundamental human rights. Yet, these rights are denied to so many women and girls.
In a world where poor health services, unsafe drinking water, gender-based violence and high maternal mortality are so prevalent, these women’s rights are denied.
Improving and protecting the physical and mental health of both women and men is essential to reduce suffering. And yet health is just one area of gender inequality and injustice.
For years, women have struggled to gain equality in all areas of life. From the home to the workplace, in education, in the economy and especially in positions of leadership.
Worldwide, a staggering 796 million people cannot read and write. Two-thirds are women.
Under a quarter of national parliamentarians are women. And over 2.7 million women are by law restricted from having the same choice of jobs as men. That’s on top of a gender wage gap of 23%, where women get paid less than their male counterparts for exactly the same work.
This is without taking into consideration the unpaid domestic work that women are (disproportionately and often solely) burdened with.
In too many places, women are still treated as second-class citizens. Forced into trafficking, prostitution and under-age marriage, discriminated against, beaten, mutilated and murdered.
Denied opportunities to learn, study and work, women are denied opportunities to enjoy their fundamental human rights. Across the board – regardless of religion race – women and girls continue to remain most vulnerable to the extremes of poverty, hunger and exploitation.
This is true for all continents, including Muslim countries and communities. For women of colour, these discrepancies are even larger.
Islamic Relief: Declaring gender justice