Equality between Women and Men

Links

• Bahá'í Law and Principle: Creating Legal and Institutional Structures for Gender Equality

  The intent of this brief essay is to demonstrate, from a Bahá'í perspective and drawing on the insights of recent feminist legal critique, the depth and breadth of legal and institutional change demanded by the principle of equality, and to indicate, in most summary fashion, the nature of such change as prescribed in the Bahá'í writings. More >

• The Impact of Racism on Women

  A world that promotes the equality of women and men will lift much of the burden from women. Likewise a world free of racism will further lighten women's load. But the benefits extend even further. While women are the ones primarily affected when race and gender inequalities coincide, the human race as a whole is disadvantaged and its progress retarded by these injustices. As the Bahá'í writings state, "As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs." More >

• Articles about the Advancement of Women

  Articles from "One Country" magazine on the subject of the advancement of women. More >

• Statements on the Advancement of Women

  Statements issued by the Bahá'í International Community United Nations' Office on the subject of the advancement of women. More >

• A Compilation on Women

  Selections from the Bahá'í sacred writings on the subject of women. More >

• News Stories on Equality of Women and Men

  News stories from the Bahá'í World News Service related to the equality of women and men. More >

• Equality and the Girl Child

  In the view of the Bahá'í International Community, the advancement of civilization now requires the full participation of everyone. If women are to help shape the future, girl children as well as boy children must be valued by their families and by society. More >

• The Role of Religion in Promoting the Advancement of Women

  Properly understood in the context of the oneness of humanity, equality of the sexes must be embraced not only as a requirement of justice but as a prerequisite for peace and prosperity. Nothing short of a compelling vision of peace, and commitment to the values on which it must be based, will have the power to motivate the revolutionary changes in individual behavior, organizational structures, and interpersonal dynamics called for by the Platform for Action. More >

• The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs: Introduction

  This essay was published in The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs, a compilation of reflections on the Agenda and Platform for Action for the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women: Equality, Development and Peace, published for distribution at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and the parallel NGO Forum in Huairou, China, August/September 1995. More >

• The role of men and boys in achieving gender equality

  The 1995 Beijing Platform of Action underlined the indispensability of the contribution of men and boys to achieving gender equality. Recent years have witnessed considerable advances in women's attainment of political and civil rights, but the implementation of full gender equality requires a profound shift in individual values, outlook and conduct, which will ultimately transform the underlying ethos of social institutions, making them more welcoming to women. More >

• Empowering Girls

  Bahá'ís have long been active in efforts to address the developmental needs of girls so that they will be able, as women, to contribute fully to the advancement of civilization. Indeed, the Bahá'í Writings promise that "when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world, when they enter confidently and capably the great arena of laws and politics war will cease." More >

• Ending Violence Against Women

  Violence against women is a yardstick by which one can measure the violation of all human rights. It can be used to gauge the degree to which a society is governed by aggressivity, dominated by competition and ruled by force. Abusive practices against women have frequently been and are still being justified in the context of cultural norms, religious beliefs and unfounded "scientific theories" and assumptions. More >

• Religion as an Agent for Promoting the Advancement of Women at all Levels

  The great religions of the world have traditionally been important sources of vision and values, and primary agents of socialization. The spiritual principles and values they inculcate not only form the basis of a unifying world-view, but also serve to motivate individuals and social institutions both to act on these principles and to use them as a standard against which to weigh practical actions. More >

• Turning Point For All Nations

  The 20th Century, one of the most tumultuous periods in human history, has been marked by numerous upheavals, revolutions and radical departures from the past. Ranging from the collapse of the colonial system and the great nineteenth century empires to the rise and fall of broad and disastrous experiments with totalitarianism, fascism and communism, some of these upheavals have been extremely destructive, involving the deaths of millions, the eradication of old lifestyles and traditions, and the collapse of time-honored institutions. More >

• 'Abdu'l-Bahá on the Equality of Women and Men

  More >

• Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men

  The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes, is essential to human progress and the transformation of society. Inequality retards not only the advancement of women but the progress of civilization itself. The persistent denial of equality to one-half of the world's population is an affront to human dignity. More >

• Towards the Goal of Full Partnership: One Hundred and Fifty Years of the Advancement of Women

  Between 4 and 15 September 1995, some twenty thousand participants from all parts of the world will converge in Beijing for the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women. They will focus on a number of critical areas of concern. More >

• Selections from the Bahá'í Writings on Women

  Selections from the Bahá'í holy writings on the status of women. More >

• Advancement of Women

  "The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes, is one of the most important, though less acknowledged prerequisites of peace. The denial of such equality perpetrates an injustice against one half of the world's population and promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that are carried from the family to the workplace, to political life, and ultimately to international relations." More >