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The National Intra-faith Dialogue has organised an Intrafaith dialogue in Abuja, with the theme “Women’s Rights and Religion – Debunking Myths and Misinterpretations.” The conference brought together religious leaders, scholars, and activists from diverse faiths across the nation.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP, the executive director, Baobab For Women’s Human Rights, organisers of the event, Mrs Bunmi Dipo Salami, said: “We are here to have an Intrafaith conversation on women’s rights, because we realized that over the years,the misuse and misinterpretation of religious texts at the expense of women.
“So we have violations of women’s human rights that are justified under religion,so we have this project where we bring together the two predominant religions in Nigeria, Christianity and Islam,to see that they are not enemies to one another because of religious affiliation, but it’s patriarchy, power, control and society that is against them.
“We have participants from eighth states who are powerful in their communities,who speak and people listen. We are hoping that they can take the learning to their communities, because the way Baobab works,we try to reach as many communities as possible through individuals without us being there,and we expect the scholars at this event to begin to review they way they have been doing things, because we lap up what our religious leaders tell us.
“So we are hoping that they will leave from here with a broadened mind and different perspectives and look towards what religion provides for women,Islam for instance supports women’s development but many people do not know that.So we want to expand their capacity and enhance their knowledge.”
The National Intrafaith Dialogue demonstrated the power of collaborative efforts in fostering social change. Participants left with a renewed sense of purpose, armed with insights and strategies to challenge stereotypes and promote women’s rights within the rich tapestry of religious diversity that defines the nation. The event stands as a testament to the potential for unity in advancing a more equitable and inclusive society.
