Musawah ('Equality' in Arabic) is a global movement for equality and justice in the Muslim family. Musawah is pluralistic and inclusive, bringing together NGOs, activists, scholars, practitioners, policy makers and grassroots women and men from around the world.
► Musawah Key Messages
Musawah is a global movement of women and men who believe that equality and justice in the Muslim family are necessary and possible. In the 21st century there cannot be justice without equality; the time for equality and justice is now!
Equality in the family is the foundation for equality in society. Families in all their diverse forms are central to our lives, and should be a safe and happy space, equally empowering for all.
Musawah builds on decades of effort to promote and protect equality and justice in the family and in society.
Musawah is led by Muslim women who seek to publicly reclaim Islam’s spirit of justice for all.
Musawah acts together with individuals and groups to grow the movement, build knowledge and advocate for change on multiple levels.
Musawah uses a holistic framework that integrates Islamic teachings, universal human rights, national constitutional guarantees of equality, and the lived realities of women and men.
Musawah was launched in February 2009 at a Global Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, attended by over 250 women and men from some 50 countries of Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and the Pacific.
► Principles of Musawah
Families are complex and diverse. Nevertheless, there are common principles around which people can come together for equality in the family. We urge governments, political leaders, international institutions, religious leaders, and our sisters and brothers to work together to uphold these principles:
Equality, non-discrimination, justice and dignity as the basis of all human relations;
Full and equal citizenship for every individual; and
Marriage and family relations based on principles of equality and justice.
Realisation of these principles entails laws, policies and practices that ensure:
The family as a place of security, harmony, support and personal growth for all its members;
Marriage as a partnership of equals, with mutual respect, affection, communication and decision-making between the partners;
The equal right to choose a spouse or choose not to marry, and to enter into marriage only with free and full consent; and the equal right to dissolve the marriage, as well as equal rights upon its dissolution;
Equal rights and responsibilities with respect to property, including acquisition, ownership, enjoyment, administration, disposition and inheritance, and
Equal rights and responsibilities of parents in matters relating to their children.
