Musawah was initiated in March 2007 by Sisters in Islam, a Malaysian non-governmental organisation that promotes women's rights within the framework of Islam, and a twelve-member international planning committee of activists and scholars from eleven countries. The committee came together to consolidate information, experiences, and ideas that have been used by NGOs and activists in countries around the world to advance equality in the family.

Individuals and NGOs from some fifty countries around the world are involved with Musawah and include activists, scholars, academics, legal practitioners and policy-makers.    

Across North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Europe, North America and Australasia, Musawah Advocates share information with activists in other countries working towards equality and justice in the family. Many of us have conducted national consultations on equality in the family, participated in the Musawah 2009 Global Meeting, and contributed to the conceptual framework that guides Musawah's work.

Get involved or see what we do: Activities & Events .

The International Advisory Group was established in February, continuing the work started by the Musawah Planning Committee. The IAG is the highest policy-making body in Musawah. The IAG's role is to advice the Secretariat and help provide strategic guidance to the Musawah movement-building, knowledge-building and international advocacy activities undertaken by Musawah Advocates and the Secretariat.  

Amira El-Azhary Sonbol, Professor - Georgetown University and Qatar University, Egypt/Qatar/USA

Asma'u Joda, Project Coordinator - Centre for Women and Adolescent Empowerment, Nigeria

Azza Soliman Hashim, General Director - Centre for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance, Egypt

Cassandra Balchin, Member - Board of Directors, Muslim Women's Network-UK, UK

Djingarey Maiga

Hamidah Marican

Imrana Jalal

Isatou Touray, Executive Director - Gambia Committee on Tradition Practices, Gambia

Kamala Chandrakirana, Chairperson - National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Indonesia

Pinar Ilkkaracan, Co-Founder - Women for Women's Human Rights (New Ways), Turkey

Sohail Akbar Warraich, Independent Expert - Pakistan/UK

Zainah Anwar, Founder and former Executive Director - Sisters in Islam, Malaysia

Ziba Mir-Hosseini, Research Associate - Centre for Islamic and Middle-Eastern Law, School of Oriental and African Studies, UK/Iran

The Musawah planning committee has helped develop Musawah’s direction and activities. The members of the committee come from diverse contexts and backgrounds, but all have extensive experience and expertise in family laws either from academic or activist perspectives. Though the members serve on the committee in their individual capacities, their affiliations are listed below to illustrate their backgrounds:

Dr. Amal Abdel Hadi, Co-founder - New Woman Foundation, Egypt

Dr. Amira El-Azhary Sonbol, Professor - Georgetown University and Qatar University, Egypt/Qatar/USA

Ms. Asma’u Joda, Project Coordinator - Centre for Women and Adolescent Empowerment, Nigeria

Ms. Azza Soliman, General Director - Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance, Egypt

Ms. Cassandra Balchin, Member - Board of Directors, Muslim Women's Network-UK, UK

Dr. Isatou Touray, Executive Director - Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices, Gambia

Ms. Kamala Chandrakirana, Chairperson - National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Indonesia

Ms. Pinar Ilkkaracan, Co-Founder - Women for Women’s Human Rights (New Ways), Turkey

Ms. Rabéa Naciri, Former President - Association Démocratique des Femmes du Maroc, Morocco

Mr. Sohail Akbar Warraich, Independent Expert -  Pakistan/United Kingdom

Ms. Zainah Anwar, Founder and former Executive Director - Sisters in Islam, Malaysia

Dr. Ziba Mir-Hosseini, Research Associate - Centre for Islamic & Middle Eastern Law, School of Oriental and African Studies, UK/Iran

Zainah Anwar, Project Director

Rozana Isa, Project Coordinator

Hadil El-Khouly, Outreach Officer

Cassandra Balchin, Communications Coordinator

Meghana Bahar, Communications Officer

Layali Eshqaidef, Communications Officer

Musawah's activities are funded through donations from individuals and organisations from around the world:

Oxfam Novib,

Ford Foundation,

Global Fund for Women,

Sigrid Rausing Trust,

Hivos,

Canadian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur,

British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, and

UNFPA .