President Carter’s call for equality
- By Richard Branson -
- Feb 21, 2012
President Carter resigned from his church because it did not allow women to practice in the church.
He explained how he reached this extremely difficult decision in protest at the lack of equality for women in his church, and in many walks of life all around the world.
“This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. It is widespread. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths,” said President Carter.
“At their most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.
“We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasise the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the world's major faiths share.”
You can read the whole of President Carter’s speech, and find out more about The Elders’ fight for equality for women.
What examples are you aware of where women are still prejudiced against in the world?
By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group
