The Future is Bright
Fellow Advocates,
A women’s bodily autonomy and her right to decide over her body is an issue not just in some Muslim societies, but here in the U.S. In a few months, the Supreme Court will decide if a woman has a right to abortion and if so, at how many weeks into her pregnancy. A few months ago, as a member of UN Women’s Action Coalition for sexual and reproductive health and rights or SRHR, we received funding to produce a series of videos for a global campaign to promote a woman’s right to self-determination as the basis for economic independence. Besides content from the U.S., our partners from Malaysia, Pakistan, Tunisia, Kenya, and Burundi will highlight issues and solutions that are specific to their communities. The videos will be uploaded on the AIM World TV YouTube channel. Please subscribe for notifications!
In 2005, MPV launched our initiative #ImamsForShe as a parallel event titled "ImamsForShe: Sharia as a Source of Women's Rights" on March 10, 2015 at the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women, New York. Borrowing from UN Women’s #HeForShe, we decided to change it up and worked toward building up a network of girls and women’s rights affirming religious and community leaders. After five years, with our partner organization Alliance des Imams du Corridor Nord pour le Développement Humanitaire (AICNDH), an evaluation of the initiative in Burundi, DRC and Rwanda has just concluded involving 6000 interviewees. And this is the result:
Please email us at info@mpvusa.org for the full report.
On November 17-19- 2021, the umbrella human rights organization Alliance of Inclusive Muslims (AIM) met in Mombasa, Kenya for our second general assembly, with the purpose of drawing up a new three-year strategy and election of board members. The elected officers are:
President - Ms. Ulfat Masibo (Kenya)
Vice President - Mr. Muhamad Ali Aluma (Uganda)
Secretary - Ms. Sherine Elbanhawy (Canada/Egypt)
Deputy Secretary - Ms. Kelsey Hatchitt (USA/Malaysia)
Treasurer/founder - Ms. Ani Zonneveld (USA)
Global Director #ImamsForShe - Imam Khalfanin Elie Bukuru (Burundi)
Global Director Sexual, Reproductive & Health Rights - Mr. Kassoum Coulibaly (Mali)
Global Director of Family Law Reform - Ms. Mwanga Mastullah Ashah (Uganda)
Board Members - Ms. Odette Yilmaz (Germany), Mr. Frej Fenniche (Switzerland)
Board members in attendance (from left to right): Sheikh Kassoum Coulibaly (Mali), Ani Zonneveld (USA/global), Imam Khalfan (Burundi), Muhamad Ali Aluma (Uganda), and Ulfat Masibo (Kenya).
Voice of America (Swahili) did a full report on the Alliance of Inclusive Muslims conference. You can view it here. And in a news article post conference titled Supreme Mufti reminds that Islam promotes women and human rights, we are very happy to learn that our #ImamsForShe initiative and other human rights strategic goals for the next three years have been agreed to and adopted by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council at their management meeting, held on November 30th, 2021.
After travelling to Africa and reconnecting with our partners face-to-face, and with a successful conference behind us, I truly believe, the future is bright!
If you’re interested in AIM’s strategic plan, please write to us at info@aim.ngo to request a copy.
As an advocate of human rights issues including abortion, women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights, and on freedom of conscience, we are often the go-to Muslim entity organizations and policy makers come to for consultation and for partnership. Our methodology is a successful model and continues to shift societies toward a culture rooted in human rights.
We hope as you consider who to give to at the end of this fiscal year, that you will consider MPV as a worthy organization for your consideration.
Wishing you Season's Greetings filled with joy and happiness and a blessed 2022 to you and your loved ones.
Onward and upward…
Ani Zonneveld
Founder, president