The Women’s Assembly: Upholding Women’s Wisdom, Freedom, & Human Rights

July 7, 2023

Women are once again making women’s history at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions! Women’s wisdom, spirituality and empowerment take center stage at The Women’s Assembly, Programming, Village and Sacred Space. Join us as we advance the Call to Conscience for women’s dignity, bodily autonomy, and human rights, and experience countless opportunities for inspiration, soul nourishment and world-changing relationship building.

The Parliament of the World’s Religions, acting with the leadership of the Women’s Task Force, presents the 2023 Women’s Assembly on Tuesday, August 15th addressed by notable women speakers of the world’s faith and spiritual traditions speaking to the Parliament’s urgent theme and offering women’s diverse, energized, and inspired responses.

Luminaries of the Women’s Assembly

Her Excellency Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés is an academic, politician and diplomat with 30+ years of experience, including leadership positions within the Government of Ecuador and at the most senior level of the United Nations.

Grandmother Mary Lyons is an Anishinaabe-Ojibwe Elder, a world-renowned Wisdom keeper, humanitarian, activist, and author.

Sousan Abadi is a former Franklin Fellow at the U.S. State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

Anila Ali is the President of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council.

Rev. Jennifer Butler is the founder of Faith in Public Life to amplify progressive faith voices and forge multi-racial, multi-faith and ideologically diverse faith coalitions to work for justice and the common good.

Cynthia Conti-Cook is a civil rights attorney and researcher studying the impacts of new technologies on movements for liberation and state systems of control.

Yaël Eisenstat is the Vice President at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) heading the Center for Technology & Society (CTS).

Rev. Aina-Nia Ayo’dele is a leadership coach, author, public speaker and ancient wisdom teacher who considers herself a Spiritual Liberation Activist.

Additional luminaries sharing prayers, performances, and keynotes slated to appear, including Annie McKinney and members of the Women’s Task Force.

Beyond the Assembly!

With over 80 program offerings and a dedicated Women’s Village, the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions invites attendees to commit to ensuring that women are fully and equally involved in decision-making within religions and in every sphere that involves their lives. In this watershed moment for women’s rights, human rights, and global conflict; women’s leadership and equal participation in religious, faith, spiritual, and other institutions must be ensured.

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