Equality Starts in the Family Campaign
Throughout history, the unequal status of women in the family has been remarkably the same all over the world. The structure of the relationships between men and women and boys and girls is hierarchical, top-down, and segmented by gender roles. This unequal status within the home upholds the inequalities outside of it. Equality Starts in the Family seeks to change the culturally determined roles and beliefs that perpetuate gender discrimination in family, community, and society.
WLP launched the international campaign Equality Starts in the Family in 2017. Its goals are:
- Reforming discriminatory family laws.
- Changing culturally determined structures, roles, and beliefs that perpetuate gender discrimination.
WLP partners have been working in their respective countries and internationally to train women to be leaders in the campaign. Our partners use WLP’s Equality Starts in the Family Resource Package to raise awareness about how long-standing discriminatory laws and practices in the family harm everyone, and to advocate for reform.
Here are some examples of what the partners are accomplishing
- Since 2007, ADFM has worked for the recognition of Soulaliyate women’s right to their collective lands. In 2018, for the first time in Morocco, the equal allocation of land and compensation for Soulaliyate women and men from the Kenitra Province. Read more.
- In April 2017, as a result of WLP Jordan/SIGI-J’s committed campaign work, the Jordanian Cabinet approved the removal of Article 308 from the Penal Code, which permitted sex offenders to evade punishment if they marry their victim for a duration of three to five years. Read more.
- A law drafted to address violence against women and girls made it to the floor of Mauritania’s parliament for a vote in May 2020. This comes after WLP’s partner in Mauritania, AFCF, conducted extensive training with women and policymakers. The vote has been delayed due to push back from conservative groups, but activists remain determined in their efforts and continue to advocate for the bill.
