Women and Peace

Women have equal rights with men upon earth; in religion and society they are a very important element. As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.

'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 133


The world of humanity is possessed of two wings: the male and the female. So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength, the bird will not fly. Until womankind reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary attainment for humanity will not be realized; humanity cannot wing its way to heights of real attainment. When the two wings or parts become equivalent in strength, enjoying the same prerogatives, the flight of man will be exceedingly lofty and extraordinary.

'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 374


The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes, is one of the most important, though less acknowledged prerequisites of peace. The denial of such equality perpetrates an injustice against one half of the world's population and promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that are carried from the family to the workplace, to political life, and ultimately to international relations. There are no grounds, moral, practical, or biological, upon which such denial can be justified. Only as women are welcomed into full partnership in all fields of human endeavour will the moral and psychological climate be created in which international peace can emerge.

From a Letter written by The Universal House of Justice, October 1985


Read Two Wings of a Bird: A Statement on the Equality of Men and Women by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.

This statement is also provided as a 1.87 Mb mp3 file by the Baha'i Services for the blind. Please note that the download for dial up subscribers could take some time.