Women’s Faith Forum at the Houses of Parliament

By Ridwana Wallace-Laher

As the CEO of Penny Appeal, I recently had the honour of attending the Women’s Faith Forum at the Houses of Parliament, which was hosted by the esteemed MP for Battersea, Marsha de Cordova. The event saw women from diverse backgrounds and faiths come together to discuss a common goal of amplifying the voices of women. 

Throughout the event, it became abundantly clear that challenges we face as women of faith are multifaced and deeply entrenched within British culture and society. From subtle biases we often overlook to overt acts of discrimination, women across different faith communities have been subjected to various forms of inequalitfor far too long. This event was a powerful opportunity to discuss the prejudices we have faced, share personal stories, and collectively support each other. Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, said: ‘Whether abuse or threats, very often they are targeted at women. For us to come together to talk about this felt immensely important.’ I couldn’t have agreed more. 

It was touching to see a vulnerable side to some of the most successful and powerful women in politics, academia, business, and philanthropy from all faiths, as they opened up about the discrimination, racism, islamophobia, and antisemitism they had faced in both professional and personal settings. There is so much strength in talking and in sharing our stories, and I truly believe our stories have a uniqupower of bringing us together. We also discussed strategies for advocacy and taking a stand against discrimination which reaffirmed our collective commitment to inclusivity and being part of communities free from hate.  

Above all, the Women’s Faith Forum served as a reminder of the importance of amplifying marginalised voices, recognising the issues at hand, and taking steps towards meaningful change. As leaders within our communities up and down the UK, we must leverage our platforms to address systematic injustices for a better future for all. Dialogue, understanding, and acceptance of one another’s similarities and differences alike is the only way to unite against hate. 

I would like to extend a BIG thank you to Marsha de Cordova MP, the Houses of Parliament, and every powerful woman who attended the Women’s Faith Forum for such an eye-opening day. We stand united in hope and faith that we will pave the way for a more inclusive future for all.