About Us
We are an Interfaith Global Movement pursuing transformational change for gender justice
Founded in 2011, Side by Side is a pioneering interfaith global movement dedicated to advancing gender justice through transformational change. Our mission is rooted in the belief that gender equity is a fundamental human right and an essential component of a just and inclusive world.
We unite diverse faith communities and secular partners to challenge and reshape societal norms that perpetuate gender-based inequality. Our work spans across continents, harnessing the collective strength of various traditions and perspectives to promote a world where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive with dignity and equal opportunity
Organization Characteristics
Interfaith
We are people of faith, faith leaders, and faith-based organizations (FBOs) worldwide committed to partnering to challenge barriers to gender justice. We are rooted in values of love, dignity, and justice. These values resonate with our faith traditions and also connect to a rights-based approach.
Gender Justice
Side by Side’s current working definition of gender justice is: ‘a world where everybody, women and men, boys and girls are valued equally; are able to share equitably in the distribution of power, knowledge and resources; and are free from cultural and interpersonal systems of privilege and oppression, and from violence and repression, based on gender’.
Global & Local
We work at global, national, and local levels, with a commitment, to enabling strong grassroots support. We collaborate wherever possible to work towards gender justice, where everyone is valued equally and able to share equitably in the distribution of power, knowledge, and resources and live free from violence.
In advocacy spaces, we aim to amplify the expertise, knowledge, and experiences of grassroots faith actors and their wider communities and to challenge patriarchy and other discriminatory structures of power
Movement
Central to the work and identity of Side by Side is how faith communities and organizations work together as a movement. Side by Side is not an organization or a single campaign. It is, instead, a movement of people that purposely brings faith actors together to strategically work towards a world where gender justice is a reality. Its strategies and activities are guided and motivated by participating faith actors, who consult and collaborate around different and wide-ranging initiatives and bring with them their skills, experiences, knowledge, perspectives, and networks. We celebrate the gift of this unique diversity.