EU: Intersectionality of Freedom of Religion or Belief & Women’s
Rights The intersectionality of freedom of religion or belief
and women’s rights is one of the most complex human rights
issues faced by the world today. Down through the centuries,
religious extremism and interpretation of holy books have shaped
traditions and cultural stereotypes in a number of patriarchal
societies. Some of these traditions and stereotypes have been
detrimental to women, and have survived until the 3rd
millennium. By Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers. The
religious, sacred and cultural are sometimes so intimately
interwoven that it is difficult to differentiate between them.
Societies dominated by men and by the rule of religion have
adopted a number of practices which are not explicitly
prescribed by their holy books, such as the preservation of
girls’ virginity by genital mutilation, or the eradication of
sinful sexual relations by honor killings. Clothing restrictions
and obligations imposed by states or by reli