Senegal: Mrs Danielle Taylor from the Carter Center - "Women are the stewards of tradition and faith."

31 July 2015
allAfrica.com
interview

The Jamhiyatu Ansaarud-Dîn association of Senegal ( JAD), committed to fight against terrorism, protect and defend the image of Islam, organized an international conference on " Peace and Islam " which took place on July 28th and 29th, 2015 in Dakar, and brought out the " Declaration of Dakar ". Mrs Danielle Taylor who represented the Carter Center to this event, granted an interview to the AllAfrica team based in Dakar.

Can you please introduce yourself to the AllAfrica readers?

My name is Danielle Taylor. I work for The Carter Center in Atlanta, USA. We are working with religious and traditional leaders to improve conditions for women and girls, as was described in President Carter's recent book "A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence and Power" so that they can be greater contributors to their communities' development.

What is the reason of your stay in Dakar?

I am in Dakar to speak at the International conference on peace as organized by Jamhiyatu Ansaarud Din of Senegal. I wanted to share information on the important and unique role women play in establishing and maintaining peace in Africa.

After these 2 days of exchange in Dakar, what can you tell us about Peace and Islam?

After this conference, it is clear that the Islam promotes peace, justice, and dignity for all. I'm excited to see the work that follows this conference. Everyone appears to be galvanized to take action in their work and in their homes.

What is the role of women in combating terrorism?

Women are the stewards of tradition and faith. They are usually the first to identify problematic behavior, extremist rhetoric, and the breakdown of social norms for peace and respect. It is important for women to be empowered to speak up when they recognize a problem and to share the true teachings of Islam with their families and communities.

A last word to conclude.

I'm honored to have a place at this conference with such prominent leaders. I'm convinced that good work is being done and to curb the spread of extremism and to promote development for the region. Thank you.

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