Content
March 18, 2025
Religious Leadership Towards Ending Violence Against Women
August 17, 2021
Audrey E. Kitagawa, J.D.
President and Founder
"In the seemingly ordinariness of daily living is the power of transformation. Individual transformation arises out of awareness, and a willingness to change to become a better person right where we are. We each have personal responsibility and collective responsibility to make positive changes here and now."
Background
Dr. Azza Karam serves as the Founding President and CEO of Lead-Integrity - a global consultancy firm dedicated to serving the common good through the leadership, competence, and integrity of women professionals inspired by their faiths. She serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of International Alert, the Temple of Understanding, and the Parliament of World Religions, as well as the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies in Amman, Jordan. She is a member of the United Nations’ Secretary General High-Level Advisory Board on Multilateralism
Dr. Karam served as President and CEO of the Women’s Learning Partnership, Secretary General of the World Conference of Religions for Peace from 2019-2023 (and Director of its Women’s Programmes and Middle East Advisor from 2000-2004). She worked at the United Nations for two decades, where she Coordinated the Arab Human Development Reports, co-founded and Chaired the United Nations Interagency Task Force on Religion and Development, with over 20 UN System bodies - and founded and convened its Multi-Faith Advisory Council, as part of the 500+ global NGO database she compiled and coordinated. During her tenure at the United Nations, Azza was a Lead Facilitator for UN system-wide peer-to-peer “Strategic Learning Exchanges” on 'Religion, Development and Diplomacy'.
Dr. Karam has worked with several intergovernmental and international organisations (the OSCE, the EU, and International IDEA) in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and East and Central Asia, where she created and managed global programmes on Women and Politics, as Democratisation, Education, Human Rights and Peacebuilding.
Dr. Karam has taught in various universities - including West Point Military Academy - and is widely published, and translated, into several languages. She has received multiple awards, including for her work on/in the United Nations, as well as in/on Interfaith work and Culture. In 2022, she was awarded a Doctorate in Humane Letters honoris causa, by John Cabot University, in Rome, Italy.
Dr. Karam was born in Egypt, lived and worked in many continents, and now resides in the United States.
Select List of Publications from Prof. Dr. Azza Karam
Contributor to the Lancet (2015), the Routledge International Encyclopaedia of Women and the Encyclopaedia of Women in Islamic Cultures.
HONORARY DEGREES
- Doctorate of Humane Letters from John Cabot University (16 May 2022)
BOOKS
- Realizing the Faith Dividend: Religion, Gender, Peace and Security (New York: UNFPA, 2016) – Author
- Religion and Development Post 2015 – NY: UNFPA, 2015 – Editor
- Religion, Development and the United Nations – NY: SSRC, 2012
- “Religion and the United Nations: Dynamics of Development and International Relations,” Cross Currents Special Journal Issue (Co-editor), September-October, NY: Blackwell, 2010.
- Transnational Political Islam: Religion, Ideology and Power. Editor and Contributor, London: Pluto Books, 2004.
- A Woman’s Place: Religious Women as Public Actors. Editor and Contributor. NY: WCRP.1998.
- Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers. Stockholm: International IDEA. (Editor) June 1998. (Translated into Bahasa Indonesian; Spanish and French).
- Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers. 2nd Edition. Co-edited with Julie Ballington (2007).
- Women, Islamisms and the State. London: Macmillan, and New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998.
- Nisaa fi Muwajahat Nisaa – in Arabic (Cairo: Sutour Press, 2003).
- Women of Faith Transforming Conflict: A Multi-Religious Training Manual. (New York: WCRP, 2004).
OP-EDS
- Taking Humanitarianism Hostage – the Case of Afghanistan & Multilateral Organisations (12 January 2023) Inter Press Service
- When it Comes to Forgiveness, Faith and Science Agree on the Benefits (25 October 2022) Religion News Service
- The Arrogance of Ignorance: War in Ukraine, Religion and Abiding Enthocentricism (19 April 2022) Inter Press Service
- Arc of History Bending Towards (Ab) Using Democracy & Human Rights: A Plea for Multi-Religious Civil Accountability (February 21 2022) Inter Press Service
- The Tone-Deaf Crusade for COVID-19 Boosters (10 December 2021) Religious News Service
- A Counter Narrative? Ruminations around Holocaust Remembrance Day (2 February 2021) Inter Press Service
- The Enduring Value of Multireligious Actions (7 December 2020) Devex
- Not in Our Name, Never in Our Name: A Conversation with Muslim Faith Leaders Echoing the Wisdom of a Pontiff (26 October 2020) Inter Press Service
- Opinion: Faith, COVID-19 and the push for a healthy environment, (29 April 2020) Deutsche Welle
- “In the Beginning was the Word”: Why COVID-19 Renders Words even more Powerful (25 March 2020) Inter Press Service
- Religion and Development: An Enhanced Approached or A Transaction? (12 April 2019) Inter Press Service
- The Counter Narrative to Terror and Violence is Already Among Us (16 August 2016) Inter Press Service
- Religion and the SDGs – The ‘New Normal’ and Calls for Action (6 July 2015) Inter Press Service
- Ebola and ISIS: A Learning Exchange Between U.N. and Faith-based Organisations (13 November 2014) Inter Press Service
INTERVIEWS AND PRESENTATIONS
- Desperately Seeking Wisdom, Episode 09, 2023
- “Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity”, The World Council of Churches 11th Assembly, 2022
- “Building Together Better”, Good News Planet
- “For faith groups, their mission amid pandemic is not fully accomplished”, Catholic Charities USA
- “For faith groups, their mission amid pandemic is not fully accomplished”, Crux Now
- “For faith groups, their mission amid pandemic is not fully accomplished”, The Central Minnesota Catholic Magazine
- “COVID-19 and the Role of Religion in the Pandemic” Deutsche Welle
- “Background Briefing with Ian Masters” Background Briefing
- “As Young Talents Flee, Afghanistan Faces a Dying Arts and Culture Scene” Vice World News
- “Non-Muslims Stuck in Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan Expect the Worst” Vice World News
- “The Role of Sacred Texts in Helping or Hindering Gender Equality” The G20 Interfaith Forum
- “US Continues Diplomatic Outreach to Host At-risk Afghans” Voice of America
- “Religious Nationalism Around the World” The Council on Foreign Relations
- “Ties between UN, faith-based groups poised to grow during pandemic” Devex
- “We are all important and relevant” Süddeutsche Zeitung
- “Working with religious actors makes sense” with Alexander Görlach for Ring for Peace
- “The religious leaders” Die Zeit
- “UNHCR partners to create multireligious advisory council on refugees, displacement” Devex
- “Religious leaders call for increased collaboration on climate change, inequality” Devex
SELECT ARTICLES
2020
- A Dialogue of Love: Interreligious Cooperation and Global Well Being, John Paul II Lecture on Interfaith Understanding
- Religion & its Discontents: Considerations Around COVID-19 & Africa, Inter Press Service
- My faith is my inner sanctum – not your body politic, Cover Story, Faith in Development Monitor 04/2020
- Working with Religion or Working for Faith?, Mansklig Sakerhet
- Religion can be a healing balm for COVID-19’s disruption, if applied judiciously, Religion News Service
2019
- “From Dialogue to Diapraxis in International Development: the Case of the United Nations Strategic Learning Exchanges”, in SUR: International Journal on Human Rights, Issue 29, August.
- Religions and Sustainable Development: From Overlooking to Commodifying Faiths. Inaugural Lecture as Professor of Religion and Sustainable Development, Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam, Faculty of Religion and Theology.
2018
- “The implications of binary framings for western actors” in Feminist Dissent. pp.233-239.
2017
- “Deconstructing and Reconstructing Secular Approaches to Religion in Multilateral Settings,” in Making Peace with Faith: The Challenges of Religion and Peacebuilding, Mohammed Abu Nimer and Michelle Jarred Eds. Boulder, London and NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
- “The Role of Religious Actors in Implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals” The Ecumenical Review, Volume 68, Issue 4.
2016
- “The United Nations, faith-based organizations and development cooperation”, in Robert Oden (Ed.) For Better For Worse: The Role of Religion in Development Cooperation (Swedish Mission Council).
- “Positions on sexual and reproductive rights in Muslim majority countries’ and institutions: a telling indication of things to come?” in Top of Form
- Journal of Development in Practice Volume 27, 2017 – Issue 5: Special Issue: Faith and health in development
- “High-level collaboration between public sector and religious and faith-based organizations: Fad or trend?” (with Adam Taylor, Jean Duff, Mike Batcock), in The Routledge Review of Faith & International Affairs, Volume 14, Issue nr 3, pp. 95-100.
2015
- “Controversies in faith and health care,” Authors: Azza Karam with Andrew Tomkins, Jean Duff, Atallah Fitzgibbon, Edward J Mills, Keith Munnings, Sally Smith, Shreelata Rao Seshadri, Avraham Steinberg, Robert Vitillo, Philemon Yugi. The Lancet 2015 Oct 6;386 (10005): 1776-85. Epub 6 Jul 2015.
- “The view from above: Faith and Health,” The Lancet, 6 Oct 2015;386 (10005):e22-4. Epub 2015 Jul 6. University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. October 2015
- “Ensuring multisectoral action on the determinants of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health in the post-2015 era,” Authors: Azza Karam with Kumanan Rasanathan, Nazneen Damji, Tesmerelna Atsbeha, Marie-Noel Brune Drisse, Austen Davis, Carlos Dora, Shyama Kuruvilla, Jacqueline Mahon, Maria Neira, Eugenio Villar Montesinos, Deborah von Zinkernagel, & Douglas Webb; British Medical Journal –BMJ – 2015 Sep 14;351:h4213. Epub 2015 Sep 14.
2014
- “On Faith, Health and Tensions: An Overview from an Intergovernmental Perspective”– The Heythrop Journal, 11 August 2014, pp. 1069-1079.
- “Powerful versus Forceful Partnerships: Religion, Politics and Development”, in Knut Edvard Larsen and Knud Jorgensen (Eds), Power and Partnership (Oslo: Regnum)
2013
- “Education as a Pathway towards Gender Equality,” The UN Chronicle: Magazine of the United Nations, Vol. L No. 4 2013 December 2013.
2010
- “Introduction: Religion and the United Nations”. In Crosscurrents: Religion and the United Nations, September 2010, Vol. 60, Issue 3.
- “The United Nations Population Fund and Engaging Religious Actors”, in Crosscurrents (special issue on Religion and the United Nations), September 2010, Vol. 60, Issue 3.
- “Girls’ Education and Gender Socialization in the Mediterranean”, in 10 Papers for Barcelona 2010 -Education, Research and Gender: The Sources of Progress, (Spain: the European Institute of the Mediterranean and the EU Institute for Security Studies).
Several articles in Arabic, English, Spanish (translated) and French on development praxis, political economy, Middle East politics and transnational gender issues, in addition to numerous reports. For a more complete list of older publications, please see here: http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-nr96011457/.
Background
Audrey E. Kitagawa, JD, is the President/Founder of the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation, the President of the Light of Awareness International Spiritual Family, the former Advisor to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations.
She is a United Nations Representative for the United Religions Initiative, and Chair Emerita of the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, A Committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations. She has been enstooled into the royal family as the Nekoso Hemaa, (i.e. Queen Mother of Development), of Ajiyamanti in Ghana, West Africa, and has a school which she helped to build named after her in her African name, the Nana Ode Anyankobea Junior Secondary School.
She wrote the chapter, Crossing World Views, The Power of Perspective in the Hawaii Japanese American Experience, which was published in a book about multiculturalism, communication and Asian women entitled, Learning In The Light. Her chapter, Globalization As The Fuel For Religious And Ethnic Conflict has been published in the book, Globalization And Identity, Cultural Diversity, Religion and Citizenship. Her article, The Role Of Identity In The Rise And Decline of Buddhism In Hawaii, The 50th State Of The United States Of America, has been published in Sambodhi, a Buddhist Journal. She published articles in World Affairs The Journal Of International Issues, entitled, The Power of Om: Transformation of Consciousness, and Practical Spirituality. She wrote the chapter, The US In Foreign Affairs: Source of Global Security, Or Source of Global Fear? in the book, America & The World The Double Bind. She is currently writing a chapter on Space Ethics for a legal, academic book on Space Law.
She has been listed in Who's Who Of American Law, Who's Who Of American Women, Who's Who In America, Who's Who In The World, and Prominent People of Hawaii. She is the recipient of the Medal “Pride of Eurasia” and a Diploma from the Republic of Kazakhstan Ministry of Education and Science L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University for her outstanding contribution to the development of spiritual culture and education in Eurasia. She is the recipient of the Spirit of the UN Award which is given to outstanding individuals who have demonstrated the vision and spirit of the United Nations as expressed through the UN Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She was conferred an Honorary Interfaith Minister degree by the New Seminary.
“The beauty of the challenge is that it is a responsibility because it is the wish of others. I feel like sometimes I have to forget the fact that I'm a female and instead concentrate on the responsibilities at hand which are to honor the representivity, the multiple inclusivity, the very different needs and aspirations that a multi-religious movement requires in today's world…”
Biography
Dr. Azza Karam serves as the Founding President and CEO of Lead-Integrity - a global consultancy firm dedicated to serving the common good through the leadership, competence, and integrity of women professionals inspired by their faiths. She serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of International Alert, the Temple of Understanding, and the Parliament of World Religions, as well as the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies in Amman, Jordan. She is a member of the United Nations’ Secretary General High-Level Advisory Board on Multilateralism
Dr. Karam served as President and CEO of the Women’s Learning Partnership, Secretary General of the World Conference of Religions for Peace from 2019-2023 (and Director of its Women’s Programmes and Middle East Advisor from 2000-2004). She worked at the United Nations for two decades, where she Coordinated the Arab Human Development Reports, co-founded and Chaired the United Nations Interagency Task Force on Religion and Development, with over 20 UN System bodies - and founded and convened its Multi-Faith Advisory Council, as part of the 500+ global NGO database she compiled and coordinated. During her tenure at the United Nations, Azza was a Lead Facilitator for UN system-wide peer-to-peer “Strategic Learning Exchanges” on 'Religion, Development and Diplomacy'.
Dr. Karam has worked with several intergovernmental and international organisations (the OSCE, the EU, and International IDEA) in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and East and Central Asia, where she created and managed global programmes on Women and Politics, as Democratisation, Education, Human Rights and Peacebuilding.
Dr. Karam has taught in various universities - including West Point Military Academy - and is widely published, and translated, into several languages. She has received multiple awards, including for her work on/in the United Nations, as well as in/on Interfaith work and Culture. In 2022, she was awarded a Doctorate in Humane Letters honoris causa, by John Cabot University, in Rome, Italy.
Dr. Karam was born in Egypt, lived and worked in many continents, and now resides in the United States.
Select List of Publications from Prof. Dr. Azza Karam
Contributor to the Lancet (2015), the Routledge International Encyclopaedia of Women and the Encyclopaedia of Women in Islamic Cultures.
HONORARY DEGREES
- Doctorate of Humane Letters from John Cabot University (16 May 2022)
BOOKS
- Realizing the Faith Dividend: Religion, Gender, Peace and Security (New York: UNFPA, 2016) – Author
- Religion and Development Post 2015 – NY: UNFPA, 2015 – Editor
- Religion, Development and the United Nations – NY: SSRC, 2012
- “Religion and the United Nations: Dynamics of Development and International Relations,” Cross Currents Special Journal Issue (Co-editor), September-October, NY: Blackwell, 2010.
- Transnational Political Islam: Religion, Ideology and Power. Editor and Contributor, London: Pluto Books, 2004.
- A Woman’s Place: Religious Women as Public Actors. Editor and Contributor. NY: WCRP.1998.
- Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers. Stockholm: International IDEA. (Editor) June 1998. (Translated into Bahasa Indonesian; Spanish and French).
- Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers. 2nd Edition. Co-edited with Julie Ballington (2007).
- Women, Islamisms and the State. London: Macmillan, and New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998.
- Nisaa fi Muwajahat Nisaa – in Arabic (Cairo: Sutour Press, 2003).
- Women of Faith Transforming Conflict: A Multi-Religious Training Manual. (New York: WCRP, 2004).
OP-EDS
- Taking Humanitarianism Hostage – the Case of Afghanistan & Multilateral Organisations (12 January 2023) Inter Press Service
- When it Comes to Forgiveness, Faith and Science Agree on the Benefits (25 October 2022) Religion News Service
- The Arrogance of Ignorance: War in Ukraine, Religion and Abiding Enthocentricism (19 April 2022) Inter Press Service
- Arc of History Bending Towards (Ab) Using Democracy & Human Rights: A Plea for Multi-Religious Civil Accountability (February 21 2022) Inter Press Service
- The Tone-Deaf Crusade for COVID-19 Boosters (10 December 2021) Religious News Service
- A Counter Narrative? Ruminations around Holocaust Remembrance Day (2 February 2021) Inter Press Service
- The Enduring Value of Multireligious Actions (7 December 2020) Devex
- Not in Our Name, Never in Our Name: A Conversation with Muslim Faith Leaders Echoing the Wisdom of a Pontiff (26 October 2020) Inter Press Service
- Opinion: Faith, COVID-19 and the push for a healthy environment, (29 April 2020) Deutsche Welle
- “In the Beginning was the Word”: Why COVID-19 Renders Words even more Powerful (25 March 2020) Inter Press Service
- Religion and Development: An Enhanced Approached or A Transaction? (12 April 2019) Inter Press Service
- The Counter Narrative to Terror and Violence is Already Among Us (16 August 2016) Inter Press Service
- Religion and the SDGs – The ‘New Normal’ and Calls for Action (6 July 2015) Inter Press Service
- Ebola and ISIS: A Learning Exchange Between U.N. and Faith-based Organisations (13 November 2014) Inter Press Service
INTERVIEWS AND PRESENTATIONS
- Desperately Seeking Wisdom, Episode 09, 2023
- “Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity”, The World Council of Churches 11th Assembly, 2022
- “Building Together Better”, Good News Planet
- “For faith groups, their mission amid pandemic is not fully accomplished”, Catholic Charities USA
- “For faith groups, their mission amid pandemic is not fully accomplished”, Crux Now
- “For faith groups, their mission amid pandemic is not fully accomplished”, The Central Minnesota Catholic Magazine
- “COVID-19 and the Role of Religion in the Pandemic” Deutsche Welle
- “Background Briefing with Ian Masters” Background Briefing
- “As Young Talents Flee, Afghanistan Faces a Dying Arts and Culture Scene” Vice World News
- “Non-Muslims Stuck in Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan Expect the Worst” Vice World News
- “The Role of Sacred Texts in Helping or Hindering Gender Equality” The G20 Interfaith Forum
- “US Continues Diplomatic Outreach to Host At-risk Afghans” Voice of America
- “Religious Nationalism Around the World” The Council on Foreign Relations
- “Ties between UN, faith-based groups poised to grow during pandemic” Devex
- “We are all important and relevant” Süddeutsche Zeitung
- “Working with religious actors makes sense” with Alexander Görlach for Ring for Peace
- “The religious leaders” Die Zeit
- “UNHCR partners to create multireligious advisory council on refugees, displacement” Devex
- “Religious leaders call for increased collaboration on climate change, inequality” Devex
SELECT ARTICLES
2020
- A Dialogue of Love: Interreligious Cooperation and Global Well Being, John Paul II Lecture on Interfaith Understanding
- Religion & its Discontents: Considerations Around COVID-19 & Africa, Inter Press Service
- My faith is my inner sanctum – not your body politic, Cover Story, Faith in Development Monitor 04/2020
- Working with Religion or Working for Faith?, Mansklig Sakerhet
- Religion can be a healing balm for COVID-19’s disruption, if applied judiciously, Religion News Service
2019
- “From Dialogue to Diapraxis in International Development: the Case of the United Nations Strategic Learning Exchanges”, in SUR: International Journal on Human Rights, Issue 29, August.
- Religions and Sustainable Development: From Overlooking to Commodifying Faiths. Inaugural Lecture as Professor of Religion and Sustainable Development, Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam, Faculty of Religion and Theology.
2018
- “The implications of binary framings for western actors” in Feminist Dissent. pp.233-239.
2017
- “Deconstructing and Reconstructing Secular Approaches to Religion in Multilateral Settings,” in Making Peace with Faith: The Challenges of Religion and Peacebuilding, Mohammed Abu Nimer and Michelle Jarred Eds. Boulder, London and NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
- “The Role of Religious Actors in Implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals” The Ecumenical Review, Volume 68, Issue 4.
2016
- “The United Nations, faith-based organizations and development cooperation”, in Robert Oden (Ed.) For Better For Worse: The Role of Religion in Development Cooperation (Swedish Mission Council).
- “Positions on sexual and reproductive rights in Muslim majority countries’ and institutions: a telling indication of things to come?” in Top of Form
- Journal of Development in Practice Volume 27, 2017 – Issue 5: Special Issue: Faith and health in development
- “High-level collaboration between public sector and religious and faith-based organizations: Fad or trend?” (with Adam Taylor, Jean Duff, Mike Batcock), in The Routledge Review of Faith & International Affairs, Volume 14, Issue nr 3, pp. 95-100.
2015
- “Controversies in faith and health care,” Authors: Azza Karam with Andrew Tomkins, Jean Duff, Atallah Fitzgibbon, Edward J Mills, Keith Munnings, Sally Smith, Shreelata Rao Seshadri, Avraham Steinberg, Robert Vitillo, Philemon Yugi. The Lancet 2015 Oct 6;386 (10005): 1776-85. Epub 6 Jul 2015.
- “The view from above: Faith and Health,” The Lancet, 6 Oct 2015;386 (10005):e22-4. Epub 2015 Jul 6. University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. October 2015
- “Ensuring multisectoral action on the determinants of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health in the post-2015 era,” Authors: Azza Karam with Kumanan Rasanathan, Nazneen Damji, Tesmerelna Atsbeha, Marie-Noel Brune Drisse, Austen Davis, Carlos Dora, Shyama Kuruvilla, Jacqueline Mahon, Maria Neira, Eugenio Villar Montesinos, Deborah von Zinkernagel, & Douglas Webb; British Medical Journal –BMJ – 2015 Sep 14;351:h4213. Epub 2015 Sep 14.
2014
- “On Faith, Health and Tensions: An Overview from an Intergovernmental Perspective”– The Heythrop Journal, 11 August 2014, pp. 1069-1079.
- “Powerful versus Forceful Partnerships: Religion, Politics and Development”, in Knut Edvard Larsen and Knud Jorgensen (Eds), Power and Partnership (Oslo: Regnum)
2013
- “Education as a Pathway towards Gender Equality,” The UN Chronicle: Magazine of the United Nations, Vol. L No. 4 2013 December 2013.
2010
- “Introduction: Religion and the United Nations”. In Crosscurrents: Religion and the United Nations, September 2010, Vol. 60, Issue 3.
- “The United Nations Population Fund and Engaging Religious Actors”, in Crosscurrents (special issue on Religion and the United Nations), September 2010, Vol. 60, Issue 3.
- “Girls’ Education and Gender Socialization in the Mediterranean”, in 10 Papers for Barcelona 2010 -Education, Research and Gender: The Sources of Progress, (Spain: the European Institute of the Mediterranean and the EU Institute for Security Studies).
Several articles in Arabic, English, Spanish (translated) and French on development praxis, political economy, Middle East politics and transnational gender issues, in addition to numerous reports. For a more complete list of older publications, please see here: http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-nr96011457/.
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