Pakistan: 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women convenes in Islamabad
Islamabad, July 13 (KUNA) -- The ninth OIC Ministerial Conference on Women commenced today in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, with participation from member states to discuss ways to enhance the social and economic development of women. Kuwait was represented at the ninth ministerial conference by Kuwait’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Nasser Al-Mutairi. The first day saw a number of technical sessions, during which the agenda was approved and progress in implementing the OIC Action Plan for the Advancement of Women was reviewed.
Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity, Dr. Maya Morsi, who chaired the eighth ministerial conference, presented a report on the progress achieved within the Organization since the previous conference in the field of women’s empowerment. Reports prepared by various institutions on women’s development were also reviewed.
Participating delegations expressed confidence in Pakistan, which is preparing to assume the chairmanship of the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women for the next two years, affirming its commitment to cooperate in enhancing women’s empowerment, family care, social protection, and human rights.
Participants discussed the challenges facing women in the Islamic world, including social, economic, and political empowerment, education, healthcare, economic opportunities, financial inclusion, active participation in decision-making, and enhancing women’s representation in technology and the digital sector.
For his part, Pakistani Senate Chairman and former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, in a speech before the conference, called on OIC member states to move from commitments to taking practical actions to enhance women’s social and economic empowerment. He urged member states to adopt measurable targets in the areas of girls’ education, women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and protection from gender-based violence.
Gilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue enhancing women’s empowerment through education, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, expanding access to financial services, and providing decent job opportunities. He noted that women constitute about half of the population of OIC countries, and that inclusive growth cannot be achieved by excluding half of the human capital from economic and political participation.
The conference is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, Tuesday, with the adoption of the “Islamabad Declaration” and a number of resolutions aimed at enhancing women’s development and empowerment. (End) S.B.K / M.A.H.A.
