OIC Ministerial Conference on Women begins in Islamabad

Islamabad (Web Desk): The two-day 9th Ministerial Conference on Women of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) commenced in Islamabad on Sunday, bringing together ministers, senior officials, and delegates from OIC member states to discuss policies and strategies aimed at advancing the socio-economic development and empowerment of women across the Muslim world.

The opening day featured a series of technical sessions during which delegates approved the conference agenda and reviewed progress made in implementing the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women.

Participants assessed achievements since the previous conference and explored ways to strengthen cooperation in addressing challenges faced by women in member countries.

Discussions focused on a wide range of issues, including women's social, economic, and political empowerment, access to quality education and healthcare, financial inclusion, employment opportunities, participation in decision-making, and increased representation in science, technology, and digital sectors.

Delegates emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to create inclusive policies that enhance the role of women in sustainable development.

The chair of the 8th OIC Ministerial Conference presented a progress report outlining initiatives undertaken within the OIC framework to promote women's rights and empowerment.

Reports prepared by relevant OIC institutions on women's development and social welfare were also presented and reviewed during the sessions.

On the sidelines of the conference, Federal Minister for Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar held separate meetings with ministers and senior officials from Iran, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen. He also met representatives of the Women Development Organization and the OIC Labour Centre to discuss enhanced cooperation on women's welfare, social protection, and human rights.

In a significant development, Pakistan and Türkiye signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in the fields of family affairs, social services, and social protection.

Visiting delegations expressed confidence in Pakistan's leadership as the country prepares to assume the chairmanship of the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women for the next two years.

They reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with Pakistan to advance women's empowerment, strengthen family welfare systems, improve social protection mechanisms, and promote human rights across OIC member states.

The ministerial session of the conference will be held in Islamabad on Monday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the session, Egypt will formally hand over the chairmanship of the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women to Pakistan.

The conference is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration along with a set of key resolutions designed to strengthen cooperation among OIC member states and accelerate efforts towards the development, protection, and empowerment of women throughout the Muslim world.