Pakistan urges OIC countries to translate commitments into actions for socio-economic empowerment of women

ISLAMABAD:

Senate President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday urged Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to go beyond declarations and translate their commitments into concrete actions for socio-economic empowerment of women, as Pakistan assumes the presidency of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women.

Addressing the opening session of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, as the chief guest, Gilani said that “empowerment of women is both an Islamic obligation and a prerequisite for sustainable development.”

He said Islam had guaranteed women the rights to education, property, inheritance, economic participation and dignity more than 1,400 years ago, while the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) continued to provide a timeless framework to ensure meaningful participation of women in society.

While welcoming ministers, parliamentarians and delegates from OIC Member States, Gilani added that women constitute almost half of the population of OIC countries and no nation can achieve inclusive growth while excluding half of its human capital from economic and political participation.

Gilani paid tribute to the contributions of Muslim women in the fields of education, governance, science, diplomacy, business and public service, and described Benazir Bhutto as the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Muslim world whose vision continued to inspire generations.

Highlighting Pakistan’s efforts, he highlighted the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Waseela-e-Taleem and other initiatives for women-led businesses, including financial inclusion, digital skills and e-commerce.

He also recalled the landmark legislation passed during his tenure as Prime Minister, including laws against workplace harassment, acid crimes and anti-women practices, and called on OIC Member States to adopt measurable targets for girls’ education, women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and protection against gender-based violence.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet, OIC Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs, said that the conference reflected the organization’s continued commitment to advancing the cause of women and supporting efforts towards women’s empowerment.

He described women’s empowerment as essential for the development, resilience and prosperity of the Islamic world and expressed the OIC’s gratitude to Pakistan and Egypt for successfully hosting the Ministerial Conferences on Women.

Executive Director of the Women’s Development Organization (WDO), Sarah Al Shoura, highlighted the organization’s efforts to strengthen cooperation among member states and promote policies to increase women’s participation in education, economic development and leadership.

Ambassador Naela Gabr, Chair of the Women’s Advisory Council of the 8th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, highlighted the progress made since the previous Ministerial Conference and stressed the importance of maintaining the momentum through stronger cooperation among OIC Member States.

She called for more investment in women’s education, economic empowerment and leadership, saying the advancement of women was essential to inclusive development and long-term prosperity in the Islamic world.

Chairperson of the Egyptian National Council for Women, Amal Ammar, said the prosperity of nations begins with investment in people, especially women, adding that women’s empowerment has become a strategic necessity to achieve sustainable development and stability. She said Egypt had made women’s empowerment a national priority through constitutional, legislative and institutional reforms and the National Strategy for Egyptian Women 2030.

She highlighted Egypt’s flagship ‘Noura’ program for girls, the ‘Noor’ program for boys, the ‘Tahweesha’ initiative for women’s financial inclusion and the Gender Equality Label awarded to 31 companies promoting gender-sensitive workplaces.

She said women had made notable progress in leadership, with almost 3,968 women holding positions as judges and prosecutors, and increased representation in Parliament and senior public offices.

Amal stressed that women’s empowerment was rooted in Islamic values ​​and called on OIC Member States to deepen cooperation, exchange successful experiences and ensure equal opportunities in education, employment, finance, technology and leadership.

She also highlighted the plight of Palestinian women, encouraged member states to join the WDO to complete the accession process and congratulated Pakistan for assuming the presidency of the conference.

A documentary highlighting the contributions of women in various sectors was also screened during the opening session.