Key Takeaways
- Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chairman of the Senate, addressed delegates at the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women.
- The conference, held under the theme 'Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward,' is being hosted by Pakistan for the first time.
- Around 190 representatives from the OIC's 57 member states are participating in the two-day event.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chairman of the Senate, addressed delegates at the 9th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ministerial Conference on Women. The conference, held under the theme 'Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward,' is being hosted by Pakistan for the first time.
The two-day event kicked off in Islamabad on Sunday with around 190 representatives from the OIC's 57 member states participating. The conference aims to discuss ways to expand women’s access to education, healthcare, employment, entrepreneurship, financial services, technology and digital opportunities, while strengthening cooperation among member states.
Federal Minister for Law and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar, who is chairing the conference on Pakistan's behalf, described it as an honour for the country. The OIC, comprising 57 member states across four continents, is the world’s second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations.
The Ministerial Conference serves as a principal platform for discussing policies aimed at advancing women’s socio-economic and political empowerment. Member states are expected to exchange experiences and identify ways to improve women's participation in education, the economy, and public life.
During his address, Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani highlighted the importance of addressing challenges faced by women across OIC countries. He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to ensure socio-economic and political empowerment of women in member states.
The conference is expected to conclude with a final agenda that will be shared among participating nations, outlining specific steps towards achieving gender equality and women’s rights within the OIC framework.
Representatives from various sectors are expected to contribute to the discussions. The event aims to foster dialogue and cooperation to address the challenges faced by women in different regions of the Muslim world.
