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 assumed the presidency of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women.

Speaking at the opening session of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, as chief guest, Gilani said that “empowering 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 women’s meaningful participation in society.

Welcoming ministers, parliamentarians and delegates from OIC member states, Gilani added that women constituted almost half of the population of OIC countries and no nation could achieve inclusive growth by excluding half of its human capital from economic and political participation.

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

Highlighting Pakistan’s efforts, she referred to 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 landmark legislation enacted 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.

On the occasion, OIC Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Tarig Ali Bakheet, said the conference reflected the organization’s continued commitment to promote women’s causes and sustain efforts towards women’s empowerment.

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

Women’s Development Organization (WDO) Executive Director Sarah Al Shoura highlighted the organization’s efforts to strengthen cooperation among member states and promote policies aimed at expanding 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 momentum through stronger cooperation among OIC member states.

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

President of Egypt’s National Women’s Council Amal Ammar said the prosperity of nations began with investing in people, particularly women, adding that women’s empowerment had 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 Seal awarded to 31 companies that promote gender-responsive workplaces.

She said women had made notable progress in leadership, with nearly 3,968 women serving as judges and prosecutors, and greater representation in parliament and senior public office.

Amal emphasized 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 inaugural session.