OIC Women’s Conference Kicks off in Islamabad to Discuss Women’s Empowerment Across Muslim World

OIC Women’s Conference Kicks off in Islamabad to Discuss Women’s Empowerment Across Muslim World
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The ninth Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Women opened in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Sunday, bringing together ministers, senior officials and delegates from member states to discuss women’s empowerment, education, economic participation and social inclusion across the Islamic world.

The two-day conference is being jointly hosted by the OIC and Pakistan’s Ministry of Human Rights under the theme “Women’s Rights in Islam: Promoting Equality, Empowerment and Development.” According to Pakistani officials, ministers responsible for women’s affairs, senior government representatives and OIC officials from dozens of member states are participating in the meeting, alongside representatives of international organizations and civil society.

According to the OIC Secretariat, the meeting follows the recommendations adopted during the eighth OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, held in Cairo in 2021. Delegates are expected to review progress made since then and adopt new measures to expand women’s access to education, vocational training, healthcare, entrepreneurship, digital skills and leadership opportunities. Discussions are also expected to address climate resilience, sustainable development and women’s role in responding to humanitarian crises across OIC member states.

The conference is taking place as women’s rights remain a major issue in several Muslim-majority countries, particularly Afghanistan. Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary and university education, limits on employment with many national and international organizations, and restrictions on travel without a male guardian. The policies have drawn widespread criticism from the United Nations, human rights organizations and many OIC member states.

Although Afghanistan remains a member of the OIC, it was not immediately clear whether representatives from the country would participate in the conference. Pakistani media reported that the conference agenda includes discussions on education, economic empowerment and legal protections for women, issues that have become increasingly prominent in regional and international forums addressing the situation in Afghanistan.

The conference is expected to conclude on Monday with the adoption of a joint declaration outlining priorities for enhancing cooperation on women’s empowerment, expanding educational opportunities and promoting greater participation of women in the social, economic and political development of OIC member states.