By Dr Lubna Farah
ISLAMABAD: The Ninth Ministerial Conference on Women of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) concluded in Islamabad with a renewed commitment by member states to advance the social, economic, and political empowerment of women, while strengthening cooperation to promote inclusive and sustainable development across the Islamic world.
Held under the theme, “Social, Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Member States: Challenges and the Way Forward,” the two-day conference brought together ministers, senior government officials, policymakers, and representatives from OIC member states to deliberate on strategies for enhancing women’s participation and leadership in all sectors of society.
Addressing the closing press briefing, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Law and Justice and Federal Minister for Human Rights, Azam Nazeer Tarar, described the conference as a significant platform for exchanging experiences, sharing best practices, and reinforcing collective efforts to develop effective policies for women’s empowerment throughout the Muslim world.
He stated that all participating member states reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to advancing women’s rights and expanding opportunities for their economic, political, and social inclusion. He emphasized that the next phase would focus on mobilizing available resources and strengthening cooperation to ensure women play a central role in sustainable development and nation-building.
Minister Tarar expressed the OIC’s deep appreciation to all delegations, ministers, and participants whose contributions ensured the success of the conference. He stressed that Pakistan views its chairmanship of the conference not merely as an honor but as a profound responsibility, pledging to serve all member states with fairness, openness, and a spirit of partnership while promoting greater unity and collaboration within the OIC.
He further noted that the conference underscored the importance of collective action and a shared agenda aimed at improving women’s welfare, expanding their participation in public life and decision-making, and creating greater opportunities in education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and economic development.
During the inaugural session, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described the conference as an important milestone in transforming the commitments of OIC member states into practical initiatives and measurable outcomes that would benefit women and girls across the Islamic world. He called for the adoption of actionable recommendations capable of delivering lasting progress in women’s empowerment and sustainable development.
The conference also witnessed broad participation from official delegations, including the Syrian Arab Republic, represented by Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Hind Kabawat. She commended Pakistan for successfully hosting the conference, describing it as a reflection of Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening Islamic solidarity and providing an important platform for exchanging expertise and building new partnerships in development and women’s empowerment.
Kabawat noted that Syria’s participation marked its first appearance at an OIC Women’s Ministerial Conference since 2012, calling it a significant opportunity to deepen cooperation with fellow Islamic countries and benefit from successful experiences in promoting women’s empowerment in line with Syria’s national priorities and development needs.
The conference concluded with a collective pledge by OIC member states to continue working together to strengthen the status of women throughout the Islamic world by expanding cooperation in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, social and economic development, and leadership, while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The transfer of the conference chairmanship to Pakistan was widely viewed as a notable diplomatic achievement, reflecting the confidence enjoyed by Islamabad within the OIC. The development is expected to further reinforce Pakistan’s role in advancing women’s issues, strengthening Islamic unity, promoting collective action among member states, and supporting joint efforts to combat Islamophobia and safeguard the shared interests of the Muslim world.
