Bilawal to preside over ‘Women in Islam’ moot

Conference is aimed to bridge the perception-reality gap

UNITED NATIONS:

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will arrive in New York next week for a four-day visit during which he will preside over a conference on ‘Women in Islam’ to be held on the sidelines of the 67th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Hosted by Pakistan, in its capacity as the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) chair, the one-day conference will take place in the economic and social council chamber at UN headquarters on March 8, a day after arrival of the foreign minister.

FM Bilawal on March 7 is also expected to participate in a high-level UN Security Council debate on ‘Women, Peace and Security’, sponsored by Mozambique in its capacity as the council’s president for March.

Meanwhile, the stated objective of the conference, convened by Pakistan, is to bridge the perception-reality gap on the rights of women in Islam and celebrate the experiences and successes of iconic Muslim women. It is aimed at establishing an annual policy dialogue to address challenges and explore opportunities to advance the role of women in OIC countries.

FM Bilawal will open the high-level segment of the conference “Women in Islam: Understanding the Rights and Identity of Women in the Islamic World”, with an address.

He will be followed by the UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Braham Taha; UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, 67th CSW chairperson, South African Ambassador Mathu Joyini and representatives of OIC member states.

Non-OIC states and representatives of UN agencies will also be participating in the conference.

Later, in pursuit of the landmark UNGA resolution 76/254, designating March 15 as the international day to combat Islamophobia, the General Assembly president and the foreign minister will be co-convening a special high-level event to commemorate the day on March 10.

During his visit, FM Bilawal will also hold meetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the General Assembly president.

He will also brief the UN and international press on the outcome of these events.