OIC confab adopts Islamabad Declaration

Reaffirms commitment to women empowerment

ISLAMABAD:

The Ninth Ministerial Conference on Women of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Monday adopted the Islamabad Declaration, reaffirming member states' commitment to the social, economic and political empowerment of women and girls while launching a new initiative to promote digital inclusion for women across the Muslim world.

According to the Islamabad Declaration, available on the OIC's official website, ministers and heads of delegations pledged to further strengthen policies and institutional mechanisms to ensure the effective and meaningful participation of women in political, economic and public life.

The declaration urged member states to remove barriers to women's education and employment, expand access to quality education, technical and vocational training, and leadership development opportunities, and promote women's economic stability by improving access to jobs, financial resources, entrepreneurship support and social protection systems.

It also stressed the need to promote inclusive financial systems, including Islamic finance, microfinance and digital financial services, while recommending improved access to capital, innovation and trade opportunities for women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The declaration described women's participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies as critical.

It called on member states to narrow the digital gender gap, particularly in rural areas, by expanding affordable digital infrastructure, internet connectivity, access to digital devices and digital literacy programmes.

During the conference, the Islamabad Initiative for Women's Digital Inclusion was launched as a voluntary OIC platform aimed at promoting digital literacy, digital entrepreneurship, STEM education, AI skills, cybersecurity awareness and equal access to advanced digital technologies for women and girls.

The initiative invites interested member states, OIC institutions and development partners to support its implementation through training programmes, scholarships, mentorship, skills exchanges and the sharing of best practices.

The declaration also called for stronger measures to combat all forms of violence against women and girls, including cyber harassment, online abuse, exploitation and technology-facilitated threats.

It further urged enhanced international cooperation to address Islamophobia, racism, discrimination and hate speech targeting Muslim women and girls.

Expressing full solidarity with the women and girls of Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the declaration called on the international community to provide them with legal, humanitarian, economic, educational and psychological support to alleviate their suffering.

The declaration reaffirmed that empowering women and girls through education, skills development, leadership and meaningful participation in economic activities is essential for the development, stability and prosperity of OIC societies.

It also thanked the Government of Pakistan for hosting the conference and appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's patronage. The conference also adopted a comprehensive resolution.

Addressing the closing session, OIC Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Dr Tarig Ali Bakheet said the deliberations had demonstrated that OIC member states regarded women's development as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development and the prosperity of the Muslim Ummah.