WUNRN
ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION
SECRETARY GENERAL MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2013
07/03/2013 - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation joins the
International Community in observing 08 March, the International Day of Women. It is indeed important for the
international community to take cognizance of the chosen theme for this year,
"A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against
women". It seeks to strengthen and make good on the international
community's commitment to put an end to violence against women. The theme is
also in consonance with the aspirations of the Islamic Ummah towards promoting
the social welfare and well-being of women in OIC Member States.
Women comprise half the population in OIC
Member States and the cause of seeking their advancement and participation in
the political, economic, social and cultural spheres constitutes an imperative.
Muslim women and indeed women of the world are faced with a host of daunting
challenges and issues that continue to impede their overall development. Our
efforts must remain focused at removing discrimination against women and
addressing such impediments. This would require a determined, sustained
and committed collective effort to devote our energies and resources towards
bring women into the mainstream of the societies by creating conditions that
would facilitate with regard to playing their due role as partners in
development. Their legitimate claims and demands for equal treatment, access to
opportunities, role in affairs of the state including policy and decision
making and protection from violence and abuse must be met.
Upon the assumption of office as Secretary General in 2005, I took the initiative
of holding the first ever OIC Ministerial Meeting on Women in Istanbul. This meeting sent a strong message both
within and outside the OIC, of our seriousness to address the issues and
challenges faced by Muslim women. In the following meeting, held in Cairo in
2008, a landmark document known as OIC Plan of Action for Advancement of Women or OPAAW was adopted to provide the long
awaited road map for the advancement of women and to ensure their participation
in development and decision making. The same Meeting also decided on the
establishment of Women Development
Organization in Cairo with a view to institutionalizing the implementation of
OPAAW.
Women in OIC Member States are and have
been holding high positions as Heads of Government, Cabinet Ministers,
Parliamentarians, Ambassadors and civil and military bureaucracy. Much,
however, remains to be done and OPAAW has afforded the opportunity to make
targeted interventions to that end. The OIC, with the support of the
international community and within the framework of OPAAW, is ready to act in
areas like violence against women, female genital mutilation, improving girl's
education, role of women in peace, security and reconciliation, as well as to
promoting women's effective participation in addressing the socio-economic
development challenges of our world.