Sisi Stresses Need to Empower Women in All Fields to Achieve Genuine Development

Officials at the eighth session of the Ministerial Conference of OIC for Women. (Egyptian Presidency Spokesman via Facebook)
Officials at the eighth session of the Ministerial Conference of OIC for Women. (Egyptian Presidency Spokesman via Facebook)
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Sisi Stresses Need to Empower Women in All Fields to Achieve Genuine Development

Officials at the eighth session of the Ministerial Conference of OIC for Women. (Egyptian Presidency Spokesman via Facebook)
Officials at the eighth session of the Ministerial Conference of OIC for Women. (Egyptian Presidency Spokesman via Facebook)

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed on Thursday that Egypt, in cooperation with Islamic countries, was keen on achieving a major leap forward in handling women’s issues.

“Egypt will spare no effort to support the Women’s Development Organization, which is an entity under the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),” he said eighth Ministerial Conference of the OIC on Women, taking place in the New Administrative Capital (NAC).

Sisi announced that during the next two years, Egypt will focus on two main issues: empowering women economically and combating the negative impact of terrorism and extremism on women.

A historic opportunity is available to present the real image of women’s status in Islam, he added, underscoring the need to empower women in different fields to achieve genuine development.

Held under the theme “Preserving the gains of gender equality and empowering women in light of the coronavirus pandemic and beyond”, this year’s edition of the OIC conference was attended by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly, several ministerial and officials, in addition to representatives of regional and international NGOs.

OIC Secretary-General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen said Saudi Arabia is giving unprecedented attention and time to women issues, unlocking their full potential as a driving force for development across all areas of the Saudi Vision 2030 that was launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, with the blessing of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

He praised Egypt’s “high level of commitment and dedication to help the OIC achieve its main objectives of promoting joint Islamic action for women’s empowerment and participation in all spheres of society.”

He also stated that the OIC seeks “to send out a message to the wider Muslim community and world at large that Islam, in its pristine and pure form, dignifies the status of women and treats them as an essential partner in all fields.”



Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
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Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)

Informed sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that US-President elect Donald Trump agreed on the steps that President Joe Biden’s administration will take to ensure the success of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

Israel approved the ceasefire on Tuesday night after Lebanon had already agreed to it.

The sources, which followed up on the negotiations for the 60-day truce, said the steps call for the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters and their weapons from the South where the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is deployed. In return, Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon.

More negotiations through American mediators will take place throughout the process.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump “gave his blessing” to the process during his meeting with Biden at the White House two weeks ago.

A committee led by the US will oversee the implementation of the withdrawal. France, Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL are also part of the committee.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Hezbollah’s withdrawal will take place in three 20-day phases. The first withdrawal will take place in the western sector.

It will coincide with an Israeli pullout from areas it occupied in that region. A strengthened Lebanese army force and UNIFIL troops will deploy in their place.

The second phase will cover the central sector and follow the same process.

The residents of the frontline southern villages will not be allowed to return to their homes immediately until they are deemed safe and after ensuring that no Hezbollah members or weapons remain there.

Residents of the so-called second and third line of villages south of the Litani River will be allowed to return to their homes immediately.

The source expected the US to play an “effective role” in the mechanism to oversee the withdrawal. It did not clarify whether any American forces will take part in the process.

It revealed that Britain and other countries will “exert special efforts to verify whether illegitimate weapons are being smuggled to Hezbollah.”

The five-member committee will not replace the tripartite committee already in place and that includes Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL.