عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

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)
TT
TT

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.”

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Displaced People Return to South Lebanon as Ceasefire Appears to Hold

People in their cars return back to their villages after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel began early morning, in Tyre, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
People in their cars return back to their villages after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel began early morning, in Tyre, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
TT
TT

Displaced People Return to South Lebanon as Ceasefire Appears to Hold

People in their cars return back to their villages after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel began early morning, in Tyre, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
People in their cars return back to their villages after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel began early morning, in Tyre, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)

Long-displaced residents of south Lebanon started returning to their homes amid celebrations hours after a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah group took effect early Wednesday morning.

The ceasefire has brought relief across the nation, coming after days of some of the most intense airstrikes and clashes since the war began, though many wondered if the agreement to stop fighting would hold. Israel has said it will attack if Hezbollah breaks the ceasefire agreement, which was announced Tuesday.

Hundreds of cars made their way into southern Lebanon, defying a warning from the Israeli army to stay away from previously evacuated areas.

Israeli military spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee issued the warning on the social platform X.

“You are prohibited from heading towards the villages that the IDF has ordered to be evacuated or towards IDF forces in the area,” Adraee wrote, using an acronym for the Israeli military. “For your safety and the safety of your family members, refrain from moving to the area.”

At least 42 people were killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Tuesday, according to local authorities. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens in the country’s north.

Displaced people started returning to the coastal city of Tyre on motorcycles and in cars early Wednesday.

Ahmed Husseini said returning to southern Lebanon was an “indescribable feeling” and praised Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who led Lebanon’s negotiations with Washington. “He made us and everyone proud.”

Husseini, who earlier fled a town near the coastal city, spoke to The Associated Press while in his car with family members.

Meanwhile, sporadic celebratory gunfire can be heard at a main roundabout in the city, as people returning honked the horns of cars — some piled with mattresses — and residents cheered.

A couple of men shouted slogans praising slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September.

Hussein Sweidan said he sees the ceasefire as a victory for Hezbollah. “This is a moment of victory, pride and honor for us, the Shiite sect, and for all of Lebanon,” he said.

The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire marks the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but it does not address the devastating war in Gaza.

Hezbollah began attacking Israel a day after Hamas’ attack. The fighting in Lebanon escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes across the country and an Israeli ground invasion of the south.

In Gaza, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the nearly 14-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.