Under the generous auspices of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia is hosting a three-day International Conference on “Women in Islam: Status and Empowerment.”
Launched on Monday, the conference was attended by heads of state, ministers, and officials from member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Organized by the OIC, the conference aims to highlight the accomplishments of Muslim women, emphasize their role and contributions to development, counter misconceptions and fallacies that undermine women’s rights in Islam, and reaffirm that Islamic teachings have consistently upheld women’s rights.
In opening the conference, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed the vital role of Saudi women as essential partners in the Kingdom’s journey of progress and development.
He noted that the Kingdom has enacted a series of legislation and decisions derived from Islamic law to enhance women’s participation in economic and social development, protect their rights, and eliminate discrimination in education, employment, and wages.
As a result of these comprehensive reforms, the women’s workforce participation rate has risen from 19.3% to 37% since 2016. Additionally, their representation in leadership positions has increased from 17% to 39%.
Prince Faisal commended the OIC’s efforts in empowering women and its establishment of a specialized organization led by Saudi women to promote women’s development.
He highlighted the various and compounded challenges faced by women in conflict and war zones, including violence, poverty, fear, marginalization, and the absence of healthcare and education for their children.
Prince Faisal emphasized the need for concerted efforts to support these vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, particularly against the backdrop of the difficult circumstances endured by Palestinian women in Gaza due to ongoing Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian principles, in the face of international silence and inaction.
