Pakistan assumes chair of 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, reaffirms commitment to women’s empowerment

ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Monday assumed the chairmanship of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to promoting the socio-economic and political empowerment of women across the Muslim world through collective action, cooperation and consensus.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women hosted by Ministry of Human Rights, the minister welcomed delegates from OIC member states and said Pakistan accepted the responsibility of chairing the conference with humility and a firm commitment to serve all 57 member states in a spirit of partnership, inclusivity and mutual respect.

He said the conference, held under the theme “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward,” provided a timely opportunity for member states to translate their shared commitments into practical measures that improve the lives of women across the Islamic world.

The minister said women across OIC countries were transforming economies, advancing scientific progress, strengthening institutions, leading businesses and contributing to peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts. However, he noted that millions of women and girls still faced barriers that limited their opportunities and participation in national development.

“Empowering women is not only a social imperative but also an economic necessity, a governance priority and a cornerstone of sustainable development,” he said, adding that no nation could fully realize its potential while half of its population was denied equal opportunities to learn, work, innovate and lead.

Highlighting Islamic teachings, Senator Tarar said Islam had recognized the dignity, rights and legal identity of women more than fourteen centuries ago, emphasizing justice and human dignity as timeless principles.

He stressed that the digital future should become a bridge to inclusion rather than a barrier to equality, ensuring women and girls have equal access to education, innovation and leadership in the era of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The minister said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) provided a unique platform for strengthening cooperation through the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women and the Women’s Development Organization, enabling member states to share experiences, strengthen institutional partnerships and accelerate progress while respecting their diverse legal systems and cultural values.

He said Pakistan viewed the chairmanship not as a position of prestige but as a responsibility to foster dialogue, build consensus and help transform shared aspirations into practical outcomes for women across OIC countries.

Highlighting Pakistan’s domestic efforts, Senator Tarar said the empowerment of women remained a national priority enshrined in the Constitution and supported through legal, policy and institutional reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

He said the government, through the Ministry of Human Rights, in collaboration with provincial governments, Parliament, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, civil society and international partners, was implementing the National Gender Policy Framework, Vision 2025 and the Prime Minister’s Women Empowerment Package.

He said Pakistan had introduced landmark legislation, established Gender-Based Violence Courts, strengthened women protection authorities, expanded legal aid and rehabilitation services, launched dedicated helplines and reinforced institutions, including the National Commission on the Status of Women and the National Commission for Human Rights.

The minister said Pakistani women were serving with distinction as parliamentarians, judges, diplomats, civil servants, entrepreneurs, academics, scientists and members of the armed forces, reflecting the country’s commitment to expanding women’s leadership in both public and private sectors.

He stressed that sustainable progress required the active engagement of men and boys as partners in promoting equality, respect and shared responsibility, saying inclusive societies could only be built through collective commitment.

Referring to humanitarian crises, Senator Tarar expressed solidarity with women and girls affected by conflict, occupation and displacement, particularly in Palestine, Afghanistan and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He said their resilience underscored the need to ensure protection, dignity, justice and hope for women facing conflict and humanitarian challenges.

He emphasized that artificial intelligence and digital innovation offered unprecedented opportunities to expand access to education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, provided these technologies were governed in an inclusive manner that prevented new forms of inequality.

As chair of the conference, Pakistan, he said, would work closely with the OIC General Secretariat, the Women’s Development Organisation, and all member states to strengthen cooperation, promote the exchange of best practices and advance practical initiatives for women’s empowerment.

The minister noted that women constituted nearly 940 million people, representing about 49.3 percent of the OIC’s total population, and urged member states to transform dialogue into concrete action that would create lasting opportunities for women across the Muslim world.

He said the true success of the conference would not be measured solely by the declarations adopted during the two-day meeting but by the tangible progress achieved for women after delegates returned to their respective countries.

The minister also thanked the OIC General Secretariat, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Human Rights, the organizing committee and all partners for their support in successfully convening the conference.