Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi inaugurated, on Thursday, the 8th ministerial conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on women.
In his speech at the conference, which is taking place in the New Administrative Capital (NAC), Al-Sisi said that Islam gave women their rights more than 1,400 years ago.
The conference witnessed the launch of the Women’s Development Organisation at its permanent headquarters in Egypt. The organisation is the first specialised international entity as part of the Islamic cooperation system that promotes and protects women’s rights, and advances their conditions in all member states of the organisation.
“During the next two years, Egypt will focus on economic empowerment of women in order to achieve the values of gender equality,” Al-Sisi said.
He added that Egypt will spare no effort to support the OIC Women’s Development Organisation.
The President also called for an intellectual research centre to be established that is comparable to the global centres for women’s service within the OIC.
He said that Egypt’s hosting of the conference confirms the country’s interest in women’s issues, and its keenness to keep pace with worldwide developments.
It also confirms Egypt’s efforts in preserving the gains of gender equality in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Al-Sisi also said that the main goal is to achieve progress and renaissance, adding that this will not happen without women really being represented. The President pointed out that empowering women is the key behind building strong civilisations.
