Pakistan is set to host the two-day 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women beginning July 12-13 in Islamabad, bringing together senior government representatives, policymakers, prominent women leaders, and officials from across the Muslim world to strengthen cooperation on women’s empowerment, inclusive development, and socio-economic progress.
High-Level Platform for Collaboration
The two-day high-level conference will serve as an important platform for member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to exchange experiences, formulate collaborative strategies, and reinforce their collective commitment to advancing the status of women across the Islamic world. A key objective of the conference is to develop a common framework for creating an enabling environment in OIC member countries where women can fully realize their potential and play a more meaningful role in national development.
Participants will discuss policies and initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s contribution to social and economic growth while promoting greater inclusion across all sectors of society. Delegates are expected to deliberate on measures to increase women’s political representation and professional participation, while exploring ways to expand their access to economic opportunities, financial systems, and productive resources.
Economic Resilience and Digital Inclusion
The discussions will also focus on strengthening women’s economic resilience through greater financial inclusion and participation in entrepreneurship and the workforce. Another major theme of the conference will be addressing the digital gender divide. Ministers and experts will examine practical approaches to improve women’s access to technology, digital skills, and innovation, with a view to narrowing gender disparities in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
The deliberations are expected to identify strategies that enable women to benefit from technological advancement and participate more effectively in digital transformation initiatives across OIC member states. The conference will also provide an opportunity for member countries to share best practices, review progress on existing commitments, and explore new avenues of cooperation in promoting women’s rights, empowerment, and inclusive development within the framework of the OIC.
Participation and Significance
According to organizers, approximately 190 delegates from the 57 OIC member states are expected to participate in the two-day gathering. The participants will include prominent women personalities, government dignitaries, representatives of OIC observer states, and senior officials from the OIC. The ministerial conference underscores the OIC’s continued efforts to foster greater collaboration among member states in promoting gender-inclusive policies and strengthening the role of women as key contributors to sustainable social, economic, and national development across the Islamic world.
