OIC praises Saudi Arabia’s empowering of women

Cairo, The Gulf Observer: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has praised Saudi Arabia for its continued empowerment of women, and the government’s support for the OIC’s work, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

These were the comments made by Tarig Ali Bakheet, assistant secretary-general for humanitarian, social and cultural affairs, on behalf of the head of the organization, Hissein Brahim Taha, during a high-level session of the OIC’s Women Development Organization in Cairo.

Bakheet welcomed the Kingdom’s offer to host an international conference on women’s rights in Islam, including to education and work, in coordination with the OIC.

He said women must be empowered to become decision-makers in all sectors including on the economic and trade fronts, and that the OIC supports the work of the WDO across the Arab and Islamic world.

Afnan Al-Shuaibi, executive director of the WDO, also lauded the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance the role of women in line with Vision 2030.

Al-Shuaibi said that women in the Kingdom have received considerable support from the country’s leadership. She added that many Saudi women now hold leadership positions in various industries, both inside and outside the country.

Al-Shuaibi highlighted that the WDO continues to strengthen partnerships with member states, sister organizations, UN agencies and other bodies throughout the world.

The session was held to explore women’s development in Arab and Islamic countries.