Message of OIC Secretary General on the occasion of International Women’s Day
Today on the International Women’s Day and United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace, I would like to congratulate all women of the world for their tremendous achievements in various fields including economic, political and social spheres throughout human history. This day is exclusively dedicated to commemorate the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation and progress of women and that women’s role in strengthening international peace and security should be acknowledged.
This day also symbolizes an occasion where we have to review our performance and achievements in struggle for equality, peace and development for women. Women have always contributed in building strong, civilized and healthy families and societies that have been instrumental in bringing sustainable peace and tranquility.
The challenges ahead of women have always been huge and overwhelming. Unfortunately, in today’s globalized world where human rights including the rights of women have been given priority in the international community’s agenda and some significant progress has also been made, women are still deprived of their fundamental rights and are subject to various forms of violence and discrimination. The international community has to strengthen its coordinated efforts to help women of the world better progress and prosper and take stronger roles in overcoming the various challenges threatening human beings in different walks of life.
Violence against women constitutes a shameful crime and must be punished through relevant law enforcement authorities. Women should be protected through various legal means to live with honour and dignity and free of fear and discrimination.
Islam as a religion of peace and equality pioneered the protection of the rights of women and stood against all injustices done to women including their rights to education, equal treatment, participation in decision making etc. Islam advocates the emancipation of women and calls for their full rights as equal partners of men in the society. Islamic teachings strongly reject all forms of violence against women and uphold their rights.
The Organization of the Islamic Conference remains committed to the rights of women. To empower women, the OIC remains committed to work in coordination with the Member States and other stakeholders in the international community. The first OIC Ministerial Conference on Women held in Istanbul on November 2006, stressed inter-alia that:
– Gender equality, women’s empowerment and their socio-economic participation is central to the eradication of poverty and the achievement of sustainable development.
– Women’s participation in decision-making positions at all levels is desirable for the development of the OIC Member States.
– The role of education for women’s empowerment in general and for poverty eradication in particular is very critical with a special emphasize on the elimination of gender inequality and imbalance in access to.
– Violence as a global phenomenon constitutes a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, as well as an obstacle to the advancement of women
Within the implementation framework of the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam and the OIC Ten Year Program of Action, some significant progress has been made in the field of advancement of women in the OIC Member States. I believe that effective implementation of the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women (OPAAW) adopted to address the challenges facing the women including the violence against them; will largely contribute in alleviating this phenomenon.
Note: Press Release was sent to the Sierra Leone Embassy in Riyadh by the Public Affairs Unit of the OIC in Jeddah.Alhaji M.B. Jalloh, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy,Riyadh – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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