OIC Women’s Empowerment Summit Concludes Without Afghan Female Representation

The ninth Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting on women’s empowerment concluded after two days of discussions in Pakistan. Nearly 190 representatives from the 57 member countries attended the summit, but Afghanistan was not represented by any women. The gathering emphasized expanding women’s participation in political, economic, social, and educational fields and urged member countries to implement their commitments practically.

Tariq Ali Bakheet, Deputy Secretary-General of the OIC, stated that the responsibility of member countries is not limited to adopting resolutions; they must ensure effective implementation of decisions through sustained cooperation, adequate resource allocation, and enduring political commitment. He stressed the importance of following through on programs related to women’s empowerment.

Organized by the OIC in collaboration with Pakistan’s Ministry of Human Rights, the summit focused on expanding educational opportunities, enhancing professional capacities, and increasing women’s roles in development.

Azam Nazir Tar, Pakistan’s Minister for Law and Human Rights, commented that countries excluding women from nation-building and development would not achieve progress. She added that millions of women and girls still face barriers limiting their opportunities and reducing their full participation in national development, calling on the international community to take tangible action to change this situation.

The summit took place amid the backdrop of Afghan women and girls being deprived of secondary and higher education following the Taliban’s takeover. They also face extensive restrictions on work and social participation, with no women included in the Taliban’s leadership structure. This absence has drawn repeated criticism from international and Islamic organizations and is seen as a significant obstacle to the regime’s development and domestic legitimacy.

During the meeting, some religious scholars referenced Islamic teachings to emphasize the status and dignity of women. Religious scholar Waliullah Labib stated that God created women with honor and dignity and assigned them various responsibilities within society.

Participants also exchanged views on increasing women’s access to education, health services, employment, entrepreneurship, financial services, technology, and digital opportunities, as well as strengthening cooperation among OIC member countries.