Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt – 12^th of August 2024

The Women Development Organization (WDO)’s virtual symposium, “Palestinian Women and Girls: Challenges and Resilience,” successfully brought together a distinguished group of experts and policymakers to address the pressing issues faced by Palestinian women and girls.

H.E. Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby, Executive Director of WDO, met with H.E. Dr. Ali bin Abdullah bin Musa, Secretary-General of the International Council for Arabic Language in the Organization’s Headquarters in Cairo. Both parties discussed ways to strengthen joint cooperation in empowering women and promoting the Arabic language. They agreed on the importance of utilizing women's expertise and capabilities in various fields to serve the Arabic language, especially in light of the challenges it faces in the current era. They have also discussed preparations for the upcoming International Arabic Language Conference. The conference aims to highlight women's role in preserving the Arabic language. Both parties emphasized the importance of active women's participation in the conference to provide insights and develop plans to protect and enhance the status of the Arabic language.

H.E. Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby the Executive Director of WDO met with H.E. Mr. Nasser Ayman Majali, Secretary General of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, which is affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC ) during the UN OIC General Meeting in Astana, Kazakhastan. They discussed programs of common interest between the two organizations and how some of the Federation's programs can be adapted to empower women in sports within the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

H.E. Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby, the Executive Director of the Women Development Organization WDO, met with Dr. Moez Doraid, Regional Director of, UN Women Regional Director in the Arab States during the UN OIC General Meeting in Astana, Kazakhastan. They discussed various shared topics aimed at empowering women in several member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Both parties agreed to continue their meetings and formulate action plans for effective collaboration.

H.E. Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby met with the Director General of IOFS, H.E. Berik Aryn, at the organization's headquarters in the capital Astana, Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the general meetings between United Nations organizations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation organizations.

H.E. Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby, the Executive Director of WDO, had an insightful meeting with the Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO H.E. Dr. Abdulhakim Elwaer and the Regional Director of the Near East, North Africa, and Europe Division (NEN) in the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) H.E. Ms. Dina Saleh during the UN OIC General Meeting in Astana, Kazakhastan.

H.E. Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization-WDO, met with H.E. Ms. Aida Balaeva, Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who is responsible for gender equality and family issues to discuss ways to enhance women’s empowerment and promote joint cooperation. During the meeting with H.E. Ms. Aida Balaeva, Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who is responsible for gender equality and family issues, H.E. Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby highlighted the organization's efforts and extended an invitation for Kazakhstan to join WDO as a member state. In response, H.E. the Minister expressed their interest in joining the Women Development Organization.

The Women Development Organization’s WDO delegation, headed by the Executive Director, Her Excellency Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby announces
its participation in the UN-OIC General Meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan. This meeting brings together international leaders and organizations, dedicated to fostering global cooperation and peace. WDO’s participation highlights our commitment to empowering women across OIC member states.

Cairo, Egypt – July 2, 2024 – WDO's Executive Director, Her Excellency Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby, met with the newly appointed Palestinian Minister of Women Affairs, Her Excellency Mona Al-Khalili. Their discussion focused on calling for an immediate cease fire to enable working on empowering Palestinian women through increased participation in politics, improved access to education and healthcare, and combating gender-based violence. Both leaders pledged to work together for a brighter future for Palestinian women.

Manama, May 2024 – The Women Development Organization (WDO) held a roundtable on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Conflict Zones through Financial & Digital Inclusion on the sidelines of the 5th edition of the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum 2024 (WEIF), that took place in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, from the 14^th to 16^th of May, 2024.