H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail Al-Shoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), delivered a speech during the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Women, held in Islamabad. In her remarks, she emphasized that women’s empowerment is a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development and promoting prosperity and stability across OIC Member States.

Her Excellency highlighted the Organization’s role in supporting Member States through policy development, research, capacity building, and the promotion of strategic partnerships, thereby helping translate the Ministerial Conference’s resolutions into practical initiatives and programs with lasting impact.

She also highlighted the Organization’s key initiatives currently underway, including the Regional Think Tank, the Digital Legal Library Project, and the High-Level Roundtable scheduled to take place in Geneva on the 23rd of this month.

In closing, Her Excellency called on Member States to broaden avenues of cooperation, strengthen the exchange of expertise, and complete the procedures for accession to the Organization’s Statute, thereby reinforcing joint Islamic action and advancing efforts to empower women and achieve the objectives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in this field.

The Women Development Organization (WDO) participated in the High-Level Panel on “Bridging Gender Gaps in Technology and Digital Participation”, held on the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women in Islamabad.

Representing WDO, H.E. Counselor Sarah Al Shoura, Executive Director, highlighted the importance of strengthening regional cooperation among OIC Member States to advance women’s digital inclusion through knowledge exchange, capacity-building, and strategic partnerships.

She reaffirmed WDO’s commitment to supporting Member States in developing evidence-based policies, promoting innovation and digital skills, and fostering collaborative initiatives that enable women to participate fully in the digital economy and contribute to sustainable development across the OIC region.

Highlighting the vital role of education in advancing women’s empowerment, H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with H.E. Ms. Wajiha Qamar, Minister of State for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, on the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women in Islamabad.

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the role of education and skills development in expanding opportunities for women and girls, while exploring avenues for collaboration on initiatives that strengthen capacities, enhance skills, and support women’s meaningful participation in sustainable development across OIC Member States.

Both sides underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in advancing impactful programmes that empower women through education and reinforce regional cooperation among OIC Member States.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation among OIC specialized institutions and build strategic partnerships that advance the shared priorities of OIC Member States. H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH.

The meeting explored opportunities to leverage the expertise of both institutions through joint initiatives in science, technology, innovation, education, capacity building, and research. Discussions also addressed collaboration on climate change and environmental sustainability to further women’s empowerment and support sustainable development across OIC Member States.

As part of its efforts to strengthen cooperation with OIC Member States, H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with H.E. Ms. Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Turkey, on the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, held in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

During the meeting, H.E. the Executive Director presented WDO’s mandate, key programmes, and flagship initiatives, highlighting the Organization’s role in supporting Member States’ efforts to advance women’s empowerment. She also invited the Republic of Turkey to complete the necessary procedures to join WDO, with a view to strengthening institutional cooperation and expanding opportunities for partnership between the two sides.

Both sides expressed their aspiration to develop a productive and sustainable partnership, build on their shared expertise, and explore impactful initiatives that contribute to the priorities of OIC Member States and further advance the role of women across the region.

On the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, held in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Ms. Mona Al-Khalili, Minister of Women’s Affairs of the State of Palestine.

The meeting discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in women’s empowerment, capacity building, and the implementation of joint initiatives, while promoting knowledge exchange and the Ministry’s participation in WDO’s programmes and initiatives.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of continued coordination and cooperation to advance the objectives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and its vision for women’s empowerment, while strengthening joint efforts to support Palestinian women.

H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, on the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, held in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on expanding cooperation between the two sides, particularly in supporting initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment, strengthening institutional partnerships, and promoting the exchange of expertise, in line with the priorities of OIC Member States and the objectives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Both sides also underscored the importance of continuing joint efforts and building on the outcomes of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women to further advance women’s empowerment and support shared efforts to address women’s issues across OIC Member States.

As part of the Women Development Organization’s (WDO) bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with H.E. Mrs. Geela Ali, Minister of Health, Family and Welfare of the Republic of Maldives. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation between the Women Development Organization and the Ministry of Health, Family and Social Services, while exploring opportunities to develop joint initiatives and strengthen the exchange of expertise in support of women’s empowerment and enhanced cooperation among OIC Member States. Both sides expressed their aspiration to continue working together and capitalize on future opportunities for cooperation, with a view to enhancing the impact of programmes and initiatives aimed at advancing women’s empowerment across OIC Member States.

As part of its efforts to strengthen partnerships with OIC Member States, H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with H.E. Ms. Sadagat Gahramanova, Deputy Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in the presence of Ms. Nigar Manafova, Leading Advisor at the Foreign Relations and Protocol Service Department of the State Committee, on the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, held in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The meeting reviewed the existing areas of cooperation between the two sides and explored opportunities to further expand their partnership through joint programmes and initiatives, enhanced exchange of expertise, and collaborative efforts to advance women’s empowerment across OIC Member States. Both sides expressed their aspiration to build on the existing partnership and further strengthen cooperation in support of shared priorities and impactful initiatives that contribute to the advancement of women across the OIC region.

H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with Ms. Elena Panova, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, to discuss avenues for strengthening cooperation in support of women's empowerment and sustainable development across the OIC Member States.

The meeting reaffirmed the strong and longstanding partnership between WDO and the UN Country Team in Egypt, whose continued support has accompanied the Organization since the establishment of its Headquarters in Cairo. Both sides exchanged views on priority areas for future collaboration and explored opportunities to advance joint initiatives that contribute to empowering women and addressing emerging challenges through innovative and inclusive approaches.

The meeting reflected a shared commitment to building on this successful partnership and expanding cooperation to deliver meaningful and lasting impact for women across the Islamic world.