Jeddah, November 6th, 2023 – Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), H.E. Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby, delivered on Monday a keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the International Conference on “Women in Islam: Status and Empowerment” in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The conference is taking place from November 6th to November 8th and is organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“WDO is a voice and platform for over 800 million Muslim women worldwide. Considering that Muslim women represent more than 10% of the world's population, we must support and enhance their role on all levels. Additionally, we need to focus on the development of our young girls so that they can grow up in a healthy and supportive environment that nurtures and supports their aspirations. Establishing the right foundations will lead to more knowledgeable and empowered generations, with successful women leading communities towards comprehensive and sustainable development,” stated Dr. Alshuaiby.
The three-day conference aims to honor the successes of Muslim women throughout history and at present. It also aims to highlight the contributions of women to the development of the OIC Member States and to counter the negative propaganda that portrays Islamic religion as an obstacle to women's rights. The conference will also demonstrate that Islamic teachings have always been just and equitable towards women.
The conference was an initiative presented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the 49th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania earlier this year.
