Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – September 17, 2024
The Women Development Organization (WDO) convened a high-level meeting at the Embassy of the Republic of Djibouti in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Organized in collaboration with His Excellency, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Riyadh, Ambassador Diaa-Eddine Bamakhrama, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti, the event brought together more than 50 ambassadors and representatives from member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
During her statement, Her Excellency Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization, expressed her deep gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its continuous and unwavering support for the organization and its vision. She praised the Kingdom’s pioneering role in providing the necessary resources and support to advance the development and empowerment of women, reflecting its strong commitment to driving progress across various fields.
She also extended her thanks to the Arab Republic of Egypt for hosting the organization’s headquarters in Cairo, with special recognition of the prominent role of His Excellency President AbdelFattah El-Sisi in supporting the organization’s efforts. Dr. Alshuaiby further expressed her appreciation to the OIC General Secretariat and all the ambassadors and representatives for their dedication to promoting women’s empowerment in member states, and to the Embassy of the Republic of Djibouti for generously hosting the meeting.
The meeting aimed to introduce WDO, its vision, and its key programs since its establishment in 2021. It provided a platform to discuss the organization's ongoing efforts to empower women socially, economically, and politically across OIC member states. H.E. Dr. Afnan Alshuaiby formally invited member states that have yet to join the organization, underscoring the critical need for collective action to promote women’s empowerment and sustainable development throughout the region.
During the meeting, WDO outlined its achievements, key programs, and strategic initiatives designed to elevate women’s roles in society. Discussions emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration between WDO and OIC member states to ensure the successful implementation of future initiatives aimed at enhancing women's participation and leadership in various sectors.
WDO reaffirmed its commitment to closely working with member states to develop and implement innovative policies and programs that foster women’s active participation in society and contribute to sustainable development.
