OIC Chief participates in Conference on Women

Jeddah, November 25, SPA -- The Secretary General of the Organization
of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, is
participating in the Second Ministerial Conference on the Role of
Women in the Development of the OIC Member States, which will
conclude its two-day deliberations in Cairo later today.


During the opening session of the Conference, Professor Ihsanoglu
delivered a speech that shed light on the efforts of the OIC to
empower women and the OIC vision to bolster women's role in
compliance with the political commitments as well as obligations
endorsed by the leaders of the Member States at the Extraordinary
Makkah Summit held in December 2005.


The Conference, held under the title 'From Political Will to Joint
Action', is discuss several issues related to the vision of the OIC
Member States to advance the status of women, eradicate poverty, and
boost sustainable development in a bid to achieve gender equality and
ensure women's participation in decision-making, according to a press
release of the OIC issued in Jeddah.


Participants are also examining the best ways and means to secure
equal opportunities for women through the provision of quality
education and proper health care, the elimination of all forms of
discrimination, including violence, against women.