The ninth two-day Ministerial Conference on Women’s Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) opened on Sunday in Islamabad, bringing together representatives from across the Islamic world to discuss women’s empowerment and regional challenges.
According to the conference agenda, the situation in Afghanistan—including restrictions on the education of women and girls—is among the key topics under discussion.
Held under the theme “Social, Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in OIC Member States: Challenges and the Way Forward,” the conference has brought together around 190 delegates representing the organization’s 57 member countries.
Conference organizers have not yet announced who, if anyone, will speak on behalf of Afghan women during the event.
However, a member of the organizing team previously said that several Afghan women had been invited to attend the conference. Despite the invitations, the source suggested that their participation remained unlikely.
The conference takes place as the Taliban continue to enforce broad restrictions on the education, employment and public participation of women and girls in Afghanistan. Those policies have become one of the principal issues shaping discussions among Islamic countries regarding Afghanistan.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to reflect the continuing concern among OIC member states over the situation of Afghan women while highlighting broader efforts to promote women’s participation across the Islamic world.
