Cairo to Host Int’l Conference on ‘Religious Discourse, Women’s Rights’

 IQNA – An international conference on religious discourse and rights of women will start in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday.

Titled “Using Religious and Media Discourse and Its Impact on the Protection and Promotion of Women’s Rights in the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation”, the two-day conference is being held with the support of the Egyptian presidency and at the joint initiative of the National Council for Women of Egypt, Al-Azhar Islamic Center and the Women’s Development Organization (WDO), with the aim of creating a cultural and sustainable framework to strengthen women’s rights throughout the Islamic world by utilizing the potential of religious and media discourse, Baladna Al-Youm reported.

The conference will be attended by Al-Azhar chief Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Prime Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly, and Amal Ammar, the president of the National Council for Women of Egypt, along with high-ranking representatives from 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which indicates the importance of women’s issues and their role in building societies.

The conference themes are based on the category of “Religious and Media Discourse” and the aim of this conference is to highlight the role of rational religious and media discourse in correcting misconceptions, promoting a culture of respect for women’s rights and supporting their active participation in various fields.

The first day includes two main sessions:

The first session will focus on the role of religious and media discourse in raising awareness and correcting misconceptions, and the role of women in confronting religious and intellectual extremism, while highlighting the role of media, culture, art and education in raising society’s awareness of the positive roles of women.

The second session will discussing rights; the economic status of women and girls, women’s contribution to national production, their eligibility for the labor market and their role in entrepreneurship and finance, with a review of best practices and successful experiences in OIC member countries.

The second day, focusing on “Supporting and Empowering Women”, will witness three main sessions:

First; Al-Azhar Observatory Mechanisms to Combat Extremism Against Women: Promoting the values ​​of respect and preserving the dignity of women, as well as protecting women and girls from all forms of violence, including cultural traditions and harmful practices, and cyber violence.

Second; Women, Political Empowerment and Leadership: This theme will address issues such as women’s holding senior positions, political participation, equal opportunities in the public sphere, and their role in peace and security.

Third; Joint Efforts to Advance the Status of Women.

This conference is held within the framework of joint efforts to advance the status of women, protect their rights, and create an informed religious and media discourse that contributes to achieving sustainable development and social stability in the OIC countries.

Iranian Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Zahra Behrouz Azar departed for Cairo on Saturday to participate in the international conference.