OIC women empowerment conference began in Islamabad on Sunday with technical-level meetings aimed at finalising recommendations for ministers on expanding women’s social, economic and political participation across member states.
Pakistan is hosting the 9th Ministerial Conference on Women of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation at the Jinnah Convention Centre on July 12 and 13. The two-day meeting is being organised by the Ministry of Human Rights under the theme: “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward.”
The conference has brought together around 190 delegates, including ministers, senior government officials and representatives from the OIC’s 57 member states. Participants are discussing ways to strengthen cooperation among member countries and improve women’s access to education, healthcare, employment, entrepreneurship, financial services, technology and digital opportunities.
OIC women empowerment conference opens with technical meetings
OIC women empowerment conference proceedings began with preparatory sessions involving technical experts and senior officials.
These meetings are intended to finalise recommendations for consideration by ministers during the main ministerial session on Monday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to inaugurate the ministerial session, while Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar will chair the conference on behalf of Pakistan.
Tarar said hosting the conference was an honour for Pakistan and that the forum would be used to highlight government initiatives for women’s empowerment and an inclusive society.
The conference is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration. The declaration is expected to outline a common framework for advancing women’s empowerment and promoting inclusive and sustainable development across OIC member states.
Pakistan to assume chairmanship from Egypt
Pakistan is also set to formally assume the chairmanship of the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women from Egypt for the next two years.
The Islamabad meeting builds on the previous ministerial conference held in Cairo in 2021. Officials say the current conference is expected to provide fresh momentum for cooperation among OIC countries on women’s development, rights and participation in public life.
The agenda is focused on practical areas of policy cooperation. These include women’s access to economic opportunity, leadership roles, education, healthcare, financial services and digital technologies.
The conference also reflects Pakistan’s effort to position itself as an active participant in OIC-level dialogue on gender equality and social development.
Focus on socio-economic and political empowerment
The central focus of the meeting is women’s socio-economic and political empowerment.
Across many OIC countries, women continue to face barriers in labour market participation, access to finance, business ownership, political representation and digital inclusion. The Islamabad conference is expected to consider how member states can share policy experience and build stronger cooperation in these areas.
Economic empowerment is especially important because women’s participation in formal work remains limited in many countries. Better access to skills, credit, entrepreneurship support and digital tools can help improve household incomes and national productivity.
Political empowerment is also part of the agenda. Greater representation of women in legislatures, public administration and decision-making bodies is widely seen as necessary for more inclusive policymaking.
Pakistan’s own gender gaps remain under scrutiny
Pakistan’s role as host also brings attention to its domestic record on women’s rights and gender equality.
Pakistan ranked lowest among 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025, with 56.7 percent gender parity. According to the International Labour Organisation, women in wage employment in Pakistan earn approximately 30 percent less per month than men.
These figures show the scale of the challenge facing Pakistan as it hosts a major international conference on women’s empowerment.
The government is expected to use the forum to present its policy initiatives, but meaningful progress will depend on implementation. Legal protections, women’s workforce participation, girls’ education, financial inclusion and safety in public and private spaces remain key areas requiring sustained reform.
Islamabad Declaration expected at conclusion
The expected Islamabad Declaration will be the main outcome document of the two-day meeting.
Its importance will depend on whether it sets out clear and practical commitments rather than general statements. OIC member states face different political, economic and social realities, but many share common challenges in expanding opportunities for women.
A useful declaration would focus on measurable steps, policy coordination, data collection, institutional cooperation and support for women’s participation in education, employment, entrepreneurship and public leadership.
For Pakistan, the conference is both a diplomatic opportunity and a domestic policy test. For the OIC, it is a chance to strengthen cooperation on women’s empowerment at a time when inclusive development has become central to economic and social resilience.
The success of the OIC women empowerment conference will ultimately depend on whether the recommendations finalised in Islamabad are followed by practical action across member states.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 13, 2026
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