Jeddah (UNA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) affirmed their commitment to promoting women’s rights and gender equality by signing a new memorandum of understanding. The ceremony was held on the sidelines of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at UN Headquarters in New York.
The Permanent Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the United Nations, His Excellency Ambassador Hameed Obeloyero, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Organization, while the Executive Director of UN Women, Her Excellency Dr. Sima Bahous, represented her organization.
In his remarks, Ambassador Obeloyero emphasized the importance of the renewed cooperation between the two institutions. He added, “Today’s event marks another milestone in the institutional cooperation between the OIC and UN Women. It is a clear demonstration of our shared commitment to advancing women’s rights and well-being, in line with the objectives of both organizations.” He also highlighted recent OIC initiatives, including the establishment of the Women’s Development Organization based in Cairo and the successful convening of the International Conference on Women in Islam in Jeddah in 2023. These efforts reflect the OIC’s commitment to promoting women’s economic participation, leadership, and protection from gender-based challenges.
UN Women Executive Director Dr. Sima Bahous welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding as a crucial step towards ensuring sustainable progress in women’s empowerment and full participation in all aspects of society around the world. She added, “The partnership between UN Women and the OIC is built on a shared vision to empower women in all aspects of life. This renewed agreement provides a solid framework for strategic initiatives that will deliver tangible change, particularly in the areas of economic empowerment, leadership opportunities, and the protection of women’s rights within and beyond OIC Member States.” She also commended the OIC’s efforts to advance the status of women in the Muslim world and affirmed UN Women’s commitment to supporting these initiatives through expertise, resources, and advocacy campaigns.
The signing of this memorandum of understanding continues a successful collaboration that began in 2017. The previous agreement, which ended in 2020, laid the foundation for numerous impactful initiatives. This renewed partnership builds on previous achievements and paves the way for further collaboration in areas such as policy advocacy, capacity building, and joint research on women's empowerment.
The two organizations expressed their confidence that the memorandum of understanding will enhance their ability to address the challenges facing women globally while respecting cultural and religious values. The OIC remains committed to leveraging its institutional framework to support gender equality in accordance with Islamic values, while UN Women continues to support policies that promote the comprehensive and sustainable development of women everywhere.
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