The eighth session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ministerial Conference on Women, on maintaining the gains of gender equality and empowering women in light of the Coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath, kicked off today.

The State of Qatar is participating in the conference with a delegation headed by HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the Arab League Ambassador Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al Sahlawi.

The conference, which was inaugurated by the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, reviews local, regional and international efforts made from the perspective of achieving gender equality, discussing best practices to mitigate the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on women, and ways to empower women economically in light of the new reality imposed by the pandemic.

The conference will also discuss working papers submitted by a number of member states, including a concept paper on the policies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in gender affairs, and a study conducted by the Independent Permanent Commission for Human Rights on gender equality and gender justice from an Islamic and human rights perspective. (QNA)