Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), reaffirmed that there is impressive and significant progress in the causes of women in terms of their cultural advancement and developmental contributions. “Although illiteracy rate is still as high as 45%, especially in the rural and remote areas of our countries, the progress of women’s role in various fields and their efforts towards them deserves recognition. Even though the universalization of the right to education still faces many obstacles, this should not deter pushing for further efforts to promote women’s status. In this regard, ICESCO is committed to devoting the largest share in its plans and programmes to this matter,” ICESCO Director General highlighted.  

This remark was an excerpt from Dr.AlMalik’s address at the symposium held by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), via videoconferencing, on “The role of women in reshaping the Arab world’s cultural map in the post-Covid-19 period”, with the participation of Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, ALECSO Director General; Dr. Jamila El Moussali, Moroccan Minister of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and Family; Ms. Sameera Rajab, Minister and Advisor to the Bahraini Royal Court; and several experts and specialists in the cultural field.
In this vein, Dr. AlMalik stated that ICESCO’s new vision supports women both in terms of its staff members and its activities and programmes implemented in the Member States or at its headquarters. For instance, as part of its renewal process, the Organization has recruited women to serve in its various sectors. “There are women at the head of some major sectors such as Education, Human and Social Sciences, and the General Secretariat of Conferences and National Commissions. ICESCO also hired a good number of qualified and competent women, especially in the administrative and financial services, as well as other special posts in many technical and executive fields.

As for its activities, ICESCO seeks, through its new vision for the whole cultural and social activities in the Islamic world, to empower women through the establishment of the network of Muslim women scientists intended to embrace women’s scientific and intellectual contributions. Moreover, ICESCO has been particularly keen in its initiatives to focus on women’s entitlements, especially in the sector of education. In addition, the Organization pays special attention to women under its initiative, “The Societies We Want,” launched the last week,” ICESCO Director General added.

In closing, Dr. AlMalik called on women to seize the opportunity of Covid-19 crisis to prove that the time is ripe for “women empowerment” to become a thing of the past. “The role of women is necessary not only for satisfying the needs of society but also for its prosperity and for achieving the better society we want,” he further stressed.