The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is participating in organizing the 4th Edition Arab Women Journalists Forum, which is being held by the Maghreb Arab Press Agency (MAP), in cooperation with the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) and the UN Women, on December 5-6, 2022, in Rabat, in the presence of representatives of the organizing authorities and female journalists from most Arab countries.

During the opening session of the Forum, Mr. Sami El Kamhawy, Head of ICESCO Information and Institutional Communication Department, reaffirmed that ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations accord great priority to supporting women and building their capacities through a set of practical programmes and projects, noting that ICESCO proclaimed 2021 as the Year of Women, under the royal auspices of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him. 2021 saw the implementation of many activities in the Organization’s Member States.

ICESCO’s representative noted that the support of the Organization’s General Directorate for women was also translated into raising the percentage of women in leadership positions within ICESCO to reach 50% now, which is considered significant progress the Organization has made in achieving its goals.

In his speech, Mr. Rachid Tijani, Director of MAP’s Communication and Cooperation, stated that the Forum is being held in Rabat after three sessions hosted in Lebanon, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, noting the importance of the Forum in discussing many issues, including the accessibility of Arab journalists to decision-making positions.

In her part, Ms. Leila Rhioui, representative of the UN Women in Morocco, reviewed the efforts of the international organization in combating violence against women. In his address to the Forum, Mr. Farid Ayar, FANA’s Secretary General, emphasized the Federation’s endeavor to support Arab women journalists.

After the opening session, the Forum sessions and workshops will discuss issues related to women’s work in journalism and media and ways to address challenges in achieving gender equality in this field.