In the presence of a group of senior officials from several Gabonese ministries and institutions, the headquarters of Omar Bongo University, in Libreville, Republic of Gabon, witnessed the official launch ceremony of the ICESCO Chair “Women, Girls and Communities,” on Monday (April 24, 2023), within the framework of the cooperation program between the Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Republic of Gabon for 2023-2027 aiming at enhancing scientific and educational research on gender issues and women’s rights and building the capacities of women and girls.In a recorded speech addressed to the ceremony, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, commended Gabon’s efforts to consolidate and promote the rights of women and girls through the national strategy for promoting women’s rights and achieving gender equality, which was launched in 2020 and made significant progress in the field of women’s rights, praising Omar Bongo University’s initiative to host this chair, which will contribute to the promotion of scientific research in disciplines related to women’s and girls’ issues and societies in the Islamic world and beyond.

He also explained that the chair will adopt a multidisciplinary approach to consider mechanisms for spreading the culture of peace and enhancing the contribution of women and girls to building prosperous and cohesive societies, highlighting that the socio-economic and educational rehabilitation of women and their integration in the fields of science and technology contribute to a significant reduction of violence and discrimination against women.

ICESCO Director-General stressed the Organization’s keenness to support and implement programs to spread the culture of peace in line with the values of a just and equitable society, adding this chair will contribute to deconstructing stereotypes to bring about the desired change and build just and equitable societies for our present and future generations.For his part, Dr. Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda, Gabonese Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, Technology Transfer and National Education, Chairman of the Gabonese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, indicated that the launch of the chair, which comes on the occasion of National Women’s Day in Gabon, underlines the great interest that the Gabonese government attaches to improving the conditions of women in society and achieving gender equality.

The Gabonese minister thanked ICESCO Director-General for his keenness to develop cooperation between the Organization and Gabon in ICESCO’s areas of competence.In his address, Dr. Mesmin-Noel Soumahou, Dean of Omar Bongo University, expressed his happiness at the university’s hosting of the activities of the ICESCO Chair on “Women, Girls and Communities”, stressing that the chair will study and assess government measures aimed at combating gender inequality and making Gabon an example to follow in this field.In an address delivered on her behalf by Mr. Marcel Koca, Secretary General of the Gabonese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of ICESCO Human and Social Sciences Sector, indicated that this chair will contribute to strengthening the Organization’s efforts towards women development and peace-building through interdisciplinary research programs.