ISLAMABAD: The international conference on girls’ education in the Muslim world, jointly organized by the Islamic World League and the Government of Pakistan, begins in Islamabad today.
According to state broadcast Radio Pakistan, around 150 delegates from 47 countries are attending the two-day conference “Girls’ Education Communities: Challenges and Opportunities,”.
The summit will feature a series of meetings, discussions, and programs aimed at advancing education for girls in Islamic countries.
The opening session will include speeches by key figures. These include Dr. Hussain Ibrahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Education activist Malala Yousafzai will also address the conference.
After the opening ceremony, a ministerial meeting of the participating countries will be held in which measures to promote women’s education will be reviewed.
Delegates from Islamic countries social activists and prominent figures working on education, human rights and climate change will participate in various subsequent meetings and discussions.
The conference will cover a number of topics including Women’s Education: Obstacles and Solutions, Information Technology and Women’s Education: Opportunities and Prospects, and the Role of Women in Peacebuilding.
A special workshop titled “Success Stories” will highlight achievements in advancing girls’ education.
The conference aims to develop a comprehensive strategy for girls’ education in Islamic countries. It will launch an awareness campaign to challenge misconceptions about women’s education.
Other initiatives include creating online education platforms, drafting a document on women’s education, and forming partnerships with international organizations.
Ministers, ambassadors, and representatives from international organizations, including Muslim-majority and friendly countries, are attending. The event will conclude with the signing of the Islamabad Declaration.
On Friday, a meeting of scholars affiliated with the conference took place. Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa stressed the critical role of women’s education in Islamic societies.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, also addressed the gathering. “Women hold a central position in society,” he said. “An educated woman is the first teacher of her children and a guardian of future generations.”
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He highlighted how women’s education aligns with the objectives of Sharia and public interest, noting its importance for building a prosperous and harmonious society.
The conference is part of a broader initiative proposed by Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa. It seeks to establish international partnerships to promote girls’ education in Muslim communities, with the involvement of Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office.
Representatives from Islamic countries, the United Nations, civil society, and Islamic universities are participating in this historic event.
