The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the General Secretariat of the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture in the State of the United Arab Emirates held on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, via videoconference, a working session to discuss the programs and activities to be implemented in cooperation between ICESCO and several Emirati institutions. The working session focused on programs targeting women and brought together the representatives of the Ministry of Community Development, the Gender Balance Council, the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi, and the General Women Union.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General (DG), and Ms. Salma Darmaki, Secretary-General of the Emirati National Commission, chaired the working session with the participation of a number of ICESCO Advisers and Heads of Sectors and Departments.

In his address at the opening of the meeting, Dr. Benarafa reaffirmed that ICESCO’s proclamation of 2021 as the Year of Women, under the slogan “Women for the Future”, reflects the Organization’s commitment to women empowerment, noting that the Organization launched a number of initiatives that aim to highlight women’s leading roles in various walks of life.

Ms. Darmaki commended ICESCO’s efforts to promote the situation of women and hailed the Organization’s proclamation of 2021 as the Year of Women and its keenness to develop cooperation relations with UAE institutions.

Following the opening remarks, the representatives of the Ministry of Community Development, the Gender Balance Council, the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi, and the General Women Union gave overviews of their respective institutions’ history, strategic goals, working mechanisms, future action plans, and major programs and activities in progress.

ICESCO Heads of Sectors and Departments and advisors highlighted the major trends in the Organization’s vision and gave presentations on its strategic action plans and major sector-specific programs and activities that focus on supporting, empowering and building the capacities of women to enable them to assume their role as key element in achieving sustainable development. The ICESCO officials noted that such programs and initiatives can be the subject of cooperation between ICESCO and the Emirati institutions.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to select a number of practical and goal-oriented initiatives and programs. They also agreed to reconvene to lay down the executive plans of these initiatives and programs.