Considering the pivotal role played by the Women Development Organization (WDO) in promoting and supporting the efforts of Muslim women’s participation in the development of Muslim peoples and the advancement of their countries through capacity-building and skills development, and based on the intellectual responsibility entrusted to the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) with regard to clarifying Islamic rulings on all issues and matters of concern to Muslims around the world, especially with regard to women’s issues, in order to consolidate the Shariah rulings, and to correct the concepts and perceptions woven around their desired participation in nation-building, His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, and Her Excellency Dr. Afnan bint Abdullah Al-Shuaibi, Executive Director of the WDO in member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), signed on Thursday 12 Safar 1444H corresponding to 08 September 2022G, a Memorandum of Understanding at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Academy in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This agreement aims at the cooperation of the two parties to develop a comprehensive plan to correct misconceptions about Islam’s clear position on the legitimacy of women’s participation in intellectual, social, economic, cultural and political activities and programs. The agreement also aims to build a strong strategic partnership between the two institutions in the field of joint organization of conferences, seminars, and workshops on family issues in general, and women’s issues in particular.

Following the signing of the agreement, Her Excellency the Executive Director expressed her great pleasure in completing this important strategic partnership with the Academy, which would support the efforts of the member states of the OIC to enhance the status of women and enhance their role in advancing development and community building. She also praised the great scientific status and respectable global reputation that the Academy enjoys inside and outside the Muslim world, which would positively contribute to facilitating the organization’s work and easing its strategic plans in achieving the goals for which it was established. She also affirmed the organization’s determination to make the most of the scientific resolutions and recommendations issued by the Academy on various women’s issues and causes and concluded by expressing her aspiration for an urgent implementation of the provisions of this agreement in the near future.

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary General welcomed Dr. Afnan Al-Shuaibi and the accompanying delegation and congratulated her on assuming her new position and gaining the confidence of the member states of the OIC, wishing her every success in leading this important organ of the OIC. He also expressed his great pleasure at the signing of this strategic agreement between the Academy and the WDO, affirming his full confidence in the complementarity of the efforts of the two institutions in order to support and enhance awareness of the importance and necessity of Muslim women’s participation in the efforts of building, progress and development of the Muslim peoples, based on the principles of our true religion that urged the two sexes to cooperate in righteousness and piety, and good deeds, and in compliance with the directives of our honorable Shariah that obligated both men and women to build the universe. His Excellency also affirmed the Academy’s full readiness to harness all its scientific and intellectual capabilities to support the activities and programs of the WDO aimed at achieving comprehensive participation of women in various aspects of life. In this context, His Excellency referred to the great intellectual efforts that the Academy has made and is still making in the field of correcting concepts and combating abusive practices against women that violate the eternal teachings of Islam and its pure values, through issuing resolutions and recommendations that clarify the provisions of Shariah in a clear scientific manner.

The signing ceremony was attended from the WDO side by Dr. Abdul Mohsen Salem Al-Ajmi, Director of Financial and Administrative Affairs and Human Resources. On the part of the Academy, Ms. Sarah Badewi, Director of the Department of Family, Women, Childhood and the Elderly Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Al-Mondher El-Chouk, Director of the Cabinet Affairs Department, Dr. Abdel Fattah Abnauf, Director of the Planning, Development and International Cooperation Department, Dr. Alhagi Manta Drammeh, Head of the International Cooperation and External Relations Division, and Mr. Mourad TLiLi, Adviser to His Excellency the Secretary General for Media and Public Relations Affairs.

It should be noted that the Organization for the Development of Women in the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is a specialized organization within the framework of the OIC concerned with the development of women and the advancement of their role in the Member States of the OIC, and building capacities, skills and competencies through various mechanisms, including training, education and rehabilitation. This body was established by a decision issued by the thirty-sixth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers with the aim of developing women, advancing their status, and building their capabilities and skills in member states, as they are an essential partner in the advancement, progress, renaissance and prosperity of Muslim societies.