Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 25/11/2011
Violence against women and girls is a common concern of the international community. The collective efforts to address the issue have not yet been able to eliminate this malaise from the society. In fact, the issue is omnipresent and the International Day for Elimination of Violence provides an opportunity to renew our resolve to translate our commitments to action. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is resolute to combat all kinds of violence against women. To achieve this objective, further serious and committed efforts towards empowerment and advancement of women in all spheres of life is of vital importance. Women undoubtedly play an important role in the development of the human societies which needs to be appreciated through inter alia protecting them from all kinds of violence including domestic violence which is not only against the human rights of women but also destroys families that form the nucleus of our societies. To provide women with greater welfare and advancement, alleviation of violence against women must remain at the top of our agenda. In the twenty first century where the human being has reached high grounds of human rights observance and achieved much in all fields of human endeavor, it is unacceptable to witness such a gloomy conditions of women in many parts of the world including some OIC Member States. It is unfortunate that we still find women in all societies including the most developed ones, being subjected to beating, torture and rape. Most of these crimes are not reported. Although the challenges are formidable but some encouraging developments in the advancement of the status of women and their empowerment have been taking place which also include the alleviation of violence against women in all its forms and manifestations. In line with the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action adopted by the 3rd Islamic Summit Conference and the OIC Plan of Action for Advancement of Women (OPAAW), the OIC has continued its efforts to address the challenges threatening the advancement and development of women in our societies with a sense of utmost priority.
