Cairo: Bahar Muradova, Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan, recently met with Amal Ammar, Chairperson of Egypt's National Council for Women (NCW), to discuss avenues for cooperation on women's issues. This meeting took place during the international conference 'Harnessing Religious and Media Discourse and Its Impact on the Protection and Promotion of Women's Rights in OIC Member States,' which is currently underway in Cairo.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, both sides emphasized the historically friendly and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and Egypt, which continue to thrive across various sectors. Bahar Muradova highlighted that the bilateral relations are rooted in friendship and mutual respect, and she advocated for broader cooperation between the relevant institutions of the two nations. She pointed to successful collaborative projects with ICESCO, Trkiye, and Morocco as examples of potential joint initiatives with Egypt.
Muradova mentioned that Azerbaijan was the first to establish a secular republic in the East and is home to a multicultural society where different religious groups can freely practice. She discussed Azerbaijan's legislative efforts to protect women, families, and children, including preventing early marriages, prohibiting marriages between close relatives, and strengthening legal mechanisms to combat domestic violence. She also called for regulations on children's use of social media, highlighting the universal challenges faced by women and the importance of international collaboration.
Amal Ammar pointed out that a key objective of the conference is the exchange of experiences. She highlighted the significance of the Law Library and Think Tank established after the 8th Conference of Heads of Women's Affairs Institutions of OIC Member States in Cairo in 2021, which facilitates the sharing of legislative initiatives and measures to support women's rights. Ammar also emphasized the crucial role of media in safeguarding national and spiritual values and recommended enhanced cooperation in this area.
The conference, organized under the patronage of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and Egypt's National Council for Women, spans two days. It addresses topics such as women's roles in combating religious and ideological extremism, their contributions to peace and security, the influence of media, culture, and art in shaping public awareness about women, women's and girls' economic rights, their GDP contributions, and protection from cyber violence.
Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Egypt, Elkhan Polukhov, was also in attendance at the meeting.