Cairo: An Azerbaijani delegation led by Bahar Muradova, Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, is participating in an international conference in Cairo titled 'Harnessing Religious and Media Discourse and its Impact on the Protection and Promotion of Women's Rights in OIC Member States.'

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the conference is organized by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and the National Council for Women of Egypt under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The event's opening day featured addresses by the OIC Secretary-General, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, along with heads of relevant institutions and state officials from OIC member states.

During the working sessions, discussions centered on the protection of women's rights and the influence of media in shaping public perception. Bahar Muradova highlighted the systematic measures implemented in Azerbaijan to protect women's and children's rights. She emphasized the importance of increasing female representation in governance and various sectors such as law enforcement, science, healthcare, education, culture, and agriculture, which form a core component of Azerbaijani state policy aimed at enhancing administrative quality. Muradova also underscored the role of education in strengthening women's status, citing the opening of the first secular girls' school in the East in 1901 as a historical milestone in legitimizing women's public roles.

Additionally, Muradova briefed participants on the State Committee's educational campaigns across Azerbaijan, focusing on promoting education and addressing the risks of early and consanguineous marriages.

The two-day conference will continue with panels discussing women's roles in combating ideological extremism, their contributions to peace, security, and national GDP, and protection against cyber violence.