On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which falls on November 25, 2007, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu made a statement in which he said, "I would like to recognize the vital role that women play for global peace, development, and stability. The observance of this day serves as a reminder to the entire international community of the 1999 UN Resolution 54/134 motivating the need to increase the status of women. "Respect and upholding of women's rights in Islam are enshrined in its most valuable principles because Islam recognizes the religious, social, economic, legal and political rights of women. "The history of Islam bears witness to the vital, indeed indispensable, contribution by women in all walks of life and all fields of human endeavour. In our time, the participation of women in accelerating the process of the development of the Muslim world and bridging the gap between the Muslim world and the advanced world is an urgent imperative taking into account the challenges which the Muslim World continues to be confronted with in political, economic and social affairs in today's new era of globalization. Addressing these challenges requires the systematic, comprehensive, integrated approach at national levels in order to achieve the desired goals. "Unfortunately, a great majority of women in most societies, in particular, in the developing and least developed countries continue to face discrimination and suffer social injustice, and violence. We have to commit in ensuring that women are not abused, that all means are used to eliminate violence against them. "However, significant progress has been made to improve the circumstances of women in OIC Member States over recent years. The Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam and the OIC Ten Year Program of Action have stressed on the advancement of women in Muslim societies in economic, cultural, social, and political fields, in accordance with Islamic values of justice and equality and protecting women from all forms of violence and discrimination. "The First Conference on “Women's Role in the Development of OIC Member States” held in Istanbul in 2006 was a milestone in the cause of advancement of women of the OIC countries. Thus, I would like to reiterate that the OIC, as part of its new vision and mission, has committed itself to work closely with all its Member States and our international and regional partners in securing the full rights of women to contribute to human development."
