The role of sound religious and media discourse in correcting misconceptions, promoting a culture of respect for women’s rights, and supporting their effective participation in various fields was the focus of an international conference that Egypt hosted earlier this week.
The conference, entitled “Harnessing Religious and Media Discourse and its Impact on the Protection and Promotion of Women’s Rights in the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation”, was held under the auspices of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and co-organised by Al-Azhar, the National Council for Women (NCW), and the Women Development Organisation (WDO).
The two-day event shed light on the role of sound religious and media discourse in correcting misconceptions, promoting a culture of respect for women’s rights, and supporting their effective participation in various fields, in a way that helps strengthen social stability and achieve sustainable development.
Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli, who attended the conference’s inauguration, noted that the Islamic world has witnessed, over recent decades, profound social, economic and cultural transformations that have directly impacted women’s issues and the protection of their rights. Accordingly, religious and media discourse has become a fundamental pillar in shaping societal views on women’s status and roles.
“The integration between the two forms of discourse is a key step towards building a supportive environment for protecting and empowering women and ensuring they obtain their rights, as the impact of enlightened religious discourse is strengthened when it is conveyed through conscious and responsible media channels,” Madbouli said.
Minister of Women’s Affairs and Social Development in Nigeria Iman Suleiman highlighted her country’s efforts to empower women and strengthen their role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and confronting extremism and terrorism. She noted initiatives such as building 3,000 schools to support families affected by natural disasters through education and awareness. Suleiman stressed that extremism thrives in weak societies, making moderate religious discourse essential in equipping women to counter it. She added that media discourse is equally important in enhancing women’s roles and raising awareness.
WDO Executive Director Afnan Al-Shoebi noted that both opportunities and challenges remain significant. World Bank data show that more than 2.4 billion women worldwide still lack equal legal protection, while one in three faces some form of violence during her lifetime.
Al-Shoebi noted that in the Islamic world, despite its cultural and social diversity, challenges persist in the use of religious and media discourse. “At times, this discourse is misused to reinforce stereotypes, restrict women’s roles, or justify practices that contradict the principles of justice and equality, principles that lie at the heart of Islamic Sharia, which affirms justice, human dignity, and the safeguarding of rights without discrimination,” Al-Shoebi said.
She pointed out that the media wields great influence in shaping public awareness and can either advance or hinder equality. From this perspective, the media is a vital partner in empowering women and enhancing their role in society.
President of the Union of OIC Radio and Television Channels Amr Al-Leithi highlighted the organisation’s media strategy, launched in 2008, to monitor women’s portrayal, enhance their positive presence, and support empowerment across fields. He explained that the union seeks to build a unified professional media model that presents women as partners in development, showcases their achievements, and challenges negative stereotypes in cooperation with international and regional organisations.
Al-Leithi noted that the strategy focuses on correcting stereotypes by emphasising women’s civilisational role in Islam, promoting success stories, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion, while also encouraging political participation, decision-making, and strengthening their role in peace and security.
Advisor to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar for Expatriate Affairs Nahla Al-Saeidi described intellectual extremism as one of the gravest challenges facing societies, “as it distorts meaning, undermines reason, and reduces religion to rigid forms”. She emphasised that confronting extremism requires correcting flaws in awareness, renewing approaches to understanding, and building sound religious and media discourse. Al-Saeidi stressed that empowering women, particularly through education and knowledge, is a civilisational necessity.
At the close of the conference, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states adopted the Cairo Declaration, underscoring the role of religious, media, cultural, and artistic institutions in combating extremism and correcting misconceptions about women as essential partners in development.
The declaration called for integrating respect for women’s rights, equal citizenship, and digital ethics into education and youth programmes to foster critical thinking and counter stereotypes. It affirmed Islam’s support for women’s right to education and rejected all forms of violence and harmful practices, including cyber-violence, child marriage, harassment, and female genital mutilation.
It also emphasised equality in leadership opportunities based on competence, balanced with family responsibilities, and recognised women’s financial independence, inheritance rights, and entitlement to a fair share of wealth they helped build in cases of divorce or death.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 5 February, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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