OIC Ombudsman Association (OICOA) second meeting on Women Rights held

The Second Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Women’s Rights under the OIC Ombudsman Association (OICOA) was successfully held virtually today, marking a significant step toward strengthening institutional protections for women and promoting gender-responsive governance across member states

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jun, 2026) The Second Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Women’s Rights under the OIC Ombudsman Association (OICOA) was successfully held virtually today, marking a significant step toward strengthening institutional protections for women and promoting gender-responsive governance across member states.

The meeting was convened and chaired by Fauzia Viqar, Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH), Pakistan. The session brought together heads of ombudsman institutions and senior delegates from Iran, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Togo, Bahrain, Benin, as well as representatives from the Ombudsman Offices of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Delegations from Tanzania and Rwanda participated as observers.

The OICOA Sub-Committee on Women’s Rights serves as a dedicated platform for harmonizing legal frameworks, strengthening grievance redress mechanisms, and advancing gender justice throughout OIC member states. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation on women’s rights and promoting effective institutional responses to gender-based discrimination and workplace harassment.

A key highlight of the session was the presentation of a comprehensive diagnostic compendium prepared by FOSPAH. The document provides a comparative analysis of legal and policy frameworks across OIC member states, identifies existing gaps in protections for women, and proposes pathways for harmonizing institutional mechanisms to safeguard women’s rights and socio-economic opportunities.

Speaking on the occasion, Almas Ali Jovindah, Executive Secretary of OICOA, praised the initiative and described the compendium as “far more than a static inventory of regional laws.” He said the document offers an evidence-based blueprint illustrating how member states operationalize administrative justice and highlights innovative practices, including technology-enabled protection mechanisms, legislative reforms addressing gender-based violence, measures to enhance women’s political participation, and improved access to justice.

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Addressing the gathering, Harerimana Fatou reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to gender equality. She noted that Rwanda has implemented gender-responsive budgeting at all levels of governance and stressed the importance of eliminating barriers to girls’ education. She also called for greater collaboration among OICOA member states to expand educational opportunities for women and girls.

During the deliberations, participants exchanged experiences on national laws, administrative practices, and collaborative approaches aimed at improving accountability and strengthening protections for women. Discussions focused on analyzing complaint trends, evaluating existing redress mechanisms, and identifying legal and policy gaps that continue to hinder women’s access to justice and equal opportunities.

In her concluding remarks, H.E. Fauzia Viqar emphasized the need for ombudsman institutions to provide responses that are fast, fair, and accessible to women. She underscored the importance of identifying shortcomings in existing policies and ensuring that institutional frameworks effectively protect women from discrimination and harassment.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to advancing women’s rights, she stated that the country will continue to utilize its expertise through the OICOA Sub-Committee platform to advocate for structural reforms, strengthen legal protections, and promote the dignity, equality, and economic empowerment of women across OIC member states.