Agadir – Minister Naima Ben Yahya, Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family represented Morocco at the OIC international conference held on Sunday, February 1 in Cairo, elevating Morocco’s achievements in promoting women’s rights and gender equality.
The event brought together officials, media experts, and religious leaders from across the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states to focus on supporting women in the region.
Ben Yahya chaired a session titled “The Role of Media, Culture, and Arts in Shaping Societal Awareness of the Positive Roles of Women.” She emphasized the country’s strategy of combining international commitments with respect for the country’s context, guided by King Mohammed VI’s firm commitment to making women’s advancement a national priority.
In her presentation, the minister highlighted Morocco’s work to combat discrimination and challenge stereotypes about women, particularly through media and cultural programs. She also recalled several initiatives designed to promote positive representation and showcase women’s achievements across all sectors of society.
Religious discourse as a tool for empowerment
Minister Ben Yahya also covered the role that the Ministry of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs plays in promoting gender equality. Among them, the ministry runs an awareness campaign during Friday sermons about the dangers of violence against women, in which they advocate for Islamic values that reinforce non-discrimination and cooperation.
Morocco has also invested in training female religious guides, also called Mourchidat, who play a key role in transmitting messages that strengthen the status of women and promote gender equality in local communities.
The minister further stressed the importance of recognizing women’s economic and social contributions, including domestic work, which is often undervalued. Morocco’s 2011 constitution, she noted, marked a turning point in consolidating gender equality and encouraging women’s participation in public life, while reconciling national traditions with universal human and religious values.
The discussion also addressed the opportunities and challenges presented by digital platforms and cross-border media, emphasizing the need for cooperation among OIC member states to produce positive content and counter violence against women and girls.
At the event, Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women in Egypt, honored Minister Ben Yahya for her efforts in defending women’s rights and promoting gender equality.