BAMAKO – REPUBLIC OF MALI
26 RABI THANI 1438H
25 JANUARY, 2017.
The Conference was opened with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.
In the presence of a great number of the members and representatives of the delegations participating in the 12th Session of the Conference of Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States (PUIC), H.E. Professor Doctor Mahmud Erol KILIC, PUIC Secretary General, opened the 6th Session of the PUIC Conference of Muslim Women Parliamentarians held at the Oval Room of the International Conference Center of Bamako.
1. ELECTION OF THE BUREAU:
1.1. Chairperson: H.E. Mrs. Sacko Dioncounda, National Assembly of the Republic of Mali.
1.2. Vice-Chair for the Arab Group: H.E. Dr. Khadija Zoumi, Moroccan House of Councilors.
1.3. Vice-Chair for the Asian Group: H.E. Mrs. Tayyebeh Siavashi, Islamic Parliament of Iran.
1.4. Rapporteur: H.E. Mrs. Rokia Traoré, National Assembly of Mali.
2. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA:
The agenda was adopted.
3. STATEMENT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL:
His Excellency thanked the National Assembly of Mali for hosting and organizing the 6th Conference of Muslim Women Parliamentarians as part of the activities of the 12th PUIC Conference. In his comprehensive statement, the Secretary General underscored member parliaments’ willingness to advance and promote the role of women in all areas. He said that the PUIC is looking forward to the Conference of Muslim Women Parliamentarians playing a greater role in addressing thorny problems resulting from wars and dissensions triggered by terrorist and extremist groups. In concluding his statement, the Secretary General conveyed thanks to H.E. Mrs. Farah Al-Zubaidi, Chairperson of the 5th Session and Member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, for the efforts she exerted, wishing H.E. Mrs. Sacko Dioncounda, Chairperson of the 6th Session and member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Mali, every success in her mission.
4. REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF THE 5th CONFERENCE ON THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE 5TH CONFERENCE OF MUSLIM WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS:
H.E. Dr. Farah Al-Zubaidi, Chairperson of the previous session presented the report of the 5th Session of the Conference in which she highlighted the plights and difficulties terrorism caused to women who survived the killings, including their capture, under-age marriage, restriction of freedoms, disintegration of families due to displacement, and child abduction. She called for providing assistance to surviving women and defending societies against the acts committed by terrorist and extremist groups, wishing the current Chairperson full success in her endeavors.
5. STATEMENT OF H.E. MS. SATU DAWNSUNDA, CHAIRPERSON OF THE CONFERENCE:
Having thanked and welcomed the participants, H.E. addressed the conditions and suffering of women in Mali because of war and destruction by extremist jihadists, in addition to exclusion, marginalization and gender discrimination. She emphasized the importance for the Conference of Women Parliamentarians to work towards improving the situation of women in Muslim countries and empowering them in order to assume their rightful place in society and enjoy their rights in full.
She stated that women represent one half of society and form the major pillar of the future, hence the need to support and promote the position of the family unit. She added that women are raped by elements wrongly claiming adherence to Islam causing them serious diseases such as AIDS.
She expressed hope that rural women would be provided with care, insisting that women should resist marginalization.
6. INTERVENTIONS BY PARTICIPATING DELEGATIONS:
The participants made 19 interventions which covered the following topics:
- Women’s conflict resolution capacities.
- Protection of women and children in areas under occupation, particularly in Palestine and other areas of conflict.
- Preventing violence against women and children.
7. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONFERENCE:
7.1 Emphasizing the role of women in Islamic countries -especially those living under conflicts and civil wars- in conflict resolution, peace building and protection of affected women and children and refugees.
7.2 Amendment of laws in several Islamic countries to give women more rights especially with regards to representation in the parliament and political and executive bodies.
7.3 Underscoring the need for further measures to protect women from exploitation, human trafficking and domestic violence, and fight illiteracy, poverty, under-age marriage and female genital mutilation.
7.4 Need to work for improving the image of Muslim women in international media.
7.5 Calling for the adoption the UN resolution on enhancing the status of women in conflict areas and seek to change the status of women from being victims to being active elements in society.
7.6 Calling for reactivating the document on Muslim women adopted at the 9th Session of the PUIC Conference.
7.7 Calling for women to assume responsibilities side by side with men.
7.8 Calling for unity and integration and for putting aside discord among Muslims, and for dialogue and respect of the other’s opinion.
7.9 Iran’s invitation to attend the international conference to support the Palestinian people in Tehran on 26 February 2017.
8. DATE AND VENUE OF THE 7TH CONFERENCE OF MUSLIM WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS:
The 7th Conference of Muslim Women Parliamentarians will be held simultaneously with the 13th Session of the PUIC Conference on the date and venue to be decided by the current session of the PUIC Conference.
9. INTERVENTION OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT:
In the end of the meeting, Ambassador Siddig Yousif ABU-AGLA, Director of the Cabinet and representative of the Secretary General in the meeting, conveyed to the National Assembly of the Republic of Mali the gratitude and appreciation of H.E. the Secretary General of the PUIC for hosting and preparing for the Conference. He also expressed the General Secretariat’s satisfaction with the interest demonstrated by the esteemed member parliaments in the Conference of Muslim Women Parliamentarians, as reflected by the outstanding attendance and the invaluable interventions and statements delivered by the participants. He expressed hope for the follow-up and implementation of the meeting’s recommendations.
10. SUBMISSION OF THE REPORT OF THE MUSLIM WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS CONFERENCE TO THE PUIC CONFERENCE.
The Chairperson of the current session of the Conference will submit a report including the recommendations of the meeting to the 12th Session of the PUIC Conference due to be held in Bamako on 27-28 January 2017.