The launch of the International Scientific Conference on Contemporary Women’s Issues in the Writings of Reformers.

Date: November 26, 2022

Organized by the Union of Afro-Asia Universities

Istanbul: The Launch of the International Scientific Conference on Contemporary Women’s Issues in the Writings of Reformers

Istanbul, Friday, November 25, 2022

Today, Friday, the International Scientific Conference on “Contemporary Women’s Issues in the Writings of Reformers: Challenges and Mechanisms of Resolution” was launched in Istanbul, Turkey. The event was organized by the Union of Afro-Asia Universities, in cooperation with various women’s, academic, and research institutions.

The conference began with an opening ceremony attended by the guest of honor, Sheikha Nawal Al-Sabah, Sudan’s Minister of Higher Education, Professor Muhammad Hassan Dahab, Maldives’ Minister of Religious Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Zahir, Vice President of the Union of Afro-Asia Universities, Professor Amal Fathallah Zarkashi, and the Executive Director of the Union, Professor Ashraf El-Derfili.

Other notable participants included Dr. Hala Adly Hussein, Secretary-General of the Arab Women Leaders Union, Mr. Saeed Yojue, Chairman of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Science, Dr. Zainab Al-Bayati, Chairwoman of the Zahra Al-Sharq Organization, former Sudanese Foreign Minister Dr. Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, Professor Ibrahim Ghandour, President of Al-Razi University in Sudan, and Professor Nevzat Tarhan, President of Uskudar University in Turkey. The event also featured academics, researchers, and university students.

Professor Amal Fathallah Zarkashi, Vice President of the Union and President of Dar Al-Salaam University in Indonesia, expressed pride in the academic achievements of the Union. He attributed these accomplishments to the deep commitment of the Union’s members to academic collaboration and their desire to support the Islamic and Arab nations. Zarkashi praised the organization of the conference and the teamwork of its organizers, highlighting the support of numerous international governmental bodies.

Dr. Hala Hussein thanked the Union for the invitation and praised Sheikha Nawal Al-Sabah as the guest of honor. She also commended the efforts of Istanbul’s Minister of Culture and Science. Sheikha Nawal, in turn, emphasized the importance of the conference, acknowledging its role in addressing the various challenges faced by women and noting that women must fulfill their roles at all levels. She began her speech by thanking the conference organizers for the invitation.

Dr. Hussein pointed out that Arab women have largely gained their rights and are honored in all divine religions. She added, “The participation of the Arab Women Leaders Union in the conference is in line with Goal 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals, in partnership with the Union of Afro-Asia Universities.” She stressed the importance of the conference’s recommendations for the future plans of the Arab Women Leaders Union, noting that the union is a member of the Federation of Arab Unions, affiliated with the Arab League.

Professor Nevzat Tarhan, President of Uskudar University, welcomed the conference attendees, expressing his gratitude to the Union of Afro-Asia Universities for its collaboration. He highlighted the importance of organizing a conference focused on contemporary women’s issues and the challenges they face. He emphasized that the university places significant importance on international relations and noted that the goals of the Afro-Asia Union align with those of Uskudar University. He expressed the university’s readiness to cooperate with the Union in organizing impactful conferences that address the concerns of people and communities and hoped for the success of the event.

Professor Ibrahim Ghandour, former Sudanese Foreign Minister, thanked the Union of Afro-Asia Universities and Uskudar University, expressing pride in the Union’s presence in Sudan. He noted that Al-Razi University, established in 2000, offers 10 programs, including 7 in medicine and business administration, with 7,000 students, 25% of whom are international students from African, Arab, and other countries. The university also features a modern hospital for student training and the largest dental college in Sudan, with 400 dental clinics.

The two-day conference, held both in-person and virtually, will cover various topics, including the status of women in the writings of reformers, contemporary women’s issues, women’s representation in the media, the role of social media in addressing women’s issues, and the impact of technology on women’s development.

The conference is expected to conclude with scientific recommendations aimed at improving the status of women and creating a roadmap to empower women to fulfill their social responsibilities.