Alkhalili discusses with the minister of family and Turkish social services to enhance the cooperation to support Palestinian women

On the sidelines of the ninth session of the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women held in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Minister of Women's Affairs, Ms. Mona Khalili, Her Excellency Ms. Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Turkey, in the presence of the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr. Zuhair Al-Hamdallah, to discuss the reality of Palestinian women in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression, and to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of women's protection and economic and social empowerment, and to exchange expertise in supporting women's projects and building institutional capacities.

During the meeting, Khalili affirmed the State of Palestine's appreciation for Turkey's positions supporting the Palestinian cause and the humanitarian aid provided to the Palestinian people, pointing to the depth of the historical relations and the ongoing cooperation between the two countries.

and AlKhalili said: "Today, the Palestinian woman faces one of the most difficult stages in her history, due to the ongoing Israeli aggression and its aftermath of loss of family, homes, and sources of livelihood, displacement, and deprivation of basic needs. Despite these harsh conditions, the Palestinian woman continues her role as a fundamental pillar for her family and community. The Ministry of Women's Affairs continues its efforts to protect women and girls, document the violations against them, and coordinate with national and international partners to ensure the integration of women's needs in humanitarian response, recovery, and reconstruction efforts, in addition to enhancing women's economic empowerment, especially those affected by the aggression and heads of households."

 On her part, Ms. Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Turkey, affirmed her country's continued support for the Palestinian cause, with a focus on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, particularly the needs of women and children. She highlighted Turkey's efforts in hosting affected families and providing financial, material, and humanitarian assistance.

 The Turkish minister reviewed the priorities of the Ministry of Family and Social Services in Turkey, which include combating violence against women, leveraging technology to develop services, and addressing the challenge of declining birth rates within a vision extending until 2035 to build a stronger and more cohesive society.

  Al-Khalili emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation between the two ministries in the fields of women's protection, psychological and social support, economic empowerment, institutional capacity building, and benefiting from the Turkish experience in the field of women's cooperatives and entrepreneurship, which contributes to developing joint programs that serve Palestinian women.

Al-Khalili discusses with the Executive Director of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation the situation of Palestinian women and the enhancement of international accountability.