DUSHANBE, March 6, 2012, Asia-Plus -- The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), in a message addressed to the Islamic world on the occasion of the International Women''s Day, called for providing the appropriate conditions to empower women in the Muslim world and enable them to perform their full role in supporting the comprehensive sustainable development of Muslim societies, press release issued by ISESCO says.

ISESCO''s message also emphasized the necessity to ensure all conditions for liberating women in the Muslim world from the shackles of illiteracy and ignorance and from the remnants of long eras of decadence and backwardness as they completely contradict the teachings of the Holy Quran, the guidance of the Prophet''s Tradition and the principles of Sharia which make no discrimination between the two sexes in establishing the intents of rules as well as rights and duties.

Besides, ISESCO''s message pointed out that women''s involvement in the public affairs which aim at improving living conditions and developing societies is a religious duty, life necessity and shared responsibility between men and women.  It also stated that comprehensive sustainable development requires that women be empowered to enjoy their full rights, echoing the Prophet''s saying, “Women are full sisters of men.”

In addition, ISESCO said that illiteracy at its various levels, conventional and digital, is one of the most serious problems affecting women across the Muslim world, while stressing the necessity to make concerted efforts and develop working methods, as part of far-sighted strategies, with a view to combating illiteracy among women from all age brackets.

By the same token, ISESCO called on women leaders in governments, organizations, associations, forums and legislative councils to deploy concerted and sustained efforts in promoting women''s issues, ensuring all conditions to improve their status and establishing their rights as guaranteed by Islam.

ISESCO stressed the need to improve the educational system to meet quality standards, focusing on increasing women’s access to quality education and participation in knowledge, technology and innovation for development. It also emphasized that women’s empowerment in science and technology, in particular, is part of the major civilizational project for the Muslim world.

ISESCO in its message on the occasion of the International Women’s Day said it is committed to promoting its activities and programs to improve women’s living conditions across the Muslim world, mindful of the magnanimous Islamic values.

Under its Cultural Rights of Women and Gender Equality Program, ISESCO is scheduling regional sessions and seminars to promote women issues through cross-cultural exchange and cultural diversity.

There is also the Environment, Health and Population, and Sustainable Development Requirements Program, under which studies will be conducted on women’s role in biodiversity preservation, healthy lifestyles for rural women, and small-scale projects in poverty-stricken and marginalized areas.

The message called on the Member States as well as civil society women groups to take this International Women’s Day as an opportunity to review women''s conditions, find effective solutions to their problems, and address the obstacles to their progress and participation in all spheres of public life as set out by Islam and international laws.