H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK hosted an engaging and productive meeting with distinguished women ambassadors representing OIC member countries in Ankara. The esteemed representatives included H.E. Ms. Noni Zurainah binti Haji ISMI, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam, H.E. Ms. Salou Adama GAZIBO, Ambassador of Niger, and H.E. Ms. Nusura Omar TIPERU, Ambassador of Uganda.

The meeting served as a platform to bring together women ambassadors to interact in issues related to fostering socioeconomic development among OIC member countries. The meeting started with a comprehensive presentation highlighting the Centre’s ongoing initiatives across its core mandate areas, including statistics, research, training, and technical cooperation.

In her address, H.E. SELÇUK underscored the significance of collaboration with member countries, stating that SESRIC is committed to serving as a bridge of knowledge, expertise, and solidarity among OIC member countries. Through data-driven approaches and tailored capacity-building programmes, SESRIC strives to address shared challenges and create opportunities for sustainable development.

H.E. SELÇUK highlighted the pivotal role women have played in OIC member countries, emphasizing their significant contributions to strengthening their presence at the OIC level. She underlined the Centre's efforts to advancing women's empowerment as a core component of SESRIC's strategic objectives and the impactful efforts of women leaders and diplomats actively shaping the OIC framework. In this respect, the ‘OPAAW Implementation Survey 2019’, by SESRIC, highlights significant achievements by OIC member countries in advancing women's status. Notable progress was reported in women's health, education, decision-making participation, social protection, protection from violence, economic empowerment, and crisis response.

The distinguished ambassadors expressed their appreciation for SESRIC’s multifaceted efforts and affirmed their commitment to further strengthening ties between the Centre and their respective countries.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to deepen cooperation and foster a shared vision of progress and development within the OIC community.