TEHRAN - Zahra Behrouz-Azar, the newly-appointed vice-president for Women and Family Affairs, has said the administration will follow up on a bill to join the Women's Development Organization of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), IRNA reported.

In line with regional and international capacity building in the field of women and family, and with the approach of developing interaction and also convergence in the international arena, the bill for joining the organization was submitted to the Majlis (Parliament) on January 23.

Expanding Iranian women's cultural, social, and political relationships with women all over the world, developing women's international activities, strengthening the participation of governmental and non-governmental institutions and increasing their presence in international arenas, and strengthening cooperation between women in Iran and in other countries to support Islamic associations, organizations, and communities are among the highlights of the bill.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents.
The Women Development Organization of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was founded in 2009 and aimed to develop women.

According to its statute, it shall be concerned with everything necessary to meet its objectives, in particular “highlight the role of Islam in preserving the rights of the Muslim woman, especially at the international fora in which the Organization is involved.”

It also aims to develop plans, programs, and projects necessary to implement policies, orientations, and decisions of the OIC in the area of women’s development, welfare, and empowerment in the Member States.