TEHRAN –Zahra Behrouz-Azar, the Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, has said that women should be empowered through the development of the digital economy to solve social problems.

"Our opinion is that women's development should not be limited to the economic and digital fields, but women should be empowered through the development of the digital economy, and then solve other social problems," said Behrouz-Azar, in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

She made the remarks on the sidelines of participating in the 5th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Women’s  Forum which was held from September 10 to 12 in Qingdao, China.

In her speech at the forum, the official stated that women drive change, and together they can harness their capabilities, particularly in the fields of technology, economy, and politics, to help improve people's livelihoods and achieve a more just, compassionate and stable society, China Daily reported.

In the digital age, new technologies offer women unique opportunities, as social networks, online platforms, and digital tools have empowered women to make their voices heard, Behrouz-Azar said.

She called for efforts to tackle challenges such as the digital divide and gender discrimination in technology so that women can fully benefit from the opportunities brought by digital development.

Initiated in 2018, the SCO Forum on Women is part of the broader efforts among SCO countries to strengthen cooperation and build a community with a shared future.

The 5th SCO Women's Forum in China's Qingdao concluded with key outcomes aimed at enhancing women's empowerment through digitalization and international cooperation.

A total of 150 participants from various countries, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Tanzania, and Kuwait, met to discuss strategies and exchange ideas for fostering women's roles in the digital economy as well as enhancing their cooperation.

Organized by the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) and other governmental entities, the forum emphasized collaborative efforts to advance women's empowerment across the SCO member states.

MT/MG