The OIC has mooted the project of coming up with a comprehensive strategy for Family and Marriage Institution Empowerment to strengthen family as a core component of society in the Islamic world. The main aim of formulating this strategy is to promote the empowerment and transformation of Family roles among Member States as well as to improve the well-being and role of families in their development and productivity.

An Open-ended Intergovernmental Experts Group Meeting was held on 1-2 October 2019 at the OIC Headquarters in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss the draft OIC Strategy for Empowering the Marriage and Family Institution prepared by SESRIC. Mr. Kaan Namli, Social Researcher, represented SESRIC at the meeting and presented the OIC Strategy for the Empowerment of the Family and Marriage Institution.

Mr. Kaan Namli from SESRIC started his presentation of the Family and Marriage Strategy by delivering the greetings of the Director General of SESRIC H.E. Mr. Nebil Dabur. Mr. Namli thanked the General Secretariat of the OIC for organizing such an important event. At the offset of his presentation, Mr. Namli discussed the importance of the family and provided some interesting statistics on the current situation of the family and marriage institution across the OIC. SESRIC representative discussed the various research reports and activities of the SESRIC in relation to the family and marriage institution, and invited participants to access the reports on SESRIC’s website.

During the presentation, Mr. Namli provided an in depth explanation of the OIC Strategy for the Empowerment of the Family and Marriage Institution. The presentation aimed to familiarize the participants with the OIC Strategy and provide them with a summary that will serve as the foundation for the proceeding segments of the meeting. Subsequently, Mr. Namli took questions and concerns from OIC Member States. Many OIC Member States provided their comments and feedback regarding the strategy. All of the comments of the OIC Member States were recorded and will be incorporated into the Family Strategy following the official communication from the OIC General Secretariat. Overall, majority of the OIC Member States pointed out that the Strategy was comprehensive and well formulated. Some minor revisions and additions were requested by OIC Member States, which have been noted for incorporation.

The Open-ended Expert Meeting was successful in that SESRIC had the chance to present the OIC Family and Marriage Strategy and gather the valuable feedback and comments of the OIC Member States to improve and tailor the strategy accordingly. In regards to representing SESRIC, it was an important meeting for SESRIC to display the Strategy it has prepared in collaboration to IIUM, and contribute through its expertise in the area of Family and Marriage Empowerment. It was also a salient opportunity to highlight the different reports and activities SESRIC has been involved in regarding Family and Marriage Institution.

At the end of the meeting, representative from the OIC General Secretariat requested that SESRIC send all the comments of the OIC Member States to the OIC General Secretariat to be included in the meeting report. Moreover, the OIC General Secretariat requested that SESRIC in cooperation with IIUM finalize the OIC Strategy by incorporating the comments of the OIC Member States. Mr. Kaan Namli explained that they were ready to work with IIUM to finalize the OIC Strategy and kindly requested OIC General Secretariat to deliver this request formally to the SESRIC Director General. The concluding steps of the OIC Strategy for the Empowerment of the Family and Marriage Institution will be to finalize the document and present it for adoption at the Ministerial Meeting to be held during the end of 2019.