The All India Muslim Women’s Association (AIMWA) marked three years of its work by organising a day-long women’s conference in New Delhi on July 25. The event focused on education, leadership, social reform and women’s empowerment, bringing together more than 1,000 women and girls from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Held under the theme “Education, Reform, Protection and Progress,” the conference featured two sessions: “Path to Progress” for girls and young women, followed by a Women’s Empowerment Session reviewing AIMWA’s work over the past three years and outlining its future plans.
Focus on Education and Leadership
The programme began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, followed by a welcome address by AIMWA Secretary Umme Muhammed. She said the organisation provides a platform where young women can develop leadership skills and prepare themselves to face modern-day challenges.
AIMWA Vice President Afroze Fatima introduced the Bintul Muslim Council (BMC), the organisation’s youth initiative. Presenting findings from a survey on the mental health of young women, she stressed the need to promote education, emotional well-being and leadership among girls.
Chief guest Shabistan Gaffar, an educationist and public policy expert, praised AIMWA’s efforts in empowering women.
“Women have tremendous potential to influence families and society, and platforms like AIMWA help channel that potential into meaningful community service,” she said while congratulating the organisation on completing three years.
Educationist Yasmeen Ahmed encouraged young women to pursue education confidently and understand their rights and responsibilities.
AIMWA Says It Has Reached Women Across 12 States
Delivering the presidential address, AIMWA President Dr. Asma Zehra reflected on the organisation’s journey since its formation after the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said AIMWA expanded through online meetings, educational programmes, workshops and conferences, connecting women from more than 12 states and over 30 towns, reaching more than 10 lakh women and girls.
Dr. Zehra urged participants to improve their communication skills, digital literacy, language abilities and leadership qualities.
“Education, discipline and time management are the foundations of both personal and community development,” she said. She also appealed to society to end harmful social practices and extravagant marriage expenses that affect women’s progress.
The youth session concluded with AIMWA youth coordinators Anam Afrin and Iqra Afrin inviting girls to join the Bintul Muslim Council, while Dr. Salamah Imteyaz presented the roadmap for future youth leadership programmes.
Conference Reviews Three Years of Work
The second session focused on AIMWA’s achievements since its formation.
Delhi Vice President Zeenat Mahtab spoke about the role of women in strengthening families and communities through cooperation and shared responsibility.
Secretary Umaima Fahad presented a report on the organisation’s work in education, counselling, youth development and community awareness over the past three years, urging members to continue supporting its activities.
Vice President Mamdooha Majid encouraged women to contribute actively to social change by drawing lessons from her own experiences.
Addressing the gathering, Maulana Ubaidullah Khan Azmi, Vice President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, highlighted the historical contributions of Muslim women and stressed the importance of honesty, strong character and cooperation between men and women.
Yasmeen Farooqui, a founding working committee member of AIMWA, called for greater constitutional awareness among women and urged them to speak against injustice while promoting legal awareness.
Plans for Wider Outreach
In her concluding address, Dr. Asma Zehra announced that AIMWA would expand its educational and awareness programmes to villages and small towns across India. She said future initiatives would increasingly be conducted in Urdu, English, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil and other regional languages to reach more women.
The conference concluded with volunteers and coordinators being honoured for their contributions, followed by a vote of thanks and a prayer. AIMWA said it would continue working to empower women through education, leadership training, counselling and community development as it enters its fourth year.
