RIYADH — The Family Affairs Council led the Kingdom’s delegation at the second meeting of the Women’s Empowerment Working Group within the framework of the G20 in Brazil. The meeting, held on May 13-14, is themed “Building a Fair and Sustainable Planet.”

Dr. Maimoonah Khalil Al Khalil, Secretary-General of the Family Affairs Council and head of the Saudi delegation, delivered the Kingdom’s speech and participated in the group’s discussions on priority topics across three sessions.

The first session of the Women’s Empowerment Working Group focused on “Equality, Economic Independence, and the Care Economy.” The second session tackled “Equality and Confronting Violence and Discrimination against Women,” and the final session on the second day covered “Equality and Climate Justice.”

The Family Affairs Council represents Saudi Arabia in the G20’s efforts on women’s empowerment. The Women’s Empowerment Working Group, initiated under the Indian presidency in 2023, officially commenced its activities under the Brazilian presidency in 2024.

The participation of women’s representatives from former member states, including the Family Affairs Council, aligns with the “Private Sector Alliance to Empower and Support Women’s Economic Representation (EMPOWER) initiative.” This initiative was launched following the guidance of G20 leaders at the 2019 Osaka Summit in Japan and held its inaugural meeting under Saudi chairmanship on April 9, 2020, evolving from an initiative into a dedicated working group. — SG