The Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World, the secretariat of which is overseen by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), convened its 18th meeting, on Saturday 23 September 2023, in Doha, which discussed the agenda, draft resolutions, and documents to be submitted to the 12th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World, to be organized by ICESCO and hosted by Qatar through its Ministry of Culture, on 25-26 September 2023.

The meeting began with a speech by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, head of the Culture and Communication Sector at ICESCO, during which he reviewed the Organization’s efforts to support cultural action, in line with its strategic vision, through implementing innovative programs and projects in its Member States, such as ICESCO’s International Laboratory “Culture for Rethinking the World” and ICESCO’s International Chairs Network for Thought, Heritage, Literature, and Arts.

Following this, the composition of the new Council Bureau for its upcoming term for the years 2024-2025 was approved. Qatar assumed the chairmanship from Tunisia, which will serve as the rapporteur, while Uzbekistan and Uganda were appointed as Vice-Chairs, representing the Asian and African regions, respectively.

In his speech after Qatar assumed the Council’s chairmanship, Dr. Ghanem Bin Mubarak Al-Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs at the Qatari Ministry of Culture, called on Member States to work together to make this meeting and the 12th Conference of Culture Ministers in the Islamic World a true starting point for joint cultural work. He emphasized that culture is a national safeguard and a strategic choice for our peoples to achieve sustainable development.

The opening session of the Council was followed by some working sessions, during which several executive reports and documents were discussed. These reports and documents will be presented during the 12th Session of Culture Ministers in the Islamic World, including the ICESCO achievements report in the cultural field, the report of the Heritage Committee in the Islamic World, the Cultural Policy Guidelines document, and indicators of sustainable development in a changing world, in addition to a report on the success of activities celebrating Doha as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World.

The meeting also featured a review of documents related to the development of ICESCO’s Capitals of Culture in the Islamic World program, the fight against trafficking of cultural property, and the broad framework of the valorization of Living Human Treasures and traditional knowledge in the Islamic world program. The Council concluded its proceedings by adopting the final meeting report and the agenda for the 12th Conference of Culture Ministers in the Islamic World.

It is worth noting that the Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World was established by a resolution of the Second Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers in 1988. The Council is responsible for implementing cultural strategies in the Islamic World, studying action plans, charters, and cultural projects presented by ICESCO, as well as adopting documents and reports to be presented at the meetings of culture ministers in the Islamic world and related major conferences.