The sixth edition of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, UNESCO, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization, is still ongoing. The Forum, hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, from May 1 to 3, 2024, features distinguished participation from the ICESCO delegation, led by the Organization’s Director-General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik.

During the course of the session titled ” Dialogue for Peace and Global Security: Cooperation and Interconnectivity,” Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of ICESCO’s Center of Civilizational Dialogue, stressed the need to revitalize interfaith dialogue mechanisms, update its discourse, and trust in its importance during a plenary titled ” Confidence building through Interfaith Dialogue.” Moreover, he called for the inclusion of comparative religion topics in curricula to cultivate competent scientific capabilities in interreligious dialogue. Amb. Fathalrahman concluded by outlining ICESCO’s role in supporting dialogue among diverse cultures.

Dr. Webber Ndoro, Head of ICESCO’s Center of Heritage in the Islamic World, provided an overview of the Organization’s efforts in protecting and preserving heritage from climate change, highlighting key initiatives in this regard. He further emphasized the necessity of involving communities in heritage preservation to ensure the continuity of cultural values. Dr. Ndoro underscored ICESCO’s view of cultural heritage as a vital element in community recovery and resilience.

During his participation in a session titled “Safeguarding Our Past and Future: Cultural Heritage in the Face of Climate Change,” Dr. Hisham Al-Askari, Advisor to ICESCO’s DG, addressed the threat posed by climate change to cultural heritage and historical sites. Furthermore, he urged the protection of cultural heritage by enhancing dialogue and international cooperation, noting that innovative solutions from earth system sciences, big data science, and the exchange of best practices can mobilize collective action to protect cultural heritage, ensuring its resilience and accessibility to future generations.

ICESCO held a discussion session titled “Bridging Horizons: Silk Road’s Modern Dynamics and Global Impact,” moderated by Dr. Nazim Samadov, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Morocco, with the aim of introducing the Silk Road as one of the ancient trade routes, and highlighting its pivotal role in the development of civilization and fostering dialogue among peoples.