The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) proposed a number of amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World, submitted to the 19th Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World, held on Monday, 10 February 2025, in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In his statement during the meeting, Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Director of ICESCO’s Legal Affairs and International Standards Department, indicated that the new Rules of Procedure aim to enhance the organizational structures and promote governance and transparency, thus contributing to improving the efficiency of the Conference’s proceedings and regulating its mechanisms and procedures.

“The new Rules of Procedure are in line with ICESCO’s vision of enhancing cooperation in the fields of heritage preservation, cultural dialogue, and joint projects. The proposals are submitted in fulfillment of the recommendations of the 12th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World, held in Doha on 12-13 September 2023,” added Mr. Shili.

In the same vein, Mr. Shili highlighted several key amendments, most notably renaming the “Consultative Council for Cultural Development” to the “Executive Committee of the Conference of Ministers of Culture” and restructuring and regrouping the committees under one heading to ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities.

He also pointed out that the amendments provide for the permanent membership of the State of Palestine in all the Conference’s committees, emphasizing the centrality of the Palestinian cause and the importance of preserving Palestinian cultural heritage.