Participants in the First International Forum, themed “Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Enlightenment,” held in Uzbekistan from 7 to 11 July 2026, issued the Forum Declaration, which includes a set of pioneering international recommendations and initiatives aimed at promoting global peace, mutual respect, and the revival and preservation of the rich heritage of Islamic civilization.

The Declaration was delivered by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO). It commended the historic initiative of His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, presented in 2017 at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, which aims to revive, study, and promote the human heritage of Islamic civilization. This vision has materialized through the establishment of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent and the convening of this inaugural forum.

The Declaration emphasized the significant contributions of Islamic civilization to the development of the humanities and ethical and spiritual thought, highlighting the importance of scientifically grounded studies of religious and cultural heritage in strengthening international trust and countering misconceptions about Islam.

It also announced the establishment of the Global Forum on Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, aimed at unifying the efforts of international organizations, academic and scientific institutions, and relevant entities to safeguard and valorize the civilizational heritage of the Islamic world.

The Declaration further outlined several international initiatives:

Establishing a unified global digital register of Islamic civilization heritage through a dedicated platform for manuscripts, archival materials, archaeological monuments, intangible cultural heritage, and scientific research outputs;
Cooperating in the implementation of an international program titled “Islamic Civilization: Heritage of All Humanity,” including the organization of international exhibitions, conferences, educational projects, and cultural events highlighting the contributions of Islamic civilization to science, culture, and education;
Launching an International Prize for Islamic Civilization to recognize outstanding contributions to the study, preservation, and promotion of its heritage;
Establishing an international foundation for research on Islamic civilization to support scientific research, the restoration of monuments, and the training of researchers;
Creating a digital library of Islamic civilization encompassing manuscripts, scholarly works, archival documents, and educational resources;
Publishing the International Encyclopedia of Islamic Civilization, covering biographies of prominent scholars, intellectual schools, cultural landmarks, and major achievements of the Islamic world;
Preparing an annual international report on the state of Islamic civilization heritage, including assessments of heritage sites, research findings, and current challenges;
Establishing a permanent platform for young researchers, scholars, students, and cultural heritage specialists in the Islamic world titled “International Youth Forum on Islamic Civilization”;
Founding the International Union of Museums of Islamic Culture, Arts, and Civilization to strengthen cooperation among leading museums and exhibitions, organize joint exhibitions, and implement research, restoration, educational, and digital projects.

The Declaration concluded by emphasizing the importance of developing an action plan to implement these initiatives by 2030 and urging all participating countries, international organizations, and scientific institutions to cooperate in their implementation.