Category: Director General

The scientific seminar, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Arab Women Organization (AWO), kicked off on Wednesday, 17 April 2024, to discuss the status of girls’ education and provide the essential knowledge and tools and exchange expertise with the aim of promoting dialogue on ensuring inclusive and integrated education for girls in the Arab and Islamic worlds.

The opening session initiated with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the address of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG) , delivered on his behalf by Dr. Abdelillah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy DG. Dr. Benarafa stressed ICESCO’s keenness to achieve equity and provide quality education for all learners, support girls’ capacity building in literacy and numeracy skills and endeavor to enable innovation and change, calling on the international community to promote synergy and devote appropriate consideration to education in the developmental processes.

Dr. Fadia Kiwan, AWO Director-General, and Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, via videoconferencing, then revealed the slogan of the seminar:  “Just Let Her Go to School.” In her intervention, Dr. Fadia stated that the seminar aims to exchange knowledge and expertise on the status and prospects for joint efforts to overcome obstacles to girls’ education. Dr. Fadia underscored the significant development of the Arab and Islamic countries over the past two decades as school enrollment for boys and girls witnessed a qualitative leap in several countries, except in those experiencing wars and armed conflicts.

In her remarks, Dr. Aawatif Hayar, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family in the Kingdom of Morocco, reviewed Morocco’s efforts in protecting children’s rights. Her speech, delivered on her behalf by Dr. Mohamed Ait Azizi, Director of the Family and Childhood Department of the Ministry, highlighted the country’s innovative policies geared towards ensuring girls’ access to education.

For her part, Ms. Safiya bint Intah, Mauritanian Minister of Social Affairs, Children and Family, highlighted the key obstacles to girls’ education in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, including child marriage, poverty, and poor coordination between families and schools, and the measures implemented by the country to address these challenges.

In her address, delivered on her behalf by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation at ICESCO, Dr. Koumbou Barry, Head of the Education Sector at the Organization, emphasized the need to intensify efforts to combat the marginalization of girls, address the economic gaps and inequalities between male and female youth in the Arab and Islamic worlds, and leverage technology to reach girls deprived of education.

Subsequently, the Seminar’s first-day sessions began. The first session discussed comparative studies on the status of girls’ education in the Arab and Islamic worlds, while the second focused on the economic consequences of denying girls access to education.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Naam Miyara, President of the Moroccan House of Councillors, during his visit to ICESCO and the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and the Islamic Civilization, currently housed at ICESCO in Rabat.

The meeting, held on Friday, April 5, 2024, with the presence of Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, and Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of the Organization’s Center of Civilizational Dialogue, emphasized the depth of the relations between ICESCO and the Kingdom of Morocco, the host country, which are reflected in the joint initiatives, programs, and projects.

Dr. AlMalik expressed his gratitude for the ongoing support extended by the Kingdom of Morocco to the Organization, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him. He highlighted ICESCO’s anticipatory vision and strategic directions, including its efforts in shaping legislation to address contemporary global changes, including those regarding artificial intelligence.

For his part, Mr. Miyara commended ICESCO for strengthening cooperation among Islamic countries, reaffirming his commitment to supporting the Organization’s initiatives in education, science, culture, and heritage preservation.

Following the meeting, Dr. AlMalik accompanied Mr. Miyara on a tour of the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah. The tour included detailed explanations about the comprehensive simulation of the Prophet’s life, peace be upon him, and the principles of the true religion, namely justice, peace, mercy, tolerance, and coexistence. The exhibition uses cutting-edge technology to immerse visitors in the experience of the Prophet’s Seerah as if they were living in His time.

Mr. Miyara expressed his joy with the visit and commended the efforts of those overseeing the exhibition and museum for presenting the pure Prophetic Seerah and true Islam.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the 15th issue (March 2024) of the magazine, “Le Jardin des Hespérides,” with an article on “Tangible Heritage in Times of Crisis,” published by the Moroccan Society of Archeology and Heritage (SMAP), chaired by HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa. This issue was released in a special celebration at the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat with the participation of Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO.

ICESCO contributed to this recent issue with an article on its efforts to safeguard heritage in the Islamic world. The article demonstrates the importance of heritage, its preservation, protection, and the restitution of its looted elements. Moreover, the article points out that ICESCO, considering heritage as one of its priorities within its action plan and new vision, has created its Islamic World Heritage Center to preserve and protect heritage, promote cultural diversity and ensure its optimal use.

Recognizing the importance of heritage, the article reviews several of the ambitious initiatives and projects launched by ICESCO to ensure its preservation, valorization, documentation, restoration and rehabilitation, including the initiative to protect heritage sites and museums against the impact of climate change and the initiative to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property. These projects also concern ICESCO’s use and promotion of modern technologies, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and metaverse in the field of heritage, the convening of several major international events on intangible heritage, and the joint nomination file to inscribe African Games on the Islamic World Heritage List and the World Heritage List with the participation of several African countries.

The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in Rabat, on Friday (March 29, 2024), hosted the fourth lecture of ‘Ramadan Journey into the Depths of the Human Soul’ Forum, held by ICESCO and the Group of Spouses of Arab ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations Accredited to the Kingdom of Morocco, during which Dr. Khadija Abouzid, Professor of Higher Education at the Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Mohammed V University, in Rabat, gave a lecture entitled: ‘Journey to Finding Happiness on Earth and in the Hereafter’, in the presence of Dr. Salim M AlMalik, Director General of ICESCO, a group of ambassadors and the members of the Group of Spouses, as well as the general audience.

In her introduction, Dr. Yusra bint Hussein Al-Jazairy, member of the Group of Spouses, stressed that Allah Almighty has bestowed happiness upon His righteous servants and doomed unrighteous people to unhappiness as He lights the path in His Holy Book to true happiness in both the worldly life and the Hereafter as Islam is the religion of happiness and peace.

Moreover, she highlighted that there is a plethora of examples in Islam and the Islamic culture and history on the importance of happiness in individuals’ life through outward and inward righteousness, explaining that happiness is key to successful and healthy work environment to ensure productivity, creativity and innovation.

Afterwards, Dr. Khadija Abouzid took the floor to give her lecture, in which she emphasized that seeking happiness is inherent to human nature, adding that believers are in continuous quest for happiness both on Earth and in the Hereafter. “Happiness is based on three concepts in Islam: the truth of happiness, the human being, and the worldly life. The spiritual happiness stems from Allah Almighty’s love and closeness, the mental happiness lies in acquiring knowledge, the soul’s happiness lies in contentment while the heart’s happiness in found in devotion to Allah Almighty,” she indicated.

Dr. Abouzid added that the keys to happiness in Islam consist in faith, contentment, closeness to Allah Almighty, abidance by His commands as revealed to His Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, and achieving balance between the body, soul and worldly work.

The lecture included interactive activities on the concept of happiness and its importance for all individuals. In Conclusion, Dr. Abouzid answered questions of the audience.

Following the lecture, Dr. AlMalik presented Dr. Abouzid with ICESCO’s Shield, in appreciation of her great contributions during the four lectures of ‘Ramadan Journey into the Depths of the Human Soul’ Forum, which delved into the depths of the human soul and simplified the paths to happiness.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in strengthening health systems, building the capacities of the healthcare staff, supporting the adoption of digital technologies, and exchanging experiences and knowledge to support the efforts of the countries of the Islamic world to prepare for and build resilience to natural disasters and every threat to the health of individuals.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, signed the agreement, on Tuesday (March 26, 2024), at the World Health Organization headquarters, in Geneva, in the presence of Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, and Dr. Hanan Balkhi, Regional Director, Eastern Mediterranean Region at the World Health Organization, as well as a number of officials of the Organization.

Afterwards, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the importance of the partnership between ICESCO and the World Health Organization to promote health and serve the countries of the Islamic world, and stressed that many initiatives, programs and activities will be devised to achieve equality and equity in the field of health services and adopt modern technologies, lauding the cooperation relations with the WHO Academy Education.

For his part, WHO Director-General commended ICESCO’s efforts in its areas of competence, stressing his keenness to continue cooperation between the two parties with the view of developing joint health programs to enhance health services.

The MoU aims to establish a cooperation framework that promotes the health-related SDGs of the 2030 Agenda and benefits vulnerable groups in such a way as to contribute to meeting the health needs of refugees and migrants, and supporting the efforts of the States members of the two Organizations in addressing health challenges, taking into account the cultural specificities of ICESCO Member States to achieve an effective response to emergency situations in line with the values and principles of these countries.

The MoU sets forth cooperation in the field of health by strengthening health systems, disease prevention and treatments to contribute to achieving health security in societies, building the capacities of the health workforce, reinforcing information systems, ensuring the adequacy and efficiency of mobilizing resources to confront diseases, improving the quality of maternal and child health care, developing a healthy lifestyle through proper hygiene and sanitation systems, and promoting mental health and primary health care services.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, Chairwoman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chairwoman of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, held a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, concurrent with their participation in the third conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, which commenced on 25 March 2024, under the theme: “Revitalizing parliamentary action in combating climate change.”

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed gratitude for ICESCO’s official acceptance as an observer of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, commending the pivotal roles of the Movement and its Parliamentary Network at the international level for their joint efforts in consolidating the values of coexistence, peace, and counteracting hatred.
Moreover, he reiterated ICESCO’s dedication to strengthening cooperation and building a fruitful partnership with the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network. He also highlighted the shared goals in advancing education, science, cultural exchange, youth development, and establishing solid foundations for joint initiatives that benefit individuals in all Member States of ICESCO and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Dr. AlMalik shed light on the significant progress in the partnership between the Organization and Azerbaijan, as outlined in the cooperation work plan signed in 2022, explaining that the current year will see the implementation of numerous joint programs, projects, and activities, including the celebration of Shusha as the capital of culture in the Islamic world 2024, as part of ICESCO’s program for the capitals of culture in the Islamic world. Additionally, he stressed on the partnership in organizing the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, which takes place every two years in Baku, and participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) conference.

Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, on her part, lauded ICESCO’s endeavors in the fields of education, science, and culture, expressing her pride in the Organization’s joining of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network as an observer. She highlighted ICESCO’s significant credibility with the political leadership and various institutions in the Republic of Azerbaijan, underscoring their keenness to bolster the distinguished partnership between the two sides.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Ms. Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Republic of Uzbekistan, within their participation in the 3rd Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network (NAM PN), being held in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme “Revitalizing parliamentary action in combating climate change.”

At the outset of the meeting, held on Monday (March 25, 2024), Dr. AlMalik stressed ICESCO’s keenness to boost its partnership with the Republic of Uzbekistan through joint programs and initiatives, particularly in preparation for the celebration of Samarkand, Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2025, within the framework of ICESCO’s Programme of Culture Capitals in the Islamic World. The celebration will include the implementation of many year-round programs and activities, concurrently with Uzbekistan’s hosting of the 43rd Session of UNESCO General Conference.

Moreover, ICESCO Director-General reviewed the key aspects of the Organization’s new vision and strategic orientations, most notably supporting and building the capacities of youth and women, safeguarding the Islamic world’s cultural heritage through its Heritage Center, which is a think tank for relevant specialists and experts, and inscribing historical sites and cultural elements on the Islamic World Heritage List, including many Uzbek sites, given the unique cultural richness of the Uzbek civilization and its Islamic history.

The meeting also touched on the remarkable outcomes of the cooperation efforts between ICESCO and Uzbekistan in a number of programs and projects, including ICESCO Chair of Islamic Civilization at the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan, and its contribution to providing scholarships for students and teaching them Arabic language and Sharia sciences.

For her part, Ms. Tanzila Narbaeva commended ICESCO’s efforts geared towards supporting Member States in its areas of competence, stressing Uzbekistan’s keenness to sustain fruitful cooperation with the Organization.
The meeting saw the presence of Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO.