Category: Director General

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Federation of Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Modernization of Administration of Mauritania, and the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Maryam Mohamed Fadil Dah, First Lady of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and ICESCO Goodwill Ambassador, organized the 3rd ICESCO International Science Conference on “Family and Technology: Regulating Services and Controlling Usage” in Nouakchott, Mauritania, at the Nouakchott Convention Center (Palais des Congrés) on Thursday 12 December 2024.

The Event brought together high-ranking ministers, officials, and experts in digital education and family psychology, in addition to representatives from technology companies to examine the impact of technology on the family, and develop strategies for regulating technological services.

The opening session commenced with a recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an, followed by a video presentation highlighting the intersection of family and technology, the challenges posed by its usage, and the importance of awareness programs to address these issues. Subsequently, Mr. Mohamed Ould Sidi Abdallah, Secretary-General of the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, praised the pertinence of the Conference’s topics, emphasizing the value of its outcomes in analyzing trends and challenges related to digital technology usage.

In his remarks, Mr. Idoumou Islamou Abeidallah, President of the Nouakchott Regional Council, acknowledged the profound challenges posed by technological advancements to family cohesion and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to supporting innovative initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges.

Mr. Ahmed Salem Ould Bede, Minister of Digital Transformation and Modernization of Administration of Mauritania, outlined his ministry’s achievements in advancing digital transformation to improve family life and foster comprehensive awareness of the risks associated with the misuse of technology.

Mr. Houssein Ould Meddou, Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication, and Parliamentary Relations, and spokesperson for the Mauritanian government, highlighted the family’s role as the primary and most important institution for child-rearing. He stressed the need for families to strike a balance between the benefits of modern advancements and societal values.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, emphasized that the Conference’s theme provided a critical opportunity to explore the positive and negative impacts of digitalization on society, particularly its relationship with families. He called for in-depth discussions on family-related topics, including the integration of modern educational methods into school programs and their ability to connect the dynamics of family life with what schools provide, as well as the content consumed by children and youth in their interaction with smartphones.

The opening session concluded with remarks by Ms. Safiya Bint N’Tahah, Minister of Social Work, Childhood, and Family, who represented the First Lady of Mauritania. She emphasized that modern technologies, particularly those related to communication, compel society to find optimal ways to utilize them effectively.

Following the opening session, ICESCO’s Director-General and other participating ministers toured the technology exhibition held alongside the Conference, where institutions and companies showcased their latest tools and technological solutions.

The Conference’s scientific sessions then kicked-off, addressing topics such as “The Positive and Negative Impacts of Technology on the Family,” “Strategies for Regulating Technological Services,” and “Education and Technology in the Family to Ensure Safety and Privacy.”

Among the key outcomes of the Conference, which featured rich discussions and an exchange of ideas on regulating the relationship between the family and technology, was an agreement to issue guidebooks outlining safe technology usage practices within families. Additionally, there was a call to organize regular workshops aimed at enhancing digital education and promoting safety awareness, alongside efforts to develop applications to assist families in monitoring technology use effectively.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) congratulates the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and his loyal Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister, may Allah protect them, on the occasion of the official confirmation of the Kingdom’s hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

While commending the great achievements accomplished by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at all levels, including sports in general and football in particular, ICESCO affirms that Saudi Arabia’s organization of this international event will be an opportunity to present to the peoples of the world a positive image of the culture of the Islamic world, and to show the Kingdom’s civilizational treasures and its tangible and intangible heritage, which contributes significantly to strengthening the values of coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue.

On this occasion, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, affirmed the Organization’s full readiness to cooperate and provide all forms of support to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during its preparations to organize this major international event, as part of the strong partnership between the two sides, to achieve the desired success in organizing the 2034 World Cup and to promote the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Islamic world.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the importance of pooling efforts to invest in sports in general, and football in particular, given its powerful influence on different groups and overwhelming popularity around the world, and contribute to spreading the culture of peace and civilizational dialogue and achieving sustainable development.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Michele Capasso, President of the Fondazione Mediterraneo, and together they explored prospects of cooperation between ICESCO and the Foundation in promoting the culture of peace and anchoring the values of coexistence and civilizational dialogue.

During the meeting, held Monday, December 9, 2024, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to promoting openness and developing cooperation relations with all, noting that the Foundation’s goals intersect with the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations, as they both firmly believe in the importance of peace and the need to anchor its principles through education, culture and science.

He also stated that ICESCO implements a number of peacebuilding initiatives and programs, notably ICESCO’s Leadership Training for Peace and Security Program (LTIPS) and the Peace 360° Initiative.

For his part, Dr. Capasso commended ICESCO’s roles and efforts within its areas of competence, reiterating his appreciation of Dr. AlMalik’s leadership style which has given impetus to the Organization’s work and achievements over the past five years. He stated that Dr. AlMalik’s endeavors prompted the Foundation to present him with its Mediterranean Award Medal of Honour for 2024, in a large ceremony held at the Foundation’s headquarters in Naples, Italy. He further explained that the Mediterranean Award Medal of Honour is an annual award presented to kings, heads of states, governments, intellectuals and academics who had significant contributions to anchoring the values of coexistence and peace across the globe.

At the close of the meeting, the Organization agreed to examine a number of initiatives and programs proposed by the Foundation to assess the prospects of co-organization.

The historic Bahia Palace in Marrakech, Morocco, hosted the closing ceremony of the year-long celebration of Marrakech as a Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024. Held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, the Celebration featured numerous cultural programs and activities organized in cooperation between ICESCO, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, and various other Moroccan institutions. This initiative was part of ICESCO’s Capitals of Culture in the Islamic World program.

The Event, organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication in collaboration with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Barid Al-Maghrib (Morocco Post Group), took place on Sunday evening, 8 December 2024, and included the launch of a commemorative stamp to honor this occasion.

The Ceremony, attended by several Moroccan high-ranking officials and cultural figures, opened with an address by Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication. He emphasized that the designation of Marrakech as a Culture Capital in the Islamic World underscores the City’s cultural prominence both nationally and internationally, attributing the Event’s success to the collective efforts of all stakeholders.

In his remarks, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, affirmed that although the celebrations had concluded, Marrakech would remain a beacon of culture in the Islamic world. Over the past year, the City had captivated all with its cultural vibrancy through the organization of more than 250 diverse and meticulously executed activities. These events began with the distillation of orange blossom water in the “Zahriyet Marrakech” (Marrakech Orange Blossom Festival) and concluded with the issuance of a commemorative stamp marking ICESCO’s celebration of the city as a Culture Capital in the Islamic world.

Dr. AlMalik expressed gratitude to all institutions and stakeholders who contributed to the success of the festivities, particularly the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the Marrakech Municipality, the Marrakech-Safi Region, and ICESCO’s dedicated team. He concluded his remarks by reciting a poem he composed for the occasion, titled “Marrakech: The Balm of Memory.”

Mr. Amine Benjelloun Touimi, Director-General of Barid Al-Maghrib, highlighted the significance of the commemorative stamp in showcasing Marrakech’s pioneering role in preserving Moroccan cultural heritage. He noted that the stamp’s design reflects the city’s status as a symbol of cultural and civilizational diversity and detailed its artistic elements, which encapsulate the essence of Marrakech.

Following the speeches, Dr. AlMalik, accompanied by Mr. Bensaid and Mr. Touimi, unveiled the design of the commemorative stamp. The Ceremony concluded with a tour of the art exhibitions currently hosted at Bahia Palace.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed that soil and forests are the pillars of life on Earth, given their key role in providing food, preserving ecosystems and supporting biodiversity. He added that sustainable management of lands and forests offer solid solutions to fighting desertification and the expansion of degraded land, underlining the importance of adopting a strategy to overcome these challenges, which is based on promoting efforts to reclaim degraded lands and protect forests.

Dr. AlMalik made this statement during a panel discussion on, “Strengthening Soil Health and Climate Resilience: Sustainable Forest and Land Management in Sub-Saharan Africa and West Asia”, held in cooperation among ICESCO, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Islamic Organization for Food Security, as part of the proceedings of COP16, currently being held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Dr. AlMalik commended the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to protect the environment, stating that the Kingdom offers an inspiring model in the Islamic world through its “Saudi Green Initiative”, which features the implementation of more than 80 activities and programs, including the plan to plant 10 billion trees and reclaim 40 million hectares of degraded land.

Moreover, the Director-General highlighted the Organization’s key environmental initiatives and programs aiming at providing the Member States with the necessary knowledge and expertise to transition to smart agricultural systems and adopt sustainable practices. He also highlighted ICESCO’s ambitious program to produce 500,000 seedlings in the countries of the Islamic world and its Initiative, “Water Sustainability Collaboration Data Solutions Hub”, launched at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Science and Technology Sector, and Dr. Hisham Al-Askari, Advisor to ICESCO Director General, also took part in the panel discussion.

ICESCO Pavilion hosted a number of panel discussions, including “A Multidimensional Understanding of Land, Water and Communities Fragility and Resilience Pathways in MENA”, “Bridging Capacity Gap in Nature-Based Solutions to Deliver Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)”, and “Financing Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus (WEFE) to Fight Drought and Land Degradation. Sessions were also held to discuss “Role of Green Media in Fostering Efforts to protect the Earth and harmonize Biodiversity”, and “the Contributions and Role of Women in Desertification”.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Andrés Perelló Rodríguez, Director-General of Casa Mediterráneo (House of the Mediterranean). The meeting focused on exploring prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Casa Mediterráneo, which aims to strengthen ties, foster dialogue, and enhance cooperation and mutual understanding between Spain and Mediterranean countries in cultural, economic, and political fields.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday 3 December 2024, at ICESCO’s headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. Benarafa outlined the key aspects of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, highlighting its initiatives in its areas of competence, the transformations the Organization has undergone in its new phase, and the achievements it has accomplished.

The discussion included a proposal to establish cooperation between ICESCO and Casa Mediterráneo to organize a forum in 2025 focusing on prominent Andalusian figures and cultural diplomacy, coinciding with the 1200th anniversary of the city of Murcia.

The meeting was attended by Ambassador Khaled Fatahalrahman, Head of ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue.

Following the meeting, ICESCO Deputy Director-General accompanied Mr. Perelló Rodríguez and his delegation on a tour to the different pavilions and sections of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, as part of the strategic partnership between the Organization, the Islamic World League, and the Mohammedia League of Scholars.

With a special pavilion at the Blue Zone, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is taking part in the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Conference to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), hosted in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 2-12 December 2024. The COP16 is the largest gathering of the Parties of the Convention and the first to be held in the Middle East, with the aim of promoting cooperation among the Convention’s 196 signatories and discussing effective solutions to rehabilitating degraded land and reducing drought.

During the opening session, the members of the Convention elected Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, as this session’s Conference President. In his address, Eng. Al Fadhli stated that the Kingdom aspires to achieve ambitious outcomes to preserve lands and curb their degradation, adding that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of this session is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO’s Director General, is heading the Organization’s delegation to the Conference. Dr. AlMalik will take part in high-level activities, including a number of ministerial sessions on combating land degradation, drought resilience and migration, which will see the participation of ministers, senior officials, heads of international organizations and institutions concerned with climate action, in addition to the participating countries’ heads of delegations.

ICESCO’s Pavilion in the Blue Zone will host a variety of activities and interactive sessions focusing on different themes, with the participation of leading environmental experts. The Pavilion will also see the launch of several of the Organization’s initiatives on environment, innovation and sustainable development in the Islamic world, as well as the preliminary launch of ICESCO’s Report on Best Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction and Early Warning Systems.

Following the remarkable success of its exceptional participation at COP29 in Azerbaijan, ICESCO’s participation in COP16 comes to reiterate the special attention its vision and strategic orientations pay to the field of environment in the Islamic world. Through its Science and Environment Sector, the Organization implements a number of pioneering initiatives and programs in the Member States to combat the negative effects of climate change and contribute to strengthening water and food security.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed that peace education is the best way to find innovative and collaborative solutions to current global challenges such as conflicts, wars and the climate crisis. He added that the first step involves integrating peace education into education systems, noting that ICESCO has implemented many pioneering initiatives in this regard, convinced that peace education is an investment in a safer and more prosperous future for all humanity.

This statement was part of Dr. Al-Malik’s virtual address delivered on Wednesday 27 November 2024, at the opening of the two-day Global Summit for Peace Education, held by the Global Peace Education Network, in Paris, in cooperation with ICESCO as a strategic partner. The Summit brings together several senior officials and representatives of international institutions concerned with promoting global peace, including Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Dr. Al-Malik reviewed ICESCO’s main efforts in the field of peacebuilding, including the Leadership Training in Peace and Security Program (LTIPS), which has so far trained 180 young men and women from 68 countries to become ICESCO Young Peace Ambassadors, building their capacity and leadership skills to participate effectively in peacebuilding efforts in their communities, in line with the Organization’s “360° Peace Approach”.

He explained that technologies will play a key role in shaping the future, placing everyone under a moral obligation to ensure the responsible use of new technologies, particularly AI, underlining the important role of peace education through the ethical use of technologies in education systems. “In this respect, ICESCO launched the Riyadh Charter on AI Ethics for the Islamic world and held rich discussion sessions on peace and climate change during its participation in COP29,” he added.

ICESCO Director General concluded his address by affirming that the Organization seeks to promote the values of coexistence, understanding and mutual respect among all, through its Center for Civilizational Dialogue, and stressed ICESCO’s willingness to host the next edition of the Global Summit for Peace Education at its headquarters in Rabat, Morocco.

As part of its Future Dialogues series, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted the fourth session of the series at its headquarters in Rabat on Monday 25 November 2024. The session featured a lecture titled, “The Power of Foresight in Post-Normal Times,” by renowned thinker Dr. Ziauddin Sardar, a specialist in futures studies, cultural criticism, and Islamic thought. The event also included a training workshop, Future Literacy Lab, aimed at university students, researchers, and those interested in futures studies.

Dr. Abdellilah Benarafa, ICESCO’s Deputy Director-General, opened the session with a welcoming remark, emphasizing the Series’ role in convening distinguished intellectuals and cultural figures to explore critical future-oriented topics in a cross-cultural context. Dr. Benarafa highlighted ICESCO’s efforts to promote foresight culture in the Islamic world and praised the relevance of the lecture’s theme and its insights into the future.

In his lecture, Dr. Sardar examined the defining features of the current era, which he described as “post-normal times,” characterized by profound transformations, including the collapse of traditional paradigms and the emergence of new models.

Following, Dr. Kais Al-Hamami, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Strategic Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, posed several questions to Dr. Sardar regarding global changes and the importance of adopting foresight strategies. Dr. Sardar emphasized that forces of complexity, chaos, and contradiction drive the societal shifts defining “post-normal times,” fostering a climate of uncertainty. He cited examples such as accelerated climate change and groundbreaking technological advancements enabling humans to develop capabilities surpassing their own intelligence.

Dr. Sardar underscored the necessity of crafting long-term visions and prioritizing educational reform, advocating for the integration of foresight culture into educational systems across the Islamic world. He also called for a balanced approach that equally values technological progress and ethical considerations.

Additionally, Dr. Sardar addressed the Islamic perspective on the future, stressing the importance of foresight and learning from history. According to Dr. Sardar, many aspects of “post-normal times” are unprecedented in human history, requiring innovative responses. The event concluded with an engaging discussion, during which Dr. Sardar responded to audience questions and comments.

Subsequently, the Future Literacy Lab workshop, led by specialized experts in foresight, provided participants with practical skills in critical and creative thinking, equipping the next generation with tools to actively engage in shaping the future.