Category: Front Page

The proceedings of the training workshop on protecting heritage sites and museums against disasters and climate change kicked off on Saturday, 28 October 2023, held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in partnership with the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.

At the outset of the five-day training, held in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo in the presence of a host of university professors, researchers and experts in the field, Dr. Osama El Nahas, Heritage Expert at ICESCO’s Culture and Communication Sector, highlighted the role that the Heritage Centre in the Islamic World plays in protecting, preserving and sustaining heritage, as a key driver for development, and stated that ICESCO aims through this training at building and developing the capacities of workers in the field in crisis and disasters management.
He further reviewed ICESCO’s efforts in protecting heritage elements against disasters and climate change, notably the signing of an agreement to establish a fund for safeguarding heritage sites and museums against climate change, as well as ICESCO’s joint project on green transformation with the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, UNESCO, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The opening session was attended by a number of university teachers, researchers and experts in the field.

Saturday (28 October 2023) marked the conclusion of the regional workshop’s proceedings, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in partnership with the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights in the Kingdom of Morocco. The workshop aimed to develop a strategic plan for ICESCO and the Delegation on Human Rights in the digital space.

During the opening of the workshop on Friday (27 October 2023) in the city of Tangier, Mr. Abdelkarim Boujradi, the Secretary-General of the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights, emphasized that the Kingdom of Morocco attaches great importance to addressing the challenges associated with the use of digital technologies and their impact on all rights, especially in terms of strengthening the relevant national legislative and institutional framework.

In his speech, Mr. Mohamed Hadi Shili, Director of Legal Affairs and International Standards Department at ICESCO, noted that the workshop came as part of the rapid developments taking place in the digital age. He confirmed that the integration of efforts and cooperation between ICESCO and the Kingdom of Morocco reflects a shared commitment to promoting human rights and human values, especially in the digital space.

Following this, the participants were divided into working groups that tackled topics and issues outlined in the first session through analysis, identifying feasible options and organizing priorities.

The workshop, under the supervision of ICESCO’s Legal Affairs and International Standards Department over its two days, witnessed the participation of several specialized international and national actors that shared their experiences in the field of human rights in the digital space. Emphasis was placed on the fact that rights in the age of artificial intelligence are of utmost importance, particularly in terms of the right to access and benefit from technology and the protection of private rights in this field. Moreover, it was reaffirmed that the methodology for developing the Strategy should be based on the universal reference in the field of human rights, the importance of implementing governance of the digital space from this perspective, and the promotion of legislation and the qualification of digital content creators.

The workshop’s proceedings concluded with the identification of the issues, general objectives, and the strategic plan’s topics for ICESCO and the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights in Morocco concerning human rights in the digital space.

The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is actively participating in the International Conference on Learning Loss, its causes, and ways to address it in alignment with the broader vision of reforming education to foster greater equity, quality, inclusivity, and fairness for all. The Conference is jointly organized by the Arab Organization for Education, Culture, and Science (ALECSO) and the Tunisian Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Arab and international organizations and institutions, with the presence of experts and specialists in the field of education.

The 2-day Conference, which commences on Tuesday, 24 October 2023, addresses subjects pertaining to the identification of learning loss and the strategies employed by countries to counteract it. Additionally, it serves as a platform to raise awareness of the necessity to strengthen education and elevate its quality, fairness, inclusivity, and sustainability.

ICESCO is represented at the Conference by Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Banyan, Head of the Education for All Division within the Education Sector. In his role, he pointed out ICESCO’s efforts in supporting its Member States in the field of education and proactive planning to tackle challenges in advance. Moreover, he also discussed several solutions for mitigating learning loss and emphasized the importance of using selective curricula in education.

Dr. Al-Banyan highlighted ICESCO’s contributions to early problem-solving in addressing learning loss through organizing various initiatives and activities. Notably, these include the “ICESCO Digital Home” initiative, designed to provide tools for remote learning and educational lectures to enhance the role of learning and utilize open digital resources and services. Furthermore, the Girl Dropout Reintegration Project in Yemen, conducted in cooperation with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), the Ministry of Education in the Republic of Yemen, and the Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief (BCHR), aims to extend educational support and essential resources, granting a second educational opportunity for girls who have dropped out of school.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), is participating in the 12th Samaa Marrakech for Sufi Meetings and Music, under the theme, “Enter It in Peace, safe,” being held on 19-22 October 2023, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist Him.

The theme of this year’s edition of the Festival is dedicated to, “The Present and Future of Ancient Cities in Morocco,” organized by the “Munyia Marrakech Association for the Revival and Preservation of Morocco’s Heritage,” in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, in addition to several other Moroccan ministries and institutions.

In his address at the opening session, Dr. Benarafa emphasized the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of Marrakech, noting that it will be celebrated as the 2024 Culture Capital in the Islamic World, as part of ICESCO’s Islamic World Culture Capitals. He stated that this celebration offers an opportunity for collaboration between the city’s local authorities, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, other Moroccan government bodies, and civil society organizations active in the field of cultural heritage.

ICESCO Deputy Director-General will be participating in the closing seminar of the event under the theme “Eastern Marrakech,” which highlights the symbolic, spiritual, cultural, historical, and architectural values of the eastern part of the city.

The Executive Bureau for the Environment in the Islamic World held its sixth meeting in Jeddah, on Wednesday 18 October 2023, under the presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and with the participation of Bureau members and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), which is in charge of the Bureau’s Secretariat. The Meeting discussed and examined the documents featuring on its agenda, as well as the draft resolutions to be submitted to the 9th Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World.

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture for Environmental Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, emphasized the importance of the Meeting, commending ICESCO General Directorate’s efforts in preparing the presented documents and coordinating joint action in the field of environmental protection.

Afterwards, presentations were given on the reports and documents listed on the Meeting’s agenda, including:

1. Report on ICESCO’s Activities in the Fields of Environment and Sustainable Development between the 8th and 9th Sessions of the Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World;
2. Report on the Third Edition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management in the Islamic World (KSAAEM);
3. Draft Strategy for Smart and Sustainable Cities in the Islamic World;
4. Draft Program of the Management and Reduction of Natural Disasters Risks in the Islamic World;
5. Draft Guideline on Best Practices on Green Transformation in the Islamic World;
6. Draft Agenda and Draft Programme of the 9th Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World;
7. Draft Resolutions of the 9th Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World.

Following the discussions, the Bureau welcomed the reports and documents listed on the agenda and recommended that the 9th Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World adopt relevant draft resolutions.

The Bureau underlined the importance of developing the structure of both the Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management in the Islamic World.

At the close of the meeting, the Bureau members expressed their gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its support in organizing the sessions of the Conference of Ministers of the Environment in the Islamic World, and to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. Moreover, the Bureau members commended ICESCO’s role in promoting joint environmental action among its Member States and developing green transformation policies in the Islamic world.