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Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters, ministers of youth and sports, representatives of several African countries and leaders of the African Youth Union (AYU), who are participating in the first edition of the Annual Consultative Dialogue for African Youth Leaders held in Rabat, where they explored ways to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and their countries in qualifying youth and building their capacities.

After welcoming ICESCO’s guests, Dr. AlMalik stated that as part of its vision and strategic orientation, the Organization accords special attention to youth through implementing several ambitious programs and projects aimed at building youth capacities, supporting them in the field of entrepreneurship and leadership training in peace and security, in coordination and cooperation with the competent authorities in the Member States.

ICESCO’s DG pointed out the Organization’s openness to implement practical programs and projects for the benefit of its Member States and Muslim communities around the world and contribute to building prosperous societies, saying that the Organization’s charter allows non-Member States to join ICESCO as Observer States and that the Organization’s General Directorate welcomes any suggestions or ideas enriching its action.

He noted that ICESCO prioritizes the strengthening of the values ​​of coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue, encourages its Member States to invest in space sciences and artificial intelligence to contribute to the development of all fields and valorizes heritage in the countries of the Islamic world, by inscribing heritage sites and elements on ICESCO’s Lists of Tangible and Intangible Heritage.

During the meeting, that brought together Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy DG, and several Heads of Sectors and Advisors in the Organization, ICESCO’s guests commended the Organization’s roles in serving its Member States and its openness to cooperation with non-Member States.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Fathallah Al-Zani, Minister of Youth and Sports of the State of Libya, Mr. Mohamed Bangura, Minister of Youth of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mr. Tumiso Rakgare, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture of the Republic of Botswana, Ms. Juliana Ratovoson, former Minister of Youth of Madagascar, the Kenyan Deputy Minister of Finance, a representative of the Ministry of Youth in Central Africa, the President of the National Youth Commission of Ghana, AYU’s President from Burkina Faso and a member of the Union’s Executive Council from Cameroon.

Dr. Salim Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), said that the increased spread of hate speech and extremist ideas worldwide, which incite violence particularly directed against women and girls, ethnic and religious minorities and migrants, requires intensified action to consolidate the values of coexistence and peace, and strengthen partnerships and sincere, pragmatic and equitable humanitarian efforts likely to confront violence and extremism trends, and achieve sustainable development.

This was part of his speech today, Wednesday (20 July 2022) at the opening session of the high-level International Forum held in Fez by the Ministerial Delegation in Charge of Human Rights in the Kingdom of Morocco, in cooperation with the Mohammadia League of Scholars in the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Nations Office for the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect. The Forum, which continues for two days, marks the fifth anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations of the Plan of Action for Religious Leaders and Actors to Prevent Incitement to Violence that Could Lead to Atrocity Crimes, known as the Fez Plan of Action.

ICESCO Director-General praised the importance of the Fez Action Plan, which is characterized by its seriousness and uniqueness since its launch to confront incitement that leads to humanity-threatening crimes, pointing out the importance of the Fez Forum, which witnessed the participation of outstanding officials, heads of international organizations, religious and intellectual leaderships worldwide, to renew the spirit of research and investigation and to explore pathways likely ensure the consolidation of values of coexistence as the ultimate goal of laws and religions, and the aspiration of civilizations.

On this occasion, Dr. AlMalik expressed his gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, for his patronage and encouragement of the Fez Action Plan and its outputs, commending the adoption of the Plan given the position of religious leaders and their ability to contribute to raising societal awareness.

He then reviewed the most prominent initiatives and programs ICESCO launched and implemented to contribute to building societies capable of combining stability and transformation through confronting extremist trends and blind criminal incitement on the one hand and developing the human rights system on the other, including the organization of the Collective Intelligence Conference in Combating Violent Extremism in cooperation with the Moroccan Observatory on Violent Extremism in the Kingdom of Morocco. Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to joint cooperation and coordination with various regional and international specialized bodies in combating extremist ideology to set up an advanced model of cooperation based on social intelligence.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Sheikh Dr. Ammar bin Nasser Al Mualla, Attaché of Education and Technology Sciences at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, non-resident Attaché to Rabat, Tunisia and Amman, and together they discussed means to enhance cooperation between the Organization and Emirati educational institutions in the field of scientific research.

During the meeting, which was held on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key programmes and projects implemented by the Organization in light of its vision and strategic orientations to serve its Member States and Muslim communities around the world in its areas of competence.

ICESCO DG hailed the close cooperation between the Organization and the UAE through the competent Emirati authorities, emphasizing ICESCO’s keenness to sustain this distinguished partnership.

The meeting touched upon means to strengthen cooperation between Emirati educational institutions, ICESCO and its Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW). The two parties agreed on holding scientific meetings and training programmes in the field of applied scientific research, particularly in science and technology, for the benefit of students and researchers in the Islamic world.

For his part, Shiekh Dr. Ammar Al Mualla commended ICESCO’s efforts in supporting its Member States in the fields of education, science and culture.

Following the meeting, Dr. AlMalik took Dr. Al Mualla and his accompanying delegation on a tour of the youth training incubators and the Mishkat Hall, which is equipped with the latest technology and was established by ICESCO in partnership with the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance. The two parties agreed on using this technology to organize training sessions and seminars for a vast number of participants.

The meeting saw the attendance of Mr. Thani Salem Al Rumaithi, Chargé d’Affaires at the UAE Embassy in Rabat, Ms. Iman Al Hosani, Technical Attaché at the Emirati Education and Technology Sciences Attaché Office in Cairo, and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation, Supervisor of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences.

Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a series of meetings with a host of officials, experts and astronauts taking part in the International Symposium on Space Sciences which kicked off on Monday, July 18, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat under the theme: “Building Tomorrow’s Global Workforce.”

The meetings touched upon ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and the institutions the guests represent within the framework of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations. During these meetings, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main thrusts and objectives of the vision which are aimed to support the efforts of ICESCO’s Member States to achieve sustainable development, especially in the fields of education, science and culture.

ICESCO DG first met Mr. Frederic Ouattara, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of the Republic of Burkina Faso, who praised ICESCO’s efforts to encourage its Member States to localize modern technology and benefit from the potential it offers.

Dr. AlMalik also met Cheick Modibo Diarra, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, who previously served as President of Microsoft Africa and also worked as a mechanical engineering expert at NASA.

He also received Ms. Christina Korp, Director of Space for a Better World and astronaut wrangler, and Dr. Sian Proctor, astronaut, and professor of space sciences, who impressed the participants in the symposium by telling her story about space science and her space flights.

Finally, ICESCO DG received a Libyan delegation that included Dr. Abul-Qasim Muhammad Shallouf, President of the Libyan Open University, and Dr. Jamal Al-Saghir Fardagh, Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the presence of Dr. Saeed Mohammad Al-Dabaib, Libya’s permanent delegate to ICESCO.

During the launch of ICESCO’s International Aerospace Symposium, the participants explored future prospects and investigated ways to meet its challenges by examining the latest developments in space science and applications. The Forum is held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the International University of Rabat (UIR) and Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, the Kingdom of Morocco, under the theme “Building Tomorrow’s Global Workforce,” with the participation of a high-caliber host of officials, international experts, astronauts, researchers, professors and students from the Islamic world and beyond.

The Forum, which kicked off on Monday, July 18, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters and via videoconference, opened with an international seminar aimed at exploring the latest developments in space science. The seminar began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the remarks of Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science & Technology Sector, in which he expressed his delight at this event that highlights the Organization’s efforts toward encouraging exchanges of expertise in space science among researchers and scientists.

In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), noted the technological and economic revolution achieved by humanity in the area of space science, emphasizing that the ensuing transformations compel us to seize the opportunities presented by this field, promote skills, build capacities, and disseminate knowledge on all phases of space industries.

ICESCO DG also reviewed a set of solutions offered by space science to develop information systems for controlling and monitoring areas that are likely to be affected by natural disasters, floods, wildfires, drought and desertification, stressing that this motivates the Organization to contribute to the design and launch of satellites and cooperate with regional and international specialized authorities to enhance the Islamic world’s competitive capabilities in space industries.

Mr. Youness Sekkouri, Minister of Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills in the Kingdom of Morocco, commended the Forum, which he described as unique, noting that space science has become a fundamental element of entrepreneurship and public policies.

In his address, Dr. Abdellatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation in the Kingdom of Morocco, highlighted the importance of space science and applications in monitoring natural disasters, managing climate change and fostering security and peace, noting Morocco’s efforts to enhance scientific research in this area.

For her part, Ms. Aawatif Hayar, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family in the Kingdom of Morocco, underscored that all segments of society should be involved in space industries, particularly women, girls and people with special needs, adding that space science must be integrated into educational systems.

Dr. Frédéric Ouattara, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in Burkina Faso, stated that strengthening human resources is crucial for the success of any sustainable space project, underlining the importance of the expertise that universities in the African countries should provide.

For his part, Dr. Modibo Diarra, Chairman of Microsoft Africa and Former NASA Expert, praised ICESCO’s efforts and its continuing cooperation with the Member States, institutions and universities, to equip the new generation with basic knowledge of space science.

Dr. Sian Proctor, an Astronaut, shared her exceptional experience in this field and recounted how she realized her dream of exploring space, pointing out that space science should be accessible to all to serve humanity at large.

Following the inaugural session, Ms. Shelli Brunswick, Chief Operating Officer at Space Foundation, moderated the first session on “Advancing Space Innovation with Global Partners,” which featured interventions by Dr. Shinichi Nakasuka, Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Aerospace at the University of Tokyo, Dr. Moulay Lhassan Hbib, President of Cadi Ayyad University, Dr. Abdelaziz Benjouad, Vice President of UIR, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector, Dr. Elchin Babayev, Rector of Baku State University, Ms. Christina Korp, Director of Space for a Better World, and Dr. Alim Rustem Aslan, Professor in the Department of Astronautical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University.