Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of Culture of the State of Qatar, where they discussed developments of cooperation between ICESCO and Qatar in cultural fields.
During the meeting, held on Monday (December 12, 2022), at the headquarters of the Qatari Ministry of Culture, in Doha, Dr. AlMalik commended Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the good reception of the participating teams and fans.
ICESCO Director-General commended the civilizational messages that the State of Qatar conveyed through this global event by its adherence to the Arab and Islamic identity and traditions despite some malicious campaigns, which are far from sports or organizational matters, stressing that such events are an opportunity for meeting different peoples and enriching civilizational dialogue.
Dr. AlMalik expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Qatari Minister of Culture for inviting him to participate in the Forum of Local and International Organizations, which is held under the theme ” Our strength in our unity.”
During the meeting, the two parties reaffirmed their keenness to continue cooperation and capitalize on the World Cup to promote the fields of culture, sports, coexistence, intercultural dialogue and peace. They also discussed the arrangements for holding the ICESCO Ministers of Culture Conference, due to be organized in Qatar, next March, to explore the cultural challenges facing the Islamic world and present a report on ICESCO’s achievements in the field of culture over the past two years.
At the closing of the meeting, which saw the participation of Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Director of ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, Dr. AlMalik presented ICESCO’s shield to the Qatari Minister of Culture while the Minister presented ICESCO Director-General with the official emblem of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The
permanent headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ISESCO) in Rabat, today, hosted a coordination meeting on “ways
to address divisive stereotypes in curricula” between ISESCO and the Conflict
and Education Learning Laboratory (CELL), a foundation specialized in education
in conflict zones.
Co-moderated
by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, and Dr. Jo Ritzen, Chairperson
of CELL Foundation and former education minister of the Netherlands, the
meeting was attended by ISESCO’s directors and experts along with Mr. Atif
Rizvi, CEO and co-founder of CELL; and Ms. Ayla Bonfiglio, CELL Executive
Director and Regional Coordinator for North Africa of the Mixed Migration
Center.
The meeting
opened with a welcoming address by Dr. AlMalik wherein he talked about the
expertise of the Foundation in the field of education in conflict zones and the
importance it attaches to the theme of the meeting. Afterwards, Dr. Ritzen took
the floor thanking ISESCO and its Director General for his invitation to the
meeting. He pointed out that the theme of the meeting is of great importance as
divisive stereotypes in textbooks, curricula and the media have damaging
effects on children and the youth because they shape their minds, history and
identity.
Moreover,
Dr. Ritzen stated that the general objectives of CELL and ISESCO converge in
this regard. Thanks to its presence all over the Islamic world, ISESCO provides
a cumulated knowledge-based activity made up of practices and partnerships with
different education institutions and research on textbooks, curricula and
information materials.
Through its
research and creative “Info Hive” platform, Mr. Ritzen added, CELL presents a golden
opportunity for participation and promotion of cooperation between experts,
researchers, decision-makers, practitioners, teachers and the public to accumulate knowledge
and raise awareness about the ways in which divisive stereotypes lead to
extremism, conflict, violence and violation of the rights of children, youth,
women and disadvantaged groups, including refugees and ethnic minorities in
ISESCO Member States.
For his
part, Mr. Rizvi pointed out that the staff and experts working in the fields of
education and conflict alleviation have long realized that revising textbooks
can largely contribute to changing, jointly or individually and at the
institutional level, the minds of children and the youth. In this regard, he
underscored that textbooks can promote the respect for the diversity of
beliefs; encourage mutual understanding and critical thinking to address prejudices;
and promote wellbeing.
Afterwards,
Ms. Bonfiglio made a presentation on the “Info Hive” Platform, a project
initiated by CELL and will be soon accessible to the public, stressing that it
is a tool designed to catalyze a worldwide change of the approaches to the
issues of education, health, wellbeing and conflict.
In the same
vein, Ms. Bonfiglio stated that the Foundation chose to design the “Info Hive”
in the form of a smartphone application, out of its belief in the principle of democratization,
as that the largest possible number of users can access these applications,
hence they are the most fit to achieve this principle.
As soon as
the presentation ended, the floor was opened for discussion between ISESCO’s
experts and CELL during which the two parts agreed on the importance to promote
and develop cooperation since the theme of the Meeting is of paramount
importance, given the exacerbating issues of political and military, migration
and asylum.
At the close
of the Meeting, the two parties agreed to continue coordination for further
cooperation and give effect to joint action in the “Info Hive” Project. To this
effect, Dr. Ritzen requested Dr. AlMalik to engage ISESCO’s experts in
developing the Platform to launch it within a year. Similarly, CELL requested
ISESCO to invite education experts in its Member States to contribute to the
Project.
** AlMalik, Zine El Abidine and a number of figures honored at the City
of Culture in Tunis
** Bamako as the African region’s Capital of Islamic Culture… and
Bukhara for the Asian region
During a
special ceremony held in the City of Culture in Tunis, the Celebration of Tunis
as the Arab region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019 closed with the
proclamation of Cairo as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2020. Bukhara,
Republic of Uzbekistan, will be the Asian region’s Capital of Islamic Culture
for 2020 after Bandar Seri Begawan, Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. As for the
African region, Bamako, Republic of Mali, will be the Capital of Islamic
Culture for 2020 succeeding Bissau, Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
The
ceremony, held yesterday in the wake of the 11th Islamic Conference
of Culture Ministers (ICCM) and attended by the members of the delegations participating
in the Conference, started with an address by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian
Minister of Cultural Affairs, wherein he indicated that the Celebration of
Tunis as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019 was held concurrently with the
40th anniversary of its inscription on UNESCO World Heritage List.
Dr. Zine
El Abidine also thanked ISESCO for its substantial cooperation to make this one-year-long
event successful. “The event was not exclusive to Tunis, but also covered all
the Tunisian cities and regions. It was an exceptional year by all measures”,
he added.
Afterwards,
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, gave an address wherein he
thanked the Tunisian President, Mr. Kais Saied, for his patronage of the
Conference, and commended the great attention paid by the Tunisian Government
to the programme of the activities implemented as part of the Celebration.
Besides,
Dr. AlMalik highlighted that ISESCO aimed, through the launch of the Programme of
the Capitals of Islamic Culture and the choice of Makkah Al-Mukarramah in 2005
as the first Capital of Islamic Culture to inaugurate this great civilizational
project, to promote joint cultural action and cultural development among states,
achieve civilizational outreach, and export the enlightening Islamic culture.
Dr.
AlMalik also reaffirmed that the Celebration of Tunis as the Capital of Islamic
Culture for 2019 is a recognition of its cultural heritage and civilization
contribution thanks to its cultural and religious monuments and landmarks bearing
witness to its long-standing heritage and the uniqueness of its people and
human heritage.
Afterwards,
the ceremony honored Dr. AlMalik in appreciation of his efforts to ensure the
success of the Conference and the Celebration. Dr. Zine El Abidine presented
him with the Shield of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Mr.
Mohamed Ghemari, Director of the Secretariat of the General Conference,
Executive Council and Specialized Conferences at ISESCO, was also honored for
his collaboration toward the success of the Conference and received the Shield
of the Ministry.
Besides,
Dr. Zine El Abidine was presented with as shield by Dr. AlMalik. The other
figures honored during this ceremony are Dr. Faisal bin Mohamed Saleh, Sudanese
Minister of Culture, President of the 10th session of the Conference;
Dr. Taïeb Baccouche, Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union; Dr. Hatem
Ben Salem, Minister of Education and Acting Minister of
Higher Education; Mr. Ahmed Adhoum, Tunisian Minister of Religious
Affairs; Mr. Chadli Bouallag, Governor of Tunis; and Dr. Hayat Qatat
Al-Qurmazi, Director of Culture at ALECSO.
Afterwards,
the head of delegations of the countries, whose capitals were celebrated in
2019, passed the torch of Islamic Culture Capitals to their counterparts whose
capitals will be celebrated in 2020. Then, the participants attended a show
presented by the Tunisian Orchestra.
** Extraordinary session in Cairo next year to mark the city’s celebration as Islamic Culture Capital.
The 11th
Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers closed its proceedings today by
adopting, after examination, its final report and resolutions, composing its
Bureau and releasing Tunis Declaration for the Reform of Present Cultural
Policies in the Islamic World.
The Conference
participants accepted the offer made by the Arab Republic of Egypt to host an
extraordinary session in Cairo next year to mark the city’s celebration as the
Arab region’s Islamic Culture Capital for 2020.
The
Conference welcomed the project of the creation of the OIC Platform for the
Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Muslim World as a coordination mechanism
to showcase ISESCO’s efforts as a specialized organization through its
observatory and committee for heritage in the Islamic world; and highlight the
relevant efforts of the Research Centre for Islamic History Art and Culture
(IRCICA).
The
Conference also welcomed Kazakhstan’s initiative to commemorate the 1150th
birthday of the renowned philosopher Al–Farabi and the 2200th
anniversary of the city of Shymkent.
Moreover,
the Conference approved the Final Report of the 17th Meeting of the
Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World; ISESCO’s
Report on its Achievements in Cultural Fields between 10th and 11th
sessions of the Conference; the Report of the Islamic World Heritage Committee;
the Guidance Document on Digital Culture: Prospects and Challenges; and the
Practical Proposals on Parallel Funding Sources for Cultural Projects.
Likewise,
the Conference formed its Bureau with Tunisia as a Chair; Burkina Faso, Egypt
and Kazakhstan Vice-Chairs; and the Sudan as Rapporteur. The participants also
elected the members of the Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the
Islamic World for a two-year term as follows: United Arab Emirates, Qatar and
Libya for the Arab region; Brunei Darussalam, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan for
the Asian region; and Cameroon, Uganda and Gabon for the African region.
At the
closing session, the Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, delivered an
address wherein he thanked ISESCO for its efforts to ensure the success of the
Conference and to the participating delegations for their endeavors to issue such
important resolutions.
Then, Dr.
Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, read out the participants’ message
of thanks and gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Kaïs Saïed, President of the
Republic of Tunisia, for his patronage to the Conference and support to ISESCO
to fully discharge its missions in its areas of competence.
By the same
token, Dr. AlMalik made an address congratulating the participating delegations
on the success of the Conference and achievement of its objectives thanks to
the concerted efforts made by them and the General Directorate to advance joint
Islamic cultural action, embodied in the resolutions issued.
“Our common
will to upgrade working mechanisms to attain these objectives was clearly
manifested in this session. We have moved from the usual traditional methods to
a new phase of concrete field cultural action to meet the real needs of our
Member States”, he added.
** AlMalik:
development through culture is a priority choice…we should export our Islamic
enlightening culture
** 70% of
the world’s heritage sites in danger are in Islamic countries
Dr. Salim M.
AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ISESCO), called on the ministers of culture and competent parties
in Member States to continue the submission of their technical files for the
inscription of all the tangible, intangible, natural and industrial heritage
sites in their countries on the Islamic World Heritage List.
In his
address at the opening session of the 11th Islamic Conference of
Culture Ministers, kicked off today in Tunis, Dr. AlMalik first expressed his
thanks to His Excellency Mr. Kaïs Saïed, President of the Republic of Tunisia,
for his patronage of the Conference. He also thanked the Tunisian Government,
represented by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs; and Dr. Mohamed Zine El
Abidine, Minister of Cultural Affairs, for his support to hold this conference.
In addition, he stated that ISESCO has set up a special unit to inscribe
heritage sites in Muslim countries according to strict scientific and
international standards and signed a cooperation agreement with UNESCO to
inscribe Member States’ sites on the World Heritage List.
Moreover,
ISESCO Director General warned against the degradation, disappearance,
destruction, and looting of cultural institutions and cultural heritage in a
number of Member States, pointing out that the List of World Heritage in Danger
includes thirty-seven (37) sites in Muslim countries out of fifty-four (54)
sites, accounting to almost 70% of the sites in danger.
“Even though
Member States agreed to create the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC) in
2007, the Committee had a shaky start as only five (5) sites were inscribed.
However, with the new General Directorate, this situation has changed as ISESCO
committed itself to inscribing one hundred (100) sites on the Islamic World
Heritage List before the end of 2019 managed to exceed the said number, praise
be to Allah, through concerted efforts with the IWHC and Member States, we were
able to inscribe 132 sites. We then cheerfully ushered ourselves into the era
of the codification of our cultural and civilizational heritage”, Dr. AlMalik
added.
By the same
token, Dr. AlMalik underscored the need for translating Member States’ cultural
unity and solidarity regarding the preservation of cultural heritage into a
programme to be supervised by ISESCO to jointly inscribe a number of exemplary
historical and civilizational routes (Hajj route, routes of trade caravans, and
the routes of travelers, scholars, students and manuscript, etc.) on the
Islamic World Heritage List. In this regard, he stressed that ISESCO has
adopted this as part of its new vision.
Moreover,
ISESCO Director General reaffirmed that access to development through culture
has today become one of Member States’ strategic priority choices. As such, Dr.
AlMalik underlined that culture should never be considered as a secondary
sector and that cultural diplomacy and capital should be employed in serving
cultural development in Muslim countries, defending their strategic interests,
and exporting Islamic enlightening culture. Likewise, he called for keeping up
with digital changesto promote culture and encourage creativity and
innovation, in order to highlight Muslim societies’ rich cultural diversity, linking
the achievement of this goal to providing new and diverse funding sources for
cultural projects.
At the close
of his address, ISESCO Director General wished every success to the Conference
in reaching tangible outcomes and resolutions likely to achieve cultural
development in the Islamic world.
Today, the
11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers kicked off under the
theme “Toward the Development of Current Cultural Policies in the Islamic World”,
under the patronage of President Kais Saied, with the participation of the
delegations of 50 countries and 16 international and regional Organizations.
The
opening session started with an address by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian
Minister of Cultural Affairs, wherein he welcomed the guests of Tunisia,
pointed out to the development of the cultural field in Tunisia over the past
years, and referred to the most important activities implemented throughout
2019 as part of the Celebration of Tunis as the Arab region’s Capital of
Islamic Culture for 2019.
In his
address at the opening session, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), called on
the Ministers of Culture and the competent parties in Muslim countries to
complete their technical files for the inscription of their heritage sites on
the Islamic World Heritage List, while warning that around 70% of the world heritage
sites in danger are located in Muslim countries.
Dr. AlMalik
also stated that ISECCO will supervise the programme of the joint inscription of
a set of exemplary historical and civilizational routes (Hajj route, routes of
commercial convoys, and the routes of travelers, scholars, students and
manuscript, etc) on the Islamic World Heritage List, while reaffirming that
ISESCO has included this issue within its new vision.
Afterwards,
Dr. Faisal bin Mohamed Saleh, Minister of Culture of the Sudan, President of
the 10th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, took the floor and
stressed that the Islamic world faces major challenges in all fields, most
notably the development of Muslim countries without losing their identity, and
identified investment in the cultural field as the sole means to achieve such
objective.
Dr.
Saleh also commended the efforts of ISESCO, praised the role of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and thanked the Republic of Tunisia
for hosting this conference.
The
address of Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, OIC Secretary General, was given on
his behalf by Ambassador Tariq Bakhit, Assistant Secretary
General for Humanitarian, Social and Cultural Affairs. Dr. Al-Othaimeen
stated that “the conference comes at the appropriate time. The cultural
communication between the OIC Member States and the other countries is the primary
objective of the OIC in coordination with Member States and the organizations
operating in this field, particularly ISESCO.”
Afterwards,
ISESCO Awards, including the Incentive Award in the field of Traditional
Industries and Handicrafts, ISESCO Award for Best Media Production, and the
awards for the best cultural projects of the Capitals of Islamic Culture, were presented
to the winners.
After
the opening ceremony, the conference started its working session behind closed
doors to consider the agenda and draft resolutions, elect the member of the
Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World, set the
date and venue of the 12th session of the conference and adopt the
final report of the conference.
Today at
the City of Culture in Tunis, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and Dr.
Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, held a press
conference to announce the programme of the 11th Islamic Conference
of Culture Ministers and the closing ceremony of the Celebration of Tunis as
the Arab region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019.
At the
beginning of the press conference, Dr. AlMalik welcomed the journalists and
media professionals, thanked H.E. Dr. Zine El Abidine, and commended the
cultural activities held as part the celebration of Tunis as Capital of Islamic
Culture for 2019. He also expressed his delight for the cultural activities
which were not exclusive to Tunis, but also covered most regions of the
Republic of Tunisia, while reaffirming that Tunis has given an exemplary model
which is hard to compete by the following capitals of Islamic culture.
On his
part, Dr. Zine El Abidine thanked ISESCO Director General and commended the
cooperation between the Ministry and the Organization, particularly in renewing
cultural action.
The
Minister also reviewed the most important cultural activities which have been
held by the Ministry throughout the year all over Tunisia, standing at 174
thousand activities.
Besides,
Dr. Zine El Abidine stressed that the strong cooperation between the Ministry
and ISESCO will continue so as to optimally benefit from it throughout the year
2019, while expressing the pride of his country in taking over the presidency
of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers for the two coming years.
The
Minister reiterated his welcome to Dr. AlMalik, the Culture Ministers of Muslim
countries and the participating delegations in the 11th Islamic
Conference of Culture Ministers while wishing every success to this Conference,
hosted tomorrow by Tunisia.
Afterwards,
the floor was given over to questions and discussions. Replying to a question
on the potentials of digital technology in the field of culture, Dr. AlMalik
said “the opportunities and challenges are immense in this context. Unless the
Muslim countries benefit from such potentials, they would lag behind; which
constitutes a serious and irreparable loss.”
Dr. AlMalik
added that ISESCO has been aware of this issue and sought to benefit Member
States from the immense potentials of digital technology, including the project
on ‘Digital culture: opportunities and challenges’, which is submitted to the Islamic
Conference of Culture Ministers among other items for consideration.
Responding
to a question on the continuity and future of cooperation between the Tunisian
Ministry of Cultural Affairs and ISESCO, Dr. Zine El Abidine replied: “this
cooperation is strong and ongoing. It will continue and prosper between the two
parties, especially after the concrete efforts to restore the vitality of the
Organization with the appointment of Dr. AlMalik as Director General without
overlooking the efforts of the former director general, Dr. Abdulaziz
Altwaijri.”
Dr. Zine
El Abidine also stated that “we believe that citizens are the main and most
important target of every cultural activity. Throughout the last three year, we
have sought to help citizen appreciate arts, culture and cultural creativity
before its practice, and our efforts are still ongoing. ”
The
Minister added that “we are glad of our achievements within this framework. We
are looking forward to entrenching cultural diversity. In this regard, we have
established Tunis International Center for Digital Cultural Economy
and agreed with ISESCO Director General to share this vision, which will be
considered tomorrow at the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture
Ministers.”
The Director
General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, examined with Dr. Rached Ghannouchi, President
of the People’s Representatives Assembly of Tunisia, a number of issues related
to ISESCO’s areas of action and the outstanding cooperation of the Republic of
Tunisia with ISESCO in organizing many activities, including the 11th
Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers and the close of the celebration of
Tunis as Islamic Culture Capital for 2019.
This was
part of a reception today by the President of the Assembly to ISESCO Director
General and his accompanying delegation at the Assembly’s headquarters, during
which Dr. AlMalik expressed ISESCO’s deep gratitude to the President,
Government and people of Tunisia for their efforts to ensure the success of the
11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers and the celebration of
Tunis as Islamic Culture Capital for 2019 during which many important
activities and programmes were organized. He also stressed that the enormous
efforts made by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs are an example to follow by
future Islamic culture capitals to overcome their challenges.
From his
part, Dr. Ghannouchi stated that ISESCO plays a pivotal role in the region and
in the Islamic world as a whole in areas key to achieving development,
particularly education, science and technology, wishing every success to the
Organization in implementing its socially-conscious future programmes and
plans.
In addition,
the meeting touched on ISESCO’s new vision and action strategy for the next
phase. In this regard, Dr. AlMalik reviewed a range of major programmes and
projects already initiated by the Organization, most notably the waqf
(endowment) project whose proceeds will go to financing ISESCO’s programmes and
activities in Member States’ neediest areas to support and empower women and
children. Dr. AlMalik also pointed out that, under the Organization’s new
vision, studies will be carried out in the field of waqf in the Islamic
world with a view to promoting and developing it.
In the same
vein, Dr. Ghannouchi commended the idea of waqf and dubbed it as a practical
solution to achieve ISESCO’s noble objectives. He underlined that waqf accounts
for 30% of the expenditure of universities and civil society activities in
Tunisia and that developed countries largely depend on it to ensure education
and healthcare services to those in need.
Key among
the issues discussed at the meeting are ISESCO’s efforts in the fight against
extremist thought and the documents issued by the previous sessions of the
Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers that constitute a cultural and
intellectual approach to combat extremism and promote moderation and middle
stance, as advocated by the noble religion of Islam. These documents call on
Islamic countries’ legislative institutions to enact more laws to this effect.
“Extremism
has severely harmed Islam and Muslims. Joint efforts have to be made to
eradicate this plague”, Dr. Ghannouchi commented.
For his
part, Dr. AlMalik stated that under its new vision, ISESCO endeavors to become
a house of expertise for the Islamic world, hence the creation of the Center of
Strategic Anticipation.
The two
parties also explored the intellectual role played by ISESCO through “ISESCO
Cultural Forum” which hosts renowned intellectuals from Muslim countries to
discuss today’s issues and provide their suggestions and ideas.
The meeting brought
together Mr. Nabil Hajji, Vice-President of the Assembly in charge of External
Relations; Mr. Habib Khedhr, Head of the Cabinet of the President of the
Assembly; Dr. Najib Rhiati, Director of Culture at ISESCO; Dr. Mohamed Ghemari,
Director of the General Secretariat; Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center
of Strategic Anticipation at ISESCO; and Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Cultural
Advisor to ISESCO Director General.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), explored with Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, the latest state of preparations for the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, which kicks off tomorrow 17 December 2019 in Tunis.
This meeting was part of the airport reception of Dr. AlMalik by Dr. Zine El Abidine at the VIP Lounge at Carthage International Airport at his arrival to Tunis yesterday evening in a visit during which he will meeet a number of Tunisian Officials and take part at the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, to be held by the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with ISESCO, under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Tunisia, H.E. Mr. Kais Saied.
Afterwards,
Dr. Zine El Abidine took Dr. AlMalik in a visit to the City of Culture, where
they attended the closing ceremony of the 21st Edition of Carthage
Theatre Days. The festival honored a number of renowned Arab theatre artists
from Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia, and awarded prizes to the winners.
It is
worth mentioning that the first edition of Carthage Theatre Days was held on
7-15 November 1983. This event is an international theatre festival, supervised
by the Tunisian Ministry of cultural Affairs, and brings together creators from
various Arab countries. It is modelled on Carthage Cinema Days. In 2010, Carthage
Music Days held its first edition.
At the close of the Eighth Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers (ICEM), held on 2-3 October 2019, at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), under the theme, “the Role of Cultural and Religious Factors in the Protection of the Environment and Sustainable Development”, a number of resolutions pertaining to the action plan for the next phase were adopted. The conference also elected the members of the Conference’s Executive Bureau for a two-year term.
The conference decided to hold the ninth conference session at ISESCO headquarters in Rabat, in October 2021, and invited the Member States willing to host the next session of the Conference to submit an official request thereon including the proposed organizational facilitations to ISESCO General Directorate in order to consult with the Conference presidency and inform Member States of the decision taken thereon.
As for the composition of the Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment, the Conference elected the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as chair, and ISESCO as head of Secretariat. The Conference also elected the following countries as members in the Bureau: State of the United Arab Emirates, Republic of Tunisia, and Federal Republic of Somalia for the Arab region; Burkina Faso, Republic of Sierra Leone, and Republic of the Gambia for the African region; and Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Suriname, and Malaysia for the Asian region.
In addition, the Conference adopted the “Draft Strategy for the Activation of the Role of Cultural and Religious Factors in Protecting the Environment and Achieving Sustainable Development in the Islamic World”; called on Member States to devote more attention to cultural and religious factors when preparing national plans and strategies aimed to surmount socio-economic and environmental challenges, in such a way as to meet their needs and in line with their priorities; and invited ISESCO to draft an executive plan for the Strategy, in cooperation with the national, regional and international organizations and relevant institutions within and outside the Islamic world.
Likewise the Conference adopted the “Draft Guidance Document on Strengthening the Role of Youth and Civil Society in the Protection of the Environment and Achievement of Sustainable Development”, taking into consideration the observations of the Conference members, and in accordance with the criteria laid down by relevant decisions and resolutions governing rules of cooperation with the non-governmental organizations, adopted by OIC Summits and Ministerial meetings. In the same regard, the Conference called on Member States to promote the roles of youth and civil society in the implementation of national sustainable development plans and strategies, taking into consideration the peculiarities of Member States and meet their needs in a way that is consistent with the legislations, references, principles and orientations adopted and applied by Member States.
The Conference adopted “ISESCO Report on the Executive Action Plan for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in the Member States”; took note of the achievements made under the Pilot Programme for Capacity-Building in the Field of Natural Disaster Risk Mitigation and Management in Member States; and called on Member States to give effect to the measures and procedures to reduce natural disaster risks, and cooperate with relevant international and regional institutions.
The Conference also adopted the Report on the Programme of the celebration of the Islamic World Environmentally-Friendly Capitals; adopted the City of Agadir in the Kingdom of Morocco and the City of Nur-Sultan in the Republic of Kazakhstan as the Islamic World Environmentally-Friendly Capitals for the years 2020-2021; adopted the City of Kampala in the Republic of Uganda as the Islamic World Environmentally-Friendly Capital of Merit for the African region for the years 2020-2021; and adopted Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the Islamic World Environmentally-Friendly Permanent Capital.
In the same vein, the Conference entrusted ISESCO Director General to prepare a schedule for the celebration of Islamic World Environmentally-Friendly Capitals until the end of 2030, in the light of the nominations received from Member States in this regard, while taking into consideration the balanced geographical distribution among Member States and conformity with the terms of nomination and selection criteria of such capitals.
Moreover, the Conference adopted the “Report on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management in the Islamic World; reiterated thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the creation of the Award and for his kind approval as to expanding its scope to cover the Islamic world and entrusting its General Secretariat to ISESCO, in order to entrench the broad concept of environmental management and promote sustainable development in Member States; and hailed the coordination efforts exerted by ISESCO and the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the good preparation of the second edition of the Award.
As for the establishment of the Islamic Academy for the Environment and Sustainable Development, the Conference adopted the “Progress Report on the Creation of the Islamic Academy for the Environment and Sustainable Development”; thanked the Kingdom of Morocco, represented by the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Sustainable Development, for the progress made in the construction of the Academy’s headquarters, and the commitment to take the necessary technical and regulatory measures for its operation, in coordination with ISESCO in this regard.
By the same token, the Conference adopted the document on the “Project of the Establishment of the Islamic Network for Environmental Action and Sustainable Development”, within ISESCO; and called on relevant Member States’ government institutions and authorities, and parallel international and regional organizations to cooperate with the Network with a view to promoting joint Islamic environmental action and facilitating the sharing of expertise and best practices in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development.
Last, the Conference adopted “the Report on ISESCO’s Efforts in the Fields of Environment and Sustainable Development between the 7th and 8th sessions of the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers”; extended thanks and appreciation to ISESCO for its efforts in the fields of environmental protection and sustainable development, and urged it to sustain coordination and consultation with the competent parties in Member States and national, regional and international competent authorities, in such a way as to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote joint Islamic environmental action.
