Category: News update

ICESCO will proclaim 2021 as the “Year of Women” in recognition of their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called for developing an anticipatory vision to prioritize women and girls as a solid strategic foundation for a sustainable development project in Muslim countries.

The DG also called for a better and accurate definition of the concept of “empowerment” with the contribution of women given their fundamental role in building society.

The statement was part of Dr. AlMalik’s address at the opening session of the International Forum on Economic Empowerment of Women and Girls. The Moroccan Ministry of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and Family, held the event today, in Rabat, under the theme “Morocco’s efforts in the economic empowerment of women and girls.” presided by Dr. Saad Dine El Otmani, Head of Government, with the participation of many ministers and heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations.

Other Member States’ ministers of women affairs as well as the representatives of national and international bodies joined the videoconference.

Dr. AlMalik commended Morocco’s efforts to better integrate and empower women under the wise leadership and determined directions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, implemented by the government in various fields.

“The empowerment of the Moroccan women has been a strategic decision since the dawn of independence,” said the DG.

“Morocco should be proud of the achievements of the Moroccan women who achieved leading positions in the country and beyond,” he added.
Dr. AlMalik announced that ICESCO will proclaim 2021 as the “Year of Women” in recognition of their efforts during the pandemic and the advancement of their role in the society.

The DG also stressed the Organization’s keenness to implement the principle of gender equality in all positions of responsibility. Women represent 45% of the whole staff members of ICESCO, which continues the recruitment of competent women to achieve parity, he continued.

Dr. AlMalik also stressed the importance of seizing the opportunity amid the COVID-19 to protect women’s rights and support their economic situations.

“Women have stood in the front lines in the face of the pandemic in the medical, educational, and economic sectors. 57% of women work in the health sector and 64% in the social sector,” he highlighted.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), made an official visit to the old town of Asilah. He toured Asilah’s historic buildings, alleys, and neighborhoods, which are considered as the largest open-air museum in Morocco.

During this visit, along with Mr. Yassine Isbouia, General Coordinator of the Mediterranean Youth Forum in Morocco, Dr. AlMalik admired the unique model of Asilah which had become a global cultural and tourism destination.

“Asilah portrays outstanding murals and includes the Culture Palace of Asilah which exhibits artistic treasures and many spaces for drawing and sculpting among other creative arts,” he added.
The visit also included a tour in the old town, with streets and parks named after prominent literary figures. The stops included places of artistic works and sculpted artifacts as well as Prince Bandar bin Sultan Library.

The official visit followed Dr. AlMalik’s participation in the opening session of the training workshop on “Strategic planning to serve decision-makers.”

ICESCO held the event at King Hassan II Center for International Gatherings, in cooperation with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Mediterranean Youth Forum, for the benefit of civil society associations and institutions.”

The opening session of the two-day training brought together Yassine Isbouia, General Coordinator of the Mediterranean Youth Forum; Mr. Mohammed Benaissa, President of Asilah Urban Council and Secretary-General of Asilah Forum; and Mr. Steffen Krüger, Director of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Office in Morocco.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Mediterranean Youth Forum, held yesterday, in Asilah, Morocco, a training session for the benefit of civil society associations and institutions.

The two-day training is part of the comprehensive project of ICESCO’s Strategic Foresight Center, which aims to organize similar training sessions in the Member States. The beneficiaries are universities, companies, and civil society associations and institutions.

During his address at the opening session of the training, Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO’s Director-General (DG), reaffirmed that the training agenda reflects the Organization’s new vision, which aims to entrench the culture of proactive behavior and build individual and institutional capacities for foresight. The approach is active participation, constructive, and collective reflection.

The DG also highlighted that this trend draws on young capacities and skills in line with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

The Monarch expressed the approach during his address on the “Throne Day” while stressing his trust in Moroccan youth to build a prosperous future.

Dr. AlMalik stated, “the current COVID-19 situation is a critical phase, loaded with changes that require proactive action to reap their results and avoid drawbacks.”

“Crises bring hope, stimulate action and give us good lessons to build a brighter future and the societies we want,” he continued.

The DG added that ICESCO seeks to support Member States to overcome crises and challenges, and properly address changes through strong strategic decisions and modern scientific means towards planning and future study. The most notable measures are the proactive approach based on strategic foresight technologies.

Mr. Yassine Isbouia, General Coordinator of the Mediterranean Youth Forum, said that decision-making is the backbone of success.

“Every decision should be built on in-depth data and studies. We are in a critical situation due to the pandemic and this training session is an opportunity to capitalize on and share visions on strategic foresight. I thank ICESCO and its Director-General and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung for holding this event. I also thank the young volunteers of the Mediterranean Youth Forum,” he added.

Mr. Mohammed Benaissa, President of Asilah Urban Council and Secretary-General of Asilah Forum, welcomed ICESCO’s DG and expressed his gratitude for the Organization’s outstanding works in the fields of education, science, and culture. He also welcomed the Director of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Office in Morocco as well as the participants while commending the interesting theme of the training.

“Given the ongoing debate on youth, future, and strategies, we should discover ourselves and set our aspirations and vision to achieve our objectives,” he underscored.

“I hope that there will be a symposium on fieldwork and strategic foresight. Without fieldwork, we cannot achieve any major success. The virtual culture is prevailing with rapid development worldwide. Thus, future foresight should start from reality through unbiased and objective thinking,” he added.

Mr. Steffen Krüger, Director of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Office in Morocco, expressed his happiness on the constructive cooperation between ICESCO and his institution.

“This training session, which is part of a series of training sessions, reflects this collaboration, particularly in the current period of the COVID-19 pandemic. It benefits an outstanding group of people working in civil society associations and institutions from various regions of Morocco,” he highlighted.

Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Strategic Foresight Center, an international expert in foresight and future studies, supervised this training.

“The training is a response to the current global situation and its impact on the planning processes. It aims to train the participants in decision-making based on scientific studies and data. The pandemic-induced global crisis has stressed the important role of strategic foresight in proactive action to anticipate future opportunities, assist various leaders in taking strategic decisions, and reduce future risks,” underlined Dr. Hammami.

The workshop is the second training session following a first event held in Ifrane, Morocco, for the benefit of the executive directors and staff members of Al Akhawayn University.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called upon the international community to provide new mechanisms to support, develop, and commit to national legislations and international conventions to counter the illicit trafficking in cultural property.

He also reaffirmed that despite the exerted efforts, the rate of heritage crimes is increasing. The crimes have become a source of funding for terrorist activities and money laundering.
The statement was part of the DG’s address at the opening session of the International Symposium on “1995 UNIDROIT Convention – Cultural objects at the crossroad of rights and interests.”

International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) held today the videoconference, on the 25th anniversary of the Convention. Representatives of prominent international heritage bodies and organizations participated in the event.
Dr. AlMalik highlighted that the legislations and conventions on heritage preservation face the challenge of online marketing and the growing role of auctions on social media.

“The use of modern technologies worsened illicit trafficking of cultural property. Cultural heritage face several major threats, including theft and looting amid a lack of social awareness of the importance of heritage and the threat of such crimes, considered as organized crimes worldwide, on economies and public institutions,” he stressed.

The DG said that the Organization established a special unit within its Islamic World Heritage Center to assist Member and non-Member States to restore their looted heritage and cultural property.

ICESCO also established a special unit to capitalize on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in the fields of heritage. The goal is to contribute to the development of mechanisms likely to counter such crimes and protect heritage sites and museums.

Dr. AlMalik added that ICESCO prioritizes the protection and preservation of heritage. The Organization allocated one million US dollars to restore the collections of 30 museums in the Member States. It also donated USD100,000 to Lebanon and the Sudan to support the restoration of heritage sites and museums after Beirut blast and Khartoum floods.
“ICESCO is committed to cooperate with UNIDROIT. It will call upon its Member States, which have not yet signed the Convention of 1995, to join it,” he stated.

Dr. AlMalik regretted the fact that children know the cultural properties of their countries only through foreign museums. “It is our duty to promote heritage and the possibility of its restitution as the treasures of heritage can shine only in their homelands,” he continued.

UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects (1995) was initially an international legal claim to restitute the cultural properties looted through illicit exportation. The Convention is made up of 21 articles explaining the legal requirements of restitution and the relevant role of UNIDROIT. It also includes a defining annex on cultural properties.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received yesterday at the headquarters in Rabat, Mr. Faisal bin Zayd al-Mehana, Commercial attaché of Saudi Arabia in Morocco. The two parties explored the prospects of cooperation.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s development, new action plan, and strategy that adopt the open-door policy with civil society organizations and institutions. The goal is to promote developing partnerships for the benefit of Member States’ citizens and Muslim communities worldwide.

The DG also stated that ICESCO, in cooperation with donors, supported multiple Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The assistance included the necessary equipment and materials for producing and broadcasting the digital educational content to ensure the continuity of schooling.

“ICESCO also provided prevention materials and means, established best-cost sanitizer production units, and trained local community members to reduce the spread of the pandemic,” he added.

Mr. al-Mehana commended ICESCO’s outstanding work while stressing the keenness of the Saudi Commercial Representation in Morocco to build fruitful cooperation with the Organization. The representation was inaugurated on September 1, 2020.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, paid his respects on Wednesday, September 30, to His Highness the late Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, may Allah rest his soul, at the Kuwaiti Embassy.

H.E. Abdullatif Al-Yahya, Ambassador of Kuwait to Morocco, and the Embassy’s staff received the DG.

Dr. AlMalik expressed his deepest condolences on behalf of all ICESCO employees and sympathy to the people of Kuwait. He stated that the death of the Emir is a loss to the Arab and Islamic Ummah and the world at large.

The DG also wrote in the Embassy’s Condolences Book, reaffirming that H.H. the Emir was a great leader with a remarkable sense of leadership, wisdom, and vision.

The Emir dedicated his life to serving his people as well as his Ummah and had significant contributions to supporting regional and international joint action. Dr. AlMalik beseeched Allah for the eternal rest the Emir’s soul and make Paradise his abode.