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    Category: News update

    News

    ICESCO Issues Study to Promote Legislative Mechanisms in Arab States to Combat Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) issued a new study entitled “Legislative Mechanisms to Combat the Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property in Arab States.” This study provides an assessment of the current legal framework for combatting the illegal trafficking of cultural assets in Arab countries and offers an analysis of international experiences and national laws that form a solid legal framework for protecting cultural property. The study aims to strengthen legislative mechanisms in ICESCO Member States in this domain.

    The study, developed by ICESCO’s Department of Legal Affairs and International Standards, reflects the Organization’s commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage and strengthening the legal frameworks necessary to counter the growing threats posed by the illicit trafficking of cultural property. It aims to offer practical solutions to enhance the legal and institutional capacities of Arab countries in light of increasing challenges, such as the inadequacy of national legislation, conflicts and wars, and a lack of awareness about the value of this precious heritage.
    Additionally, the study seeks to promote coordination and the sharing of best legislative practices among countries, addressing gaps in national laws to establish a solid legal framework that reinforces efforts to protect cultural property and strengthens the capacities of states to face current and future threats.

    This study is part of ICESCO’s “Strategy to Combat the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property in the Islamic World,” which was approved during the 12th Conference of the Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World, held in September 2023 in Doha, Qatar. The Strategy focuses on three main pillars: legislative mechanisms and legal guarantees, operational mechanisms related to maintenance, restoration, and protection, and international cooperation to ensure the recovery of cultural property and the prosecution of offenders.

    This publication will be followed by similar studies covering ICESCO Member States in the Asian and African regions, marking the completion of the first pillar of ICESCO’s strategy against the illicit trafficking of cultural property. Through these ongoing efforts, ICESCO continues to provide comprehensive support in combatting the threats to cultural property and bolstering the preservation of the identities and civilizational values of the peoples of the Islamic world.

    The study is accessible and downloadable via the following link: https://icesco.org/okuc

    ICESCO Congratulates Muslim World’s Medalists in Paris 2024 Olympics

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is pleased to extend its heartfelt congratulations to the Islamic world’s medalists, who proudly raised their national flags during the Paris 2024 Olympics, which concluded in Paris on Sunday, August 11, 2024.

    ICESCO commends the historic achievements of Member States’ athletes, breaking numerous world records in their respective disciplines, and lauds their inspiring stories of perseverance and determination in overcoming challenges at this globally renowned sporting event. The Organization highly values the efforts of the Islamic world in promoting sports, recognizing its role in nurturing healthy, prosperous, and resilient societies.

    On this occasion, ICESCO reaffirms its strategic vision of leveraging sports as a powerful tool for peacebuilding and promoting the values of coexistence and intercultural dialogue. The Organization continues to support its Member States’ efforts to enhance sports participation, particularly among the younger generations, through collaboration with relevant authorities in implementing various initiatives, programs, and projects that harness the power of sports to improve lives.

    ICESCO also calls on the international community to seize the opportunity presented by such global sporting events to counter extremist ideologies and violent tendencies, and to promote humanitarian and civilizational values. As a form of soft power, sports are instrumental in fostering coexistence and tolerance among individuals from diverse societies and cultures.

    ICESCO workshop to enhance the skills of plastic artists concludes in Burkina Faso

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The workshop, organized by the Culture and Communication Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Burkina Faso, the Burkinabe National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO, concluded on Saturday (10 August 2024) in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, to enhance the skills and build the capacities of plastic artists in painting, sculpture, engraving, videotaping and photography.

    The workshop, which lasted for four days and was supervised by two specialized trainers, aimed to provide the participating artists with theoretical and practical information on new artistic tools and the skills needed to keep up with relevant international standards, and enhance their knowledge of local and imported raw materials and new models of contemporary plastic creativity.

    In his speech, Mr. Adjima Thiombiano, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, President of the National Commission of Burkina Faso, delivered on his behalf by Dr. Vanson Sidogo, Secretary General of the Burkinabe National Commission, commended ICESCO’s efforts in continuously supporting Burkina Faso in the fields of education, science and culture, stressing that most plastic artists in the country are self-taught, adding that this workshop will contribute to equipping participants with the necessary skills to keep up with global developments in the cultural and artistic fields.

    For his part, Mr. Slaka Sano, Regional Director of Culture, Arts and Tourism of Hauts-Bassins, pointed out that Bobo-Dioulasso is considered the cultural capital of Burkina Faso, and encouraged plastic artists to participate in such important workshops, thanking ICESCO for its efforts in upgrading the skills of artists.

    Launch of the Gambia’s version of ICESCO’s program to produce 500,000 seedlings in the Islamic world

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    In the presence of Ms. Fatoumata Bah Barrow, First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Gambian National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO, and the Forestry Department of the Gambian Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, launched the initiative to produce 10,000 seedlings in the Gambia, as part of the Organization’s ambitious program to produce 500,000 seedlings in the Islamic world.

    The opening of the launch ceremony of the project, held in Banjul, on Thursday (8 August 2024), saw the presence of a number of high-level figures, officials and specialists in the field of environmental and biodiversity conservation. In his address, Dr. Fahman Fathurrahman, expert at the Science and Environment Sector, reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to support and protect the environment and sustainable development in Member States, reviewing ICESCO’s efforts and multiple initiatives in the field, aiming to restore degraded ecosystems, enhance natural resources and support sustainable development in rural communities.

    The Gambian version of the project aims to produce 10,000 seedlings, reforest 20 hectares of degraded land spanning three regions in eight communities, distribute mango and orange seedlings, and plant mangrove seedlings in coastal areas to support youth and women in rural areas, contribute to job creation, and strengthen local ecosystems.

    It is worth mentioning that the project has achieved great success in Mauritania and Togo, planting 40,000 seedlings of different varieties and reforesting 85 hectares of degraded land.

    ICESCO Director-General attends inauguration ceremony of Mauritanian president for second term

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), attended the inauguration ceremony of H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, for a second term, which was held on Thursday, August 1st, 2024 at the new Al-Murabitoun Conference Palace in the capital, Nouakchott, and witnessed a high-level presence of a large number of leaders, heads of state and government, ministers, ambassadors and representatives of international organizations.

    The ceremony kicked off with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by a public session of the Mauritanian Constitutional Council which took a set of constitutional and legal procedures related to the inauguration ceremony. After that, H.E. President El Ghazouani took the constitutional oath, marking the beginning of his second presidential term, and delivered a speech in which he reviewed the broad lines of his vision and action program in his second term.

    Dr. Al-Malik congratulated President El Ghazouani, during their handshake at the end of the inauguration ceremony, on the Mauritanian people’s renewed confidence in His Excellency, praising the progress witnessed by Mauritania under his enlightened leadership during his first term.

    ICESCO Director General stressed the depth of relations between the Organization and Mauritania, noting that the partnership between the two sides in the fields of education, science and culture has witnessed significant development over the past years, thanks to the direct support of H.E. President El Ghazouani for ICESCO’s efforts and activities, including his generous patronage of the activities of the celebration of Nouakchott as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for the year 2023, and his attendance at the opening ceremony of the celebration.

    ICESCO Director General also commended the efforts of Her Excellency Dr. Mariem Mohamed Fadel Dah, the First Lady of Mauritania and ICESCO Goodwill Ambassador, in the social, educational, scientific and cultural fields and the support she provides to ICESCO’s activities in Mauritania.

    Dr. AlMalik expressed his keenness to continue developing the partnership between ICESCO and Mauritania in the future through cooperation in implementing qualitative initiatives, programmes and projects.

    ICESCO Launches Second Edition of “My Thesis in 1000 Words” with Special prize on Artificial Intelligence

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World are pleased to announce the opening of the call for nominations for the second edition of “My Thesis in 1000 Words” Prize. This Prize is open to PhD students in universities across the Islamic world who have completed their theses and dissertations but have not yet defended them. The Prize is organized in partnership with the Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems Center at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, in collaboration with ICESCO Chair of Machine Learning in Remote Sensing at the same University, the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society, and the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science.

    This edition features two prizes in different fields: the first covering all disciplines, and the second is exclusively for artificial intelligence specializations in remote sensing and geographic information systems. A panel of experts and academics in the respective fields will evaluate the video applications to select five finalists in each theme for the final round.

    The selected candidates will be invited to Sultan Qaboos University to present their work in front of the jury at the final ceremony. The jury will select the first and second place winners, while the audience will choose the recipients of the audience prize for each category.

    Selection Criteria:
    • Fill out the registration form at:
    https://icesco.org/en/my-thesis-in-1000-words-2nd-edition
    • Record a video in one of ICESCO’s three working languages (Arabic, English, French), creatively presenting the thesis in less than 1000 words, to be submitted by 15 September 2024.
    • Video must be in landscape mode, recorded in a quiet place with clear sound and good lighting.
    • Name the video with the candidate’s full name and university.
    • The video must be in at least 1080p resolution and in MP4 format.
    • The file size must not exceed 500 MB.
    • Attach a summary in Word format not exceeding 1000 words with the registration form, carrying the candidate’s full name and university.
    • Winners of the first edition are not eligible to participate.
    The list of finalists will be announced at the beginning of November 2024, and the winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on 17 December 2024.
    For any inquiries, you can contact us via the following email addresses:

    fumi@icesco.org
    rsgis@squ.edu.om

    ICESCO Educational Center in Malaysia Holds Training Course on Technology and Teaching Arabic

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The ICESCO Educational Center in Malaysia, in collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Education, held the first training session of 2024 on “Utilizing Technology in Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers.” The Session was attended by 870 teachers from various Malaysian states, with the aim of improving the quality of Arabic education, expanding its scope, and enhancing teachers’ abilities to use the tools that modern technology offers.

    The opening ceremony of the Session, held over July 30 – 31, 2024, at the University of Southampton in Johor, was attended by Mr. Zamri bin Abdul Rahim, First Assistant Director of the Islamic Education Department at the Malaysian Ministry of Education, and Dr. Yaqoub bin Hassan, Head of ICESCO’s Educational Center in Malaysia, along with several officials in the field of education in the state.

    During his address at the opening session, delivered via video conferencing, Prof. Dr. Majdi Bin Haji Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO Center for Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers, emphasized the need for forward-looking plans to keep pace with the constant changes and take advantage of technological innovations to transition from the traditional school paradigm towards “the School of Tomorrow,” by employing technological and digital tools to enhance the educational process and improve its quality.

    The Training Session was facilitated by Associate Professor Dr. Nor Khamimi Bin Zainal Din, educational expert from Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Mr. Amin El Hadi, educational expert at the Foundation for Educational Development.

    Spectacular Folklore Performances at Closing Ceremony of International Festival Children of Peace at ICESCO

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) headquarters in Rabat hosted the closing ceremony of the 16th International Festival Children of Peace on Sunday, July 28, 2024. The Festival is organized by Bouregreg Association in the Kingdom of Morocco, under the honorary presidency of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, with the participation of delegations from 25 countries. The Festival aims to foster a spirit of coexistence and cultural exchange among children from various parts of the world.

    The ceremony, organized by ICESCO in partnership with Bouregreg Association and attended by high-level officials and ambassadors, kicked off with a speech by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), to congratulate His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, and the Moroccan people on the 25th anniversary of the Throne Day. Dr. AlMalik also expressed his profound gratitude to Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem for her honorary presidency of the Festival.

    Dr. AlMalik highlighted that today’s children are the builders of hope and a bright future filled with peace and security and urged all children to be dutiful to their parents. Dr. AlMalik concluded his speech by calling on the participating children to shed light on their peers in Palestine, who are subjected to unjust killing and torture.

    Following his address, Dr. AlMalik exchanged commemorative shields with Mr. Noureddine Chamaou, President of Bouregreg Association, and Mr. Abderrahmane Rouijel, Founding Director of the Festival, both of whom expressed their gratitude to ICESCO for the hosting and remarkable organization of this event.

    Subsequently, two young girls read the “Call for Peace” statement in Arabic and English, which emphasized the urgent need for the world to embrace peace, reject violence, and cease wars that cause immense pain and destruction. The Statement drew attention to the unbearable suffering of children in Gaza, Palestine, highlighting their right to safety and a life free from fear.

    The “Call for Peace” urged the international community to lay down arms and adopt dialogue instead of conflict, which shatters lives and families and destroys the future. The Statement pointed out that collaborative efforts could build a world where every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive in a safe environment.

    The ceremony continued with artistic performances by Children from the participating delegations. They presented folklore, songs, and musical performances from their respective countries, which were met with great appreciation from the audience.

    Delegations from Saudi Arabia, UAE and Senegal visit the Exhibition of the Prophet’s Seerah at ICESCO headquarters

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    A number of delegations participating in the first international forum of military music, organized by the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces on the occasion of Throne Day, visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, being housed at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and cultural organization (ICESCO) in Rabat.
    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, received on Friday (26 July 2024), the delegations representing the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Senegal, explaining that the Organization is hosting the Exhibition within the framework of its efforts to showcase the correct image of our true religion, in strategic partnership with the Muslim World League and the Mohammadia League of Scholars.

    Afterwards, the visitors listened to explanations about the detailed simulation of the life of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) through the use of the latest technologies that take the visitor into a real experience to discover the prophet biography.

    At the end of the tour, the visitors expressed their happiness to visit this great Exhibition, commending its ways of addressing all categories in a simplified manner through the use of the latest technologies.

    ICESCO Director-General receives former Director-General of ALECSO

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science and culture (ICESCO), received Dr. Saud Al-Harbi, former Director General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and former minister of education and higher education of the State of Kuwait. The two parties exchanged views and ideas on the development of action in the educational fields in the Islamic world.

    At the beginning of the meeting, held on Friday July 26, 2024, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key axes of the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations, and its programs and projects, especially in the field of education in light of the major global transformations, particularly in the fields of technology and artificial intelligence and the relevant opportunities and challenges in the educational field.

    The Director General of ICESCO explained that the Organization is striving to mobilize efforts and encourage commitment to transformation within its Member States towards a new path in education that keeps up with the global developments.

    For his part, Dr. Al-Harbi commended the roles played by ICESCO in the development of the fields of education, science and culture in the Islamic world, and provided some ideas and opinions on ways to develop the working methodology of international organizations in the field of education.