** 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.
ISESCO Cultural Forum honored Dr. Abbès
Jirari, Dean of Moroccan Literature, and Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of
the Mohammedian League. On this occasion, Dr. Salim AlMalik, ISESCO Director
General, presented each scholar with a certificate of appreciation and
excellence, along with a medal from ISESCO.
The tribute followed the second gathering of the Forum, yesterday evening, which hosted Dr. Abbadi who gave a lecture entitled, “From human rights to humanity rights: Exploring the contextual and knowledge requirements and approaching mechanisms”. The lecture was attended by a large audience of ambassadors and experts, and a host of universities and higher institutes students in Rabat.
Dr. Jirari had been the guest of the gathering
of the first ISESCO Cultural Forum, held on 22 October 2019, wherein he gave a
lecture on the “Future Cultural Challenges in the Islamic World”. Dr. Jirari’s
lecture also brought together a large audience and major media coverage.
The Director General also presented Dr.
Jirari with the first copy of Issue I of the Cultural Forum Gatherings series.
** The global expenditure on armament amounts to US$17 trillion, just to
protect humanity from itself
** Each human being has
individual rights, including the right to privacy which is daily violated on
Internet
The second gathering of ISESCO Cultural Forum, held yesterday at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), hosted Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of the Mohammadia League of Scholars, former member of the Moroccan National Council of Human Rights (CNDH), to deliver a lecture on the theme “From Human Rights to Humanity Right: Exploring contextual and knowledge requirements and approaching mechanisms”, on the occasion of Human Rights Day.
The
Forum was largely attended by ambassadors, experts, specialists, media representatives,
and students of universities and higher institutes in Rabat. The gathering
started with an address by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, in
which he welcomed Dr. Abbadi and the audience, and introduced the theme of the
lecture. Afterwards, Dr. Abbadi delivered his lecture wherein he thanked ISESCO
and its Director General for this invitation and stressed the importance of the
lecture’s theme. He introduced his lecture with five basic principles “a) the human
rights ‘dimension’ is inherent in human beings since their existence and from
such dimension all legislations and procedures have been developed to organize
human life and relations; b) there are many individual rights that should be
framed within an attractive project; c) these rights entail duties; how can people,
for instance, call for the achievement of sustainable development unless they
fulfill their duties toward society and how can they demand peace while they cause
strife among people”.
Moreover,
Dr. Abbadi evoked the ‘fourth generation of human rights’, which takes into account
the current system that considers the right to privacy as a human right. He
also discussed the violations of the right to privacy on Internet, and the issues
of genetic modifications with respect to the ethical dimension. He then went
back on the five principles to present the fourth one which is the current global
crises such as armament and fear crisis stating that the global expenditure on
armament amounts to US$17 trillion, with US$2288 per capita on Earth; i.e.
humanity incurs such massive expenditure to protect itself from itself.
Dr.
Abbadi further explained that human rights did not start with the Magna Carta
back in 1215; it rather began long ago quoting the saying of Umar ibn
al-Khaṭtāb (may Allah be pleased with him): “How can you enslave
people when their mothers bore them as free men?”. Each human
being is free and this notion is established in all religions and might be the
fifth principle.
Afterwards,
Dr. Abbadi stated five phases for tackling individual human rights. “Serious scientific
research is the gate to monitor the development of human rights and provide precise
answers. Such research should adopt a scientific method and have special and
adequate tools for the investigated field, namely human rights”, he stressed.
Dr.
Abbadi also reaffirmed the importance of strengthening, supporting and
assisting human rights institutions so as to full their duties. At the end of
this lecture, Dr. Abbadi received and answered the audience’s questions.
Following this discussion, Dr. AlMalik honored
Dr. Abbès Jirari, Dean of Moroccan Literature, guest of the Forum’s first
gathering, and Dr. Abbadi with a certificate of appreciation and excellence,
and a medal from ISESCO. Dr. AlMalik also
presented Dr. Jirari with the first copy of Issue I of the Cultural Forum
Gatherings series.
**We should explore the human rights processes going beyond the individual dimension to the collective ones and anticipating the future
Dr.
Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (ISESCO), stressed that the application of human rights is
an internal affair of every country after due proper institutional
deliberations, advocacy, consultation and management according to societal
consensuses, national dialogue, natural development and national contexts of
each society. “Such action is not based on foreign agendas or strange references
to these societies. This is one of the challenges facing us toward entrenching
the culture of human rights” explained Dr. AlMalik.
This was
part of Dr. AlMalik’s address yesterday at ISESCO Cultural Forum, which hosted
Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of the Mohammadia League of Scholars,
former member of the Moroccan National Council of Human Rights (CNDH), to
deliver a lecture on “From Human Rights to Humanity Right: Exploring contextual
and knowledge requirements and approaching mechanisms”, on the occasion of
Human Rights Day.
At the
outset of his address, Dr. AlMalik welcomed all the participants to ISESCO,
which is a house of expertise for the Islamic world in its areas of competence,
reaffirming ISESCO’s keenness to develop new methods in the management of the
intellectual fields through openness to decision-makers in various knowledge
fields to participate in ISESCO’s activities and listening to their proposals
and opinions on the promotion of culture, education, science and communication
in Member States.
ISESCO
Director General added that “this is a perfect time and context for this
lecture, which deserves due attention as it places the human rights issue at
the core of the concerns of ISESCO, which published many relevant studies in
its working languages, including “the Islamic Declaration on Cultural Rights”
which was approved by the 8th Islamic Conference of Culture
Ministers, held in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah in 2014.”
Besides,
Dr. AlMalik made it clear that many of ISESCO Member States have taken positive
strides in the process of human rights, which needs further expansion as it
concerns countries and societies, achieves development, and ensures
comprehensive security. “We should take into account the cultural, social,
economic, environmental and technological changes which resulted in many new
problematics with direct impact on Earth and humanity rights. Such problematics
should be solved through the establishment of new human rights processes that
go beyond the individual dimension to the collective ones and move from the
present to the future”, he explained.
ISESCO
Director General stressed that within this
new human rights prospect, going in line with ISESCO’s new vision, which is entrenched
through many important reforms in its plans, programmes, structure and human
resources, the issue of human rights should be among the concerns of
decision-makers, officials and society as it builds the societies in which
security, welfare, justice and equality prevail.
Dr.
AlMalik added that the system of human rights does not only concern
individuals, but it covers also human groups and future generations. “However,
there are historical, cultural and social contexts, knowledge requirements and
implementation mechanisms that should be respected and taken into account. The
human rights issue is not a slogan or a passing celebrated day. It is rather a strong
culture that should be shared and implemented transparently within constructive
dialogue and consultation” he stressed.
At the
close of his address, Dr. AlMalik said “Muslims have given due attention to the
issue of rights at the level of religious assignment, including worship,
dealings, doctrines and discipline, and developed the philosophy of legislation
based on preserving the human dignity. However, they should reconsider them
according to an accurate scientific method and grasp all the developments of
the Islamic thoughts in this field so as to enrich the human rights
achievements in the general human civilizational edifice and achieve the true
meaning of succession as Allah Says: ‘O David, indeed We have made you a
successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth’”.
**Dr. AlMalik: The countries of the Islamic world have boundless potentials, which promise a brighter future on the condition that they are well invested.
**ISESCO works on facilitating social integration and developing Islamic solidarity values
The Director General of the Islamic
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Dr. Salim M.
AlMalik, called for holding an international forum at ISESCO’s headquarters in
Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, in 2020, with the participation of the regional and
international organizations and civil society bodies concerned with social
development in order to develop a holistic strategy for promoting the
humanitarian and social situation, and helping ISESCO Member States honor their
commitments to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.
This came in Dr. AlMalik’s address at the
opening session of the First Islamic Ministerial Conference on Social
Development, which kicked off today, in Istanbul, Republic of Turkey, in the
presence of H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, under the theme
“Ensuring Social Equality and Prosperity for All in Member States:
Opportunities and Challenges”.
At the outset of his address, ISESCO
Director General noted that the theme of the conference contains “equality” and
“prosperity”, which reflect two key goals of the SDGs 2030. “This raises the
following questions: What is the degree of progress our countries have made
since 2015 to fulfill their commitments regarding the Seventeen Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), after nearly a third of the period ahead of 2030?
What urgent strategies and measures should we take to speed up the pace of
progress?”, Dr. AlMalik said.
He also wondered how should Muslim
countries make up for lagging behind developed countries at a time when the
countries of the Islamic world allocate a mere 0.4% of their gross domestic
product for scientific research and development in a world that has witnessed
the growth of invention patents in cutting-edge technologies and artificial
intelligence over the last twenty five years by 1000%?.
He added that world states, including the
Muslim ones, committed themselves to achieve the fourth SDG on education. “Yet,
more than 64 million children are out of school in these countries for social
and economic reasons, and illiteracy rate stands at 40% of the population, of
which 65% are girls and women. Underage marriage in our Islamic world is also a
sad phenomenon, a painful reality and a key factor of the girls’ social
isolation and for their prevention from pursuing their education”, the Director
General further explained.
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik stated that the nations
of the world also committed themselves to achieve the first and second SDGs on
the elimination of poverty and hunger. Yet again, he maintained, utter poverty
is still prevalent in the Islamic world with 16% of the population living on
less than two dollars a day; and there are no near-term prospects for a shrink
of hunger levels in many regions of Africa and West Asia where malnutrition has
reached 12% of the population.
Likewise, ISESCO director general warned
that in a world where the intensity of conflicts, natural disasters,
immigration waves and displacement is not abating, and in view of the report
released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (UNOCHA), on 4 December 2019, nearly 168 million people all over the
world will require humanitarian assistance and protection in 2020, the highest
figure to be recorded in decades.
Dr. AlMalik also stated that faced with
these conditions and circumstances, the countries of the Islamic world have
boundless potentials, which promise a brighter future for its children and for
the coming generations on the condition that they are well invested. “One of
these potentials is the young forces and the high rate of children and youth in
its demographic fabric, the hidden talents that require to be discovered and
encouraged, and the high technical and scientific competencies either inside
our countries or in the diasporas which can strongly contribute to the
localization of advanced technology and scientific research in our countries”,
he maintained.
Furthermore, the Director General underscored
that the current situation, whose features and aspects are unfolding through
facts and figures, not only requires Muslim countries to pay further attention and make stronger commitment,
but also motivates them to gear their action towards finding effective and
viable solutions to the humanitarian and social issues. “Therefore, we should
all assume our responsibilities in achieving the social development for our
peoples based on a holistic human rights approach that considers poverty,
illiteracy, educational deprivation, all forms of social exclusion,
malnutrition, water shortage, poor sanitation and environmental aggressions as
flagrant violations of human rights”, Dr. AlMalik stressed.
Against this backdrop, the
Director General stated that ISESCO has developed a new vision through which it
seeks to become a beacon of global outreach to anticipate the issues of human
development and focus on the elimination of poverty, counter extremism and hate
speech; a vision that is centered on the human being; one that respects the
environment, preserves the dignity of all and treats all people on equal
footing.
He also maintained that under
this vision, ISESCO renews its commitment to better support its Member States
through developing a special system with indicators for measuring social
development in the countries of the Islamic world; analyzing the disparities
between them; monitoring the social transformations; preparing a comprehensive
strategy for combatting poverty to contribute to sustainable social development
and to promote peace for humanity as a whole; and supporting education that
values diversity, arts and sports in order to build inclusive societies for all.
“While we praise and
appreciate the efforts exerted by our Member States in the field of social
development, we reaffirm ISESCO’s commitment to facilitate and promote, through
a Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) approach, the socio-economic integration of
the vulnerable grassroots communities and develop the Islamic values of
solidarity and entrepreneurship”, the Director General announced.
Dr. AlMalik also stressed that the Conference
resolutions should focus on meeting the
actual needs of Muslim communities; building bridges of cooperation with
leading international organizations operating in development and humanitarian
action to create synergies and complementarity in our actions; adopting an
integrated approach for fighting poverty, extremism and terrorism; and
fostering further harmony and efficiency to ensure a steady improvement of
people’s life standards and an equitable participation to achieve prosperity
for all.
