Category: News update

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), presented several recommendations to achieve world cultural security and keep up with digital advancement. Dr. Benarafa listed, among others, strengthening digital cultural infrastructure, creating digital cultural institutions and promoting their activities, setting out appropriate legislations to ensure the sustainability of digital cultural action, protecting copyrights, and providing adequate support to cultural institutions and creators to sustain their various cultural content production through various digital mediums.

Dr. Benarafa made this statement in a paper on “World Cultural Security and Digital Advancements,” which he presented at the 9th Session of Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, held in the UAE, on 8-10 November 2022, under the theme, “Global Conflict and Universal Peace: Urgent Needs and Opportunities for Partnership.” T

he Forum is held under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Emirati Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and saw high-caliber participation including religious leaderships, decision-makers, ministers, government officials, representatives of international organizations and government bodies, and activists in the fields of peace and tolerance advocacy across the globe.

Dr. Benarafa stressed that cultural security is a key element in anchoring world peace, social justice, self-growth and accepting the Other in multi-racial, multi-cultural communities. The ICESCO official stated that this is what ICESCO seeks to achieve through its programs which aim to contribute to achieving cultural equilibrium and respecting cultural distinction of the countries of the Islamic world.

Moreover, the Deputy Director-General stressed that achieving cultural security in the Islamic world hinges upon documenting all cultural knowledge and heritage, both tangible and intangible, using all means available. He noted that ICESCO created the Islamic World Heritage Committee and the Center for Heritage in the Islamic World to address major shortcomings it has observed in the proper management of heritage in the Islamic world, adding that over the past three years alone, ICESCO inscribed 460 historical sites and cultural elements in its heritage lists.

In another vein, ICESCO set up a special pavilion at the exhibition organized on the sidelines of the Forum. The pavilion was overseen by Mr. Ali Ndiaye, Program Director at the Sector of Human and Social Sciences, and featured several ICESCO publications pertaining to the fields of peace and civilizational dialogue.

The Science and Technology Sector at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in two international forums, namely the 8th World Forum on the Internet of Things 2022, held in Japan, and the Forum on Scientific Research Ethics, Technology and Innovation, held in Oman by the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

ICESCO was represented at the first event, via videoconference, by Dr. Foued EL Ayni, Expert at the Sector, who presented a paper on ICESCO’s strategy to contribute to the transformation of cities in the Islamic world into smart and sustainable cities, at the working session on, “Smart Cities and the Roadmap for Sustainable Digital Transformation of Cities.” The ICESCO official stressed the importance of building capacities and promoting international cooperation to reduce the gap between cities in terms of intelligence and knowledge exchange.

This forum highlights the latest innovations and developments in the fields of academic research, focuses on the exchange of experiences among experts and researchers regarding the opportunities and challenges of the Internet of Things and discusses ways to consolidate it in service of communities and humanity at large.

Regarding the second forum, Dr. Adel Smeda, Expert, represented his Sector and gave a presentation where he stressed the importance of adopting policies that support the ethics of scientific research, innovation and artificial intelligence. The representative seized the opportunity to cast light on ICESCO’s efforts to support studies and research, aimed at devising recommendations to establish ethics, principles and values to ensure the optimal use of artificial intelligence.

The two-day forum examined the need for ethics to protect societies and build trust in new technologies and artificial intelligence in particular. It also examined mechanisms to address the challenges that hinder the dissemination and application of these ethics.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Salomon Nfa Ndong Nseng, Ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to the Kingdom of Morocco, to discuss cooperation prospects in the fields of education, science and culture, as well as his country’s accession to the Organization as an Observer State.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the importance the Organization accords to its Member States in Africa, through the development of programmes and projects that meet their needs in the fields of capacity-building for youth and women, promoting entrepreneurship in technology and artificial intelligence, teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, and consolidating the values of coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue.

The two parties also discussed the possibility of Equatorial Guinea joining ICESCO as an Observer State. The Ambassador underlined his country’s interest in this regard to establish a fruitful partnership in the educational, scientific and cultural fields. Dr. AlMalik commended the prospect of this partnership, pointing out that the Organization adopts an approach of openness and cooperation with all stakeholders.

Ambassador Salomon Nfa Ndong Nseng also commended ICESCO’s efforts in supporting its Member States in their fields of competence and reaffirmed his country’s willingness to cooperate with the Organization, mainly in capacity building for the youth and the qualification of human capital.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Jumana Suleiman Ghunaimat, the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Kingdom of Morocco, to explore the implementation of more programmes and projects in cooperation between ICESCO and the Jordanian authorities specialized in the fields of education, science and culture.

During the meeting, which was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, the two parties reaffirmed their eagerness to develop the existing cooperation between ICESCO and Jordan, by coordinating the implementation of a set of programmes and projects in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, especially in connection with building youth capacities and supporting them in the areas of innovation and artificial intelligence applications, virtual and augmented reality, and modern technology in general.

The meeting touch upon ICESCO’s ongoing key programmes and projects as part of the new vision and strategic orientations of the Organization, which take into consideration the needs and priorities of each of its Member States during the preparation of the appropriate programmes and projects.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) released a book collection on tangible and intangible heritage in the Lake Chad Basin, containing 40 articles by experts and specialists from various countries including Niger, Cameroon and Chad. The book collection is part of the publications of ICESCO’s Center for Heritage in the Islamic World.
The 833-page book collection consists of three volumes in French and English, namely, “Myths, Beliefs and preserving Traditional Knowledge in the Lake Chad Basin,” “Cultural Diversity, Economic Production, Cultural Heritage and Education in the Lake Chad Basin,” and “Archeological Remnants, Management of Museum Collections, and the Promotion of Cultural Heritage in the Lake Chad Basin.”

It is worth mentioning that ICESCO organized an international conference in September 2021 on Preserving Cultural Heritage in the Lake Chad Basin. The conference saw high-caliber participation including several African ministers of culture, representatives of specialized international and African organizations, experts and students from more than 30 universities and research centers. This major conference focused on the threats undermining heritage in the Basin.

Moreover, the ICESCO Center for Heritage in the Islamic World released in May 2022 the first issue of the Guidebook of the Islamic World Museums, under the title, “Museums of Africa.” The Guidebook gives an overview of museums in ICESCO Member States located in the Sub-Saharan region.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is taking part in the 22nd Edition of the Arab Radio and Television Festival and the Future of Media Exhibition, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, on November 9-12, 2022.

The two events are organized by the Arab States Broadcasting Union, in cooperation with the Saudi Broadcasting AuthorityICESCO’s pavilion at the Future of Media Exhibition in Riyadh features a number of the Organization’s print and digital publications, which highlight its new vision and strategic orientations and cast light on its major programs and projects, especially in the field of digital production. The pavilion aims to enrich constructive content on the internet and social media platforms in order to contribute to consolidating the sense of pride in belonging to the Islamic identity and culture among young people.

The pavilion will be open to visitors wishing to take stock of ICESCO’s various electronic audiovisual publications, including educational and awareness-raising programs, and videos on figures who had remarkable contributions to the history of Islamic civilization.It is worth noting that the Arab Radio and Television Festival and the Future of Media Exhibition are bringing together member networks in the Arab States Broadcasting Union, a host of privately owned radio stations, Arabic-speaking international channels, and global companies active in the fields of production, technical equipment industry and audiovisual distribution.The festival aims to contribute to developing Arab television and radio production and monitor its innovative trends.

It will also feature several workshops and TV and radio contests.The Exhibition aims to promote exhibitors’ audiovisual productions and introduce the latest developments and innovations in the field of information technology. The exhibition celebrates many themes, notably the future of media, constructive Arab contents, and sports and celebrity media. It will also feature sessions on women’s participation and roles in the film industry throughout history.

The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with the King Salman International Complex for the Arabic Language in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to explore cooperation mechanisms of holding the international conference, “Diplomatic Outlook on the Arabic Language,” as part of the celebration of World Arabic Language Day.

The meeting was held on Monday, November 7, 2022, via videoconference, in the presence of representatives from the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the Saudi National Commission for Education, Science and Culture. The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers was represented by its Head, Dr. Majdi Hajj Ibrahim, and Dr. Anas Hussam Al-Nuaimi, Expert at the Center, while the King Salman International Complex for the Arabic Language was represented by the Head of the Sector of Language Planning and Policy, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mahmoud, along with a host of experts from the Complex.

The two parties agreed to hold the conference at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, in January 2023 and extend the invitation to several senior diplomats and experts in the field of teaching Arabic for diplomatic purposes. The two parties also agreed on the coordination and organization procedures, in addition to each party’s roles to ensure the success of the conference.

The Center for Civilization Dialogue and the Science and Technology Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) organized an art exhibition on climate action, under the theme “Creativity through Multimedia,” in partnership with several regional and international institutions and bodies and with the presence of representatives of embassies, diplomatic missions, civil society organizations and artists.

The exhibition, which was held on Friday, November 5, 2022, in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, aimed at contributing to strengthening the role of art in support of sustainable development goals through the exchange of experiences and knowledge between different international artists with multiple disciplines, raising collective awareness of climate change, encouraging dialogue between different cultures from inside and outside the Islamic world and promoting arts and cultures of the countries of the Global South.

The art exhibition witnessed the holding of workshops and an exhibition of artistic paintings, which express what the world is witnessing in connection to the climate and environment crisis and their repercussions on the planet, by relying on digital multimedia and visual performing arts, which review the creative industries ranging from traditional cultures to Metaverse applications.

During the opening session, Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Director of ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, stressed the importance of the three elements, represented by dialogue, art and the environment, as the basis for achieving progress and prosperity and building the societies we want, highlighting ICESCO’s vision and the action strategy of the Organization’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue, as an integrated and comprehensive approach to promoting the values ​​of dialogue and coexistence among civilizations.

For her part, Dr. Hoda Abdullah Al-Muqairhi, Expert at the Center for Civilizational Dialogue, highlighted the centrality of artistic dialogue, which would contribute to the development of new experiences and capabilities that contribute to strengthening integration and communication on climate change and raising awareness about the human responsibility in the field of the environment to build the future that we all want, achieve the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, mobilize the younger generation and future artists and promote their new digital artistic methods.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is participating in the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27) with a special pavilion in the Green Zone. The conference is hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt in Sharm El Sheikh, from 6 to 18 November 2022, in the presence of kings, heads of state and government, ministers and delegations from 190 countries, in addition to international organizations, regional bodies, civil society institutions and environmental protection activists.

ICESCO’s participation in this major global event comes as part of the Organization’s vision and strategic orientation to support international efforts in the field of environmental preservation and to contribute to addressing the negative effects of climate change in its Member States.

ICESCO’s pavilion at COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh will organize several activities, commencing on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, as it will feature the Organization’s key publications in the areas of heritage protection, environmental preservation and governance of environmental natural resources. Several ICESCO Sector Heads and Experts will also present scientific presentations on the risks of climate change and ICESCO’s key initiatives, programmes and projects to support its Member States.

The ICESCO pavilion will also witness the organization of a photographic exhibition, documenting the repercussions of climate change on the historical sites inscribed on ICESCO’s Islamic world Heritage Lists. Visitors to the pavilion will also be able to view a set of videos produced by the Organization in the field of environmental protection, and its initiatives, programmes and training sessions to raise awareness among young people about the importance of climate preservation and the repercussions of climate change on heritage sites.

ICESCO’s participation in COP27 also includes organizing several parallel events. On Friday, November 11, 2022, the Blue Zone will witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between ICESCO, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, UNESCO, the United Nations Development Program, the Industrial Modernization Center in the Arab Republic of Egypt to support the green transformation project and the use of solar energy in heritage sites and museums. On the same day, ICESCO, in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, will launch an initiative to establish a fund to protect heritage sites and museums in Egypt and the Islamic world from the damage of climate change.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the International Conference on “Developmental Media and Communication in the Service of Development,” organized by the Center of Literary and Linguistic Studies and Media and Communication Sciences of the Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences of the University of Sidi Mohamed bin Abdullah of Fez, in cooperation with the International Academy for the Development of Media and Communication, and the Municipality of Ifrane, on November 4-5, 2022, in Ifrane, in the presence of a group of professors, academic researchers, media professionals and communication officials of several international organizations.

The conference discussed the key role of media in achieving development as well as the challenges and needs of developmental media in the Islamic world. It also witnessed presentations on the strategies and experiences of a number of countries and international organizations on communication to contribute to achieving sustainable development.

Mr. Sami El-Kamhawy, Director of Information and Institutional Communication Department, represented ICESCO at this conference. He presented a working paper on the major programmes and projects of ICESCO’s various sectors, departments and centers geared towards contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in the Member States and highlighted the role of Information Department to introduce the background and objectives of these programmes and projects, reach the widest public to achieve the desired results and provide statistics on reactions about these activities to be taken into account in planning and implementing future programmes and projects.