Category: News update

On the Global Media and Information Literacy Week, commemorated this year under the theme: “Nurturing trust – A Media and Information Literacy Imperative,” the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) calls for solidarity and joint action to make media and digital knowledge available in various fields, provide the needed resources to achieve this end, adhere to its principles, and develop new relevant initiatives, to contribute to achieving cultural sustainability, economic growth and social progress.

Given that media and information literacy is paramount to achieving trust, which is the binding element for social cohesion and social breakthroughs for the common good, ICESCO stresses the need to develop digital skills and enhance media knowledge in light of the widely spread misinformation and the technological revolution that the world is witnessing in the era of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality and the metaverse. It is worth noting that the Organization has radically transformed its working mechanisms through the digitization of its departments and centers, and has called, along with other international organizations, for contribution to providing the necessary resources to support media and information literacy programmes in 2021.
Cognizant of the prominent role of education in spreading awareness of the importance of media literacy and building individual capacities to use modern technologies to access information and verify the factual accuracy of media news, ICESCO supports the efforts of its Member States in developing modern media literacy curricula that equip learners with the necessary skills to discern accurate information and critically evaluate media news, to enable them to benefit from purposeful digital content and avoid negative messages and misinformation.

ICESCO also contributes to promoting the creation of focused digital content, and introducing new generations to the luminaries of Islamic history, particularly in the fields of science, culture and thought, who left an indelible mark on human civilization, in addition to promoting the heritage sites and cultural goods inscribed on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List.
In a bid to support international efforts in building youth capacities in the fields of media and information and developing their digital skills to improve their integration into the ever-morphing labour market, ICESCO launched a wide array of programmes, projects and training sessions. These include the Young Professionals Program 2022, the Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS), a programme for training youth in creating and developing small projects in the field of technology and innovation, in addition to a training and capacity-building programme for journalists and media professionals in the Organization’s Member States, which equip youth with the necessary knowledge to harness the potential of modern technology.

ICESCO reiterates its readiness to join hands with all international organizations, agencies, or entities to launch and implement initiatives and programmes that are geared towards promoting media and information literacy in its Member States, thus contribute to addressing future challenges, eliminating media and digital illiteracy, and achieving sustainable development goals.

The Conference Commended ICESCO’s Efforts in Training Journalists and Preparing Media Studies

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the 12th Islamic Conference of the Ministers of Information of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held on October 21-22, 2022, in Istanbul, Republic of Turkey, under the theme “Combating Disinformation and Islamophobia in the Post-Truth Era.”
The opening session witnessed the handover of the presidency of the Conference from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Turkey. In his address, Mr. Hissein Ibrahim Taha, OIC Secretary-General, warned against the danger of disinformation and distortion of facts, calling for coordination and cooperation between Muslim countries and Islamic organizations to modernize media discourse in line with current changes to face these challenges.

Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Minister of Media of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reviewed the outcomes of the 11th Session of the Conference, headed by Saudi Arabia, while Dr. Fahrettin Altun, Head of Communications Directorate of the Republic of Turkey, indicated that disinformation is increasing due to the negative use of social media platforms.

Afterward, the Conference elected Turkey as chairperson, Saudi Arabia as rapporteur and Palestine, Somalia and Guinea-Bissau as members of its bureau during closed working sessions. It also adopted the Media Affairs Resolution, which called upon Muslim countries to cooperate and coordinate with regard to media affairs and support the Palestinian cause, as well as the Istanbul Declaration and the approval of the offer of the Republic of Azerbaijan to host its 13th session.

The media affairs resolution commended ICESCO’s efforts in training journalists and its study on media contents on Islam in the light of international law, calling on the General Secretariat of OIC to adopt it in joint Islamic media action.

Mr. Sami El-Kamhawy, Director of Information and Institutional Communication Department, represented ICESCO at this conference. He held meetings with several delegations of countries and the representatives of international organizations on ways to strengthen cooperation and reviewed the major initiatives, programmes and projects implemented by ICESCO, especially in the field of information, in light of its new vision and strategic orientations.

In celebration of the Arab Science Week, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a panel discussion on the role of science diplomacy and civilizational dialogue in achieving sustainable development, with the participation of a number of distinguished scientific figures in the Arab world.

The organization and management of the seminar, which was held on Thursday, October 21, 2022, via videoconference, was supervised by Dr. Adel Smeda, expert at ICESCO Science and Technology Sector, and Dr. Huda Megeirhi, expert at ICESCO Center for Civilized Dialogue.In his speech, Dr. Smeda touched on the importance of science diplomacy in supporting scientific cooperation between universities and scientific research centers in the Islamic world, and its role in facing the challenges of climate change, epidemics, illegal immigration, and enhancing energy and cyber security, reviewing the ICESCO’s projects geared to support achieving sustainable development, and youth projects in modern technology and space sciences.For his part, Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to ICESCO Director-General (DG) for the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), gave a presentation on the impact of science on networking and introducing cultures to serve society and development.

He pointed out that scientific diplomacy is one of the types of parallel diplomacy that is given importance in conferences and symposiums stating that it brings closer different viewpoints and join efforts, calling upon the participants to make of science a catalyst for cooperation, development and knowledge.

Dr. Huda Megeirhi explained the role of civilized dialogue in promoting scientific diplomacy, as a means of negotiation, avoiding conflicts, promoting the values of coexistence, and building fruitful international partnerships.

The discussion panel ended up with a number of recommendations to support cooperation and partnership between research and scientific institutions in ICESCO Member States, build bridges of communication and dialogue between scientists, design programs to build the capacities of young scientists with the aim of facing common regional and global challenges.

It also recommended launching an award in scientific and civil diplomacy for projects serving science and development.

The Human and Social Sciences Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with 50 candidates, who were selected to participate in the 2022 edition of the Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS), from 45 countries, to become official ambassadors of ICESCO for peace after graduation.

During the meeting, held on Wednesday (October 19, 2022) via videoconference, Ms. Ramata Almami Mbaye, Head of the Human and Social Sciences Sector, conveyed the message of congratulations by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, to the candidates on their selection to participate in the programme.

Besides, Ms. Mbaye reviewed the strategic vision and programmes of the Sector and emphasized the importance of ICESCO’s LTIPS, which pays special attention to youth and women playing their role in building the societies we want, stressing the need to respect the rules of the programme in such a way as to fully discharge their mission and contribute to the promotion of peace and its values.

In the conclusion, Ms. Mbaye announced that the Kingdom of Morocco will host the Peace Incubator for Youth, which will be established this year as part of the Programme.

For his part, Mr. Alioune Ndiaye, Programmes Manager at the Human and Social Sciences Sector, reviewed the axes of ICESCO’s “360° Peace Approach,” and shared information on LTIPS in its new version.

Afterward, the young candidates presented themselves and reaffirmed their commitment to actively participate in the programme to promote peace within their communities.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is participating in the 11th session of the International Festival Samaa Marrakech, which is organized, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammad V, may God assist him, by al Munyia Marrakech Association for the Revival and Preservation of Morocco’s Heritage, in partnership with ministerial sectors, local and regional councils, and scientific, cultural and artistic institutions in the Kingdom of Morocco, under the theme: The present and future of ancient cities: knowledge of the architectural and urban heritage and its memory in the Maghreb and the Arab East.

ICESCO is represented in the 5-day festival, which started on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, in Marrakesh, by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director General. In his address at the opening session, he emphasized that sustainable development indicators raise the classification of cities and improve their image at the global level, noting that one of the most important tasks of the ICESCO Islamic World Heritage Committee is to take care of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the Member States.

Dr. Benarafa added that within the List of World Heritage in Danger, there are 36 sites inside the Islamic world out of a total of 53 sites, which represents approximately 70% of the sites in danger. At the World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT, 2022), which was held in Mexico in September, ICESCO submitted a proposal to add a new goal to the list of 17 UN goals for sustainable development, mainly those related to culture and heritage.

The festival aims to introduce the values ​​of identity and cultural and spiritual traditions in Morocco and to pay tribute to the pioneering role of civil society in raising awareness of the need to preserve tangible and intangible heritage through scientific symposia and specialized sessions with the participation of international experts, architects, and researchers specialized in the field of the architectural heritage of ancient cities, as well as several other cultural activities.

The Culture and Communication Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the 1972 Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, held by the Ministry of Arts and Culture of the Republic of Cameroon, in partnership with UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for Central Africa.

Dr. Mohamed Aba Osman, expert at Culture and Communication Sector, represented ICESCO in the celebration, which concluded on Wednesday (October 19, 2022). Dr. Aba Osman participated in a meeting of heritage experts under the theme “Action and innovation for a world sustainable heritage in the service of central African communities.”

During the celebration, several experts, managers of world heritage sites and officials of heritage ministries from central African countries reviewed the efforts exerted to implement the provisions of the 1972 Convention, which aims to protect heritage and the challenges expected during the next fifty years, and provide guidance to harness the potential of world heritage in achieving sustainable development and promoting peace and dialogue.

The participants made some recommendations based on joint action to preserve heritage sites. They also adopted the Yaoundé Declaration, which emphasizes the importance of world heritage as a locomotive to innovate and build resilient and sustainable societies.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Mohamed Sghir Janjar, Deputy Director-General of King Abdul-Aziz Al Saoud Foundation for Islamic Studies and Human Sciences in Casablanca, and his accompanying delegation, to discuss the development of the partnership between the Organization and the Foundation in areas of common interest.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s eagerness to cooperate with stakeholders for the benefit of the Member States and Muslim communities around the world, noting that the Organization accords special importance to the field of digitization, including the development and digitization of libraries, relying on the latest capabilities that modern technology can provide.

The meeting touched upon the possibility of a partnership between the two parties in developing the ICESCO library, which will witness a qualitative transformation to keep pace with the present and its developments and anticipate the future, as ICESCO intends to make all its paper-based publications available digitally to all readers wherever they are.

ICESCO and the King Abdul-Aziz Foundation in Casablanca agreed to cooperate in organizing several activities in areas of common interest.

Following the meeting, Dr. Mohamad Zinealabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture and Communication Sector, held a meeting with the Foundation’s delegation to discuss the establishment of a series of annual seminars aimed at building a compendium of knowledge, and a proposal to translate into Arabic the most important foreign intellectual works and articles as soon as they are issued. The meeting also explored partnership and cooperation with ICESCO Think Tank “Culture for Rethinking the World” and the development of cultural policies related to the field of books, publishing and reading.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the first edition of the “Erasmus Scientific Days” international conference, which was held by the National Erasmus+ Office in the Kingdom of Morocco, in partnership with ICESCO’s Strategic Foresight Center, the Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakesh, the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, the European Union’s Representation Office, and the Association of University Presidents in the Kingdom of Morocco, to promote scientific exchange in the areas of higher education and innovation.

Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of ICESCO’s Strategic Foresight Center, and Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to the Director-General (DG) for the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), represented the Organization during the two-day conference, which concluded its proceedings on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, and took place at the headquarters of the Cadi Ayyad University.

During the event, Dr. Hammami emphasized the importance of foresight in anticipating the future of learning and teaching, highlighting the constant and intricate changes that the world is currently witnessing. He also noted the need to advance the education sector and develop the necessary skills to fulfill the jobs of tomorrow.

The participants, which include researchers, university professors, experts and specialists from institutions and organizations working in the field of higher education, discussed a range of initiatives, scientific research papers and projects aimed at building and strengthening the capabilities of university faculty, staff and students.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the International Conference on Tolerance, Peace and Sustainable Development in the Arab World, organized by the League of Arab States, in cooperation with the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace.

The Conference was held at the headquarters of the League’s General Secretariat in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt, and saw high-caliber participation of ministers and officials from Arab countries, in addition to representatives of several international organizations.

Held on 17-18 October 2022, the Conference casts light on the efforts of international governmental and non-governmental organizations in fighting against hate, fanaticism, spreading the culture of tolerance, monitoring obstacles and challenges and anticipating a future vision for spreading the culture of peace and anchoring its principles for sustaining peace and achieving development in the Arab world.

Mr. Najib Rhiati, Cultural Advisor of ICESCO Director-General, represented ICESCO at the event, where he highlighted ICESCO’s efforts to anchor the principles of peace and counter extremism through holistic approaches to education, science and culture, with the ultimate aim of promoting tolerance and achieving sustainable development.