Category: News update

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Najib Ghiati, Cultural Adviser to ICESCO Director-General and General Coordinator of the Celebration of Rabat, Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, made a working visit to the Royal Archives in Rabat, where they met Dr. Bahija Simo, Director-General of the Royal Archives. The two parties discussed the Archives’ contribution to the general programme of the Celebration of Rabat, Culture Capital in the Islamic world, which being held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah protect him.

During the meeting, held on Thursday (April 21, 2022), Dr. Bahija Simo stressed the willingness of the Royal Archives to contribute to Rabat Celebration by organizing an exhibition on “Masterpieces of Moroccan Writing through Rare and Unpublished Manuscripts”, at ICESCO headquarters, in October 2022, and a lecture on “Historical Examples of Texts of Allegiance to the Commandment of the Faithful in Morocco: From Moulay Idris to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah protect him”, on June 9, 2022, at ICESCO headquarters, as part of its program “Assemblies of Mubasatat” which includes a series of lectures on civilizational and cultural history of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Every year on April 21st, the world celebrates the Creativity and Innovation Day to raise awareness about the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development. On the occasion of this day, the Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural (ICESCO) raises awareness about the importance of coming up with creative and innovative ideas in all aspects of human development and highlights the efforts of those inventors who are bringing innovation and change in the field of science and technology.

ICESCO calls, on the occasion of this day, for the adopting the idea of innovation as essential in harnessing the economic potential of nations. Innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship can all provide a new momentum to economic growth and job creation. It can also create opportunities for all, including women and youth, and provide solutions to pressing problems such as eradicating poverty and ending hunger, therefore, achieve sustainable development.

In this regard, ICESCO has launched an ambition program for training youth in creating and developing their own projects in the field of technology and innovation. The program intends to train young people on how to create and develop small projects in the field of technology and innovation.

ICESCO also believes that awards to promote creativity and innovation capacities of non-formal learning and especially highlighting youth’s work can enhance the creative and innovative capacities of young people in ways that are relevant to employability. In this vein, ICESCO has sponsored a number of awards in the fields of sciences, culture, and education and supported youth innovation.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in the official inauguration ceremony of the Heritage Month 2022 in the Kingdom of Morocco, which was organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and headed by its Minister, Mr. Mohammed Mahdi Bensaid. The ceremony saw the signing of a decision to label the “Moroccan Heritage”, which aims to safeguard and preserve Moroccan cultural, as well as the introduction “Empires Routes”, an application that allows for virtual visits to a number of historical sites in Morocco.

The ceremony, which was held yesterday, April 18, 2022, at the Botanical Garden in Rabat, saw the participation of Dr. Ghita Mezouar, Minister Delegate of Digital Transition and Administration Reform; a host of Moroccan Government Officials and Parliament Representatives; and Ms. Helene Le Gal, French Ambassador to Morocco.

The Heritage Month in the Kingdom of Morocco kicks off on 18 April, concurrently with the celebration of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, and concludes its activities on May 18, 2022, which coincides with International Museum Day. The Heritage Month will feature a variety of activities, including 18 workshops for students, 11 art activities, the screening of 29 videos highlighting the Moroccan heritage inside and outside the Kingdom, and several face-to-face and virtual conferences and workshops.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched on Monday, April 18, 2022, a workshop entitled “Training Women in Income-generating Activities: Processing Agricultural Products and Forest Fruits” in Lomé, Republic of Togo, in partnership with the Togolese National Commission for ICESCO, to involve women in the field of entrepreneurship and environmental preservation.

During the first day of the four-day workshop, Dr. Ismaila Diallo, an Expert in ICESCO Science and Technology Sector, reviewed the Organization’s efforts in strengthening women’s capacities through implementing programmes and holding training sessions, in cooperation with national commissions in the Member States, to contribute to the advancement of the most vulnerable categories in addressing the repercussions of climate change.

For his part, Mr. Fousseni Karamon, Secretary-General of the Togolese National Commission, commanded ICESCO’s support for the countries of the Islamic world to contribute to achieving sustainable development, stressing the desire of the Republic of Togo to develop cooperation with ICESCO in providing opportunities for women and young people in the field of entrepreneurship, capacity-building and environmental preservation.

The workshop activities include theoretical sessions that contribute to raising awareness among women on ways and mechanisms of product processing, introducing marketing strategies and presenting production plans, as well as applied sessions to put into practice the acquired knowledge.

The world has been commemorating April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites since its establishment by the International Council on Monuments and Sites in 1982, which was endorsed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1983. This day represents a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the whole world, in general, and the abundance, diversity and authenticity of heritage in the Islamic world in particular.

This commemoration is also an opportunity to draw the general public’s attention to the need for the preservation and valorization of cultural heritage in all parts of the world, and cast light on the tireless efforts to protect it against neglect and vandalism.

On this occasion, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) stresses the need to protect cultural heritage of all kinds in its Member States and urges that efforts be aimed at the protection of historical monuments and sites against misuse or vandalism. In this context, the Organization recalls its unwavering efforts to protect its Member States’ heritage through various initiatives, notably the establishment of the Islamic World Heritage Center, the organization of multiple training sessions geared towards building the capacities of heritage professionals in Member States, the creation of a portal for heritage promotion, and the inscription of over 300 sites, landmarks and cultural elements since the Organization’s new vision took effect in 2019.

Against this backdrop, ICESCO calls upon all countries, civil society organizations and the private sector to cooperate closely and intensify efforts to protect the civilizational and cultural heritage of the Islamic world, particularly in conflict areas. The Organization also calls for the enactment of stringent laws and regulations criminalizing the illegal trade in valuable archeological artefacts found in monuments, which represent a shared human heritage handed down from generation to generation.

ICESCO also recalls the need to optimize the use of new technologies and artificial intelligence, and harness them for the protection and restoration of archeological sites and monuments as well as their online promotion through the creation of interactive maps.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Mr. Najib Riati, Cultural Adviser to ICESCO Director-General and General Coordinator of the celebration of Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic world for 2022, visited the headquarters of the institution of Archives of Morocco in Rabat, to discuss the Institution’s contribution to the general programme of celebrating Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic world, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah protect him.

During the visit, on Friday, April 15, 2022, Dr. Jamaa Baida, Director of the Archives of Morocco, expressed his full eagerness to place the Institution at the disposal of ICESCO, to contribute to highlighting the history of the city of Rabat, and its scholars and institutions to the civilizational radiation of Morocco.

At the close of the visit, Dr. Benarfa signed the Golden Book of the Archives of Moroccan, expressing ICESCO’S gratitude for the Institution’s efforts in contributing to the success of the celebration of Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic world for 2022.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Muslim World League (MWL), and the Mohammedia League of Scholars in the Kingdom of Morocco will hold a major international celebration to launch the “International Day of Mercy” initiative, on Thursday, April 21, 2022. This celebration came following the adoption of the resolution on the annual commemoration of this day by the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held last March in Islamabad, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The proclamation of this day reflects the centuries-long relentless human efforts toward promoting the values of grace, benevolence and mercy among all nations, peoples and cultures. It was recommended in the declaration of the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah, held by ICESCO in cooperation with MWL and the Mohammedia League of Scholars in May 2021, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco.

The celebration will take place both in-person at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, and via videoconference, at 2 p.m. (UTC), and will bring together high-level scholars, religious leaders and representatives of international organizations and institutions. It aims at highlighting mercy as a core value in human history that should serve as a parameter for civilized behavior between nations, peoples, countries and individuals.

The celebration program begins with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, then introductory remarks by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General (DG) of ICESCO, followed, respectively, by the addresses of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO DG, Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa, Secretary-General of MWL, and Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary-General of the Mohammadia League of Scholars. The event also features the screening of a video summarizing the proceedings of the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah and another ICESCO video on the Prophet’s lineage.