The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held the Third Session of the Research Group on “Women’s Thought and Creativity in the Islamic World,” under the theme “Arab Resonances: Women’s Voices, Arts and Knowledge.” Bringing together 24 women from 11 countries across the Islamic world, the session explored women’s contributions to intellectual and artistic production and their role in driving social transformations.
Held via videoconference on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, the session was organized as part of the International Forum “Culture to Rethink the World” and within the framework of the cooperation program entitled “ICESCO–Arab World Institute: Shared Culture,”. Its activities focused on movement expression, philosophy and poetry.
The session opened with remarks by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector, who highlighted the importance of providing spaces for dialogue and research that advance the status of women and enable discussion of their experiences through an approach that respects diversity and cultural specificities. He also affirmed ICESCO’s commitment to supporting intellectual exchange on issues concerning women in the Islamic world.
The session was moderated by Dr. Zoubeida Boukhari, an international consultant in culture, education, and environmental communication. Presentations under the first theme addressed the performing arts as an expression of identity and a living memory passed down through generations, highlighting their role in preserving cultural practices and protecting them from disappearance. They also examined the ability of movement expression to transcend social barriers, convey experiences of suffering and provide space to express what is difficult to articulate in words.
Under the philosophy theme, discussions focused on the role of women’s creativity in transforming women’s realities and strengthening Arab cultural rapprochement, while dismantling inaccurate stereotypes of Middle Eastern women. The presentations emphasized that creativity extends beyond aesthetics to the production of ideas, dialogue across fields of knowledge and the building of bridges between cultures.
The session concluded with poetry recitations addressing women’s issues, experiences and aspirations. The recitations showcased examples of women’s writing that make poetry a space for self-expression and for listening to the experiences of others.
