ICESCO Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector took part in a symposium on “Positioning Media and Information Literacy on the International Development Agenda in the Post-Pandemic World,” held via videoconference, on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, with the participation of representatives of the United Nations agencies and civil society institutions, as well as a host of experts. The Symposium is part of UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week, commemorated from 24 to 31 October 2021, in South Africa.

In her address, during the plenary session entitled “Leave no one behind in media and information literacy: Mobilizing resources for real impact,” Ms. Rime Jirari, Head of the Department of Organizations and Bodies at ICESCO Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, emphasized the importance ICESCO accords to developing media and information education in the Islamic World and reviewed the Organization’s efforts in promoting best practices and relevant studies.

Ms. Jirari also unveiled some of ICESCO’s draft programs to be launched and implemented in the Organization’s efforts to contribute to protecting personal data and reducing online hate speech. These initiatives seek to facilitate the integration of media and information education into school curricula, support digital platforms and libraries, organize local and regional workshops and training sessions on the subject, and launch several awards to encourage outstanding research studies in the field.