Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), emphasized the need to restore universal human values that must prevail over all ideologies that divide peoples, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that this can be achieved through the promotion of peace culture and the development of policies that promote dialogue among civilizations, which are paramount for social cohesion and sustainable development.

This statement was part of an address delivered on his behalf by Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy DG, during the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Group of Friends meeting, which took place on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at the United Nations headquarters in New York and via videoconference. The high-level meeting was attended by Mr. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for the UNAOC, Mr. Jose Manuel Albarís Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, along with other representatives of states and international organizations. The meeting aimed at reviewing the progress achieved in the implementation of UNOAC’s initiatives and programmes for 2021 and discussing the current year’s plans.

In his address, ICESCO DG commended the efforts exerted in the areas of peacebuilding and promoting social cohesion and peaceful dialogue, stressing that ICESCO’s vision is based on addressing peace issues and their cross-cutting dimensions relating to the economic, scientific, technological, cultural, environmental, psychological and social fields that foster common universal human values.

ICESCO DG added that the Organization spares no effort in integrating the values of cordiality and mercy into its Member States’ educational curricula, reviewing ICESCO’s major initiatives geared towards promoting a culture of peace, namely the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah, held on May 27, 2021, that issued several recommendations and called on the United Nations to proclaim April 21st as the World Day of Mercy.

Dr. AlMalik concluded his address by reaffirming the Organization’s keenness to work closely with all partners towards achieving world peace by harnessing the power of educational programmes and civilized, inter-cultural dialogue to build peaceful, prosperous and sustainable societies.