OIC summit communique deplores Iranian interference in the region's internal affairs 9th add

The Conference expressed its renewed determination to tackle and address, through joint Islamic action, the recent upsurge in xenophobic attacks, violent extremism, inequality, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the factors giving rise to their resurgence. In this regard, the Conference supports efforts to galvanize the international community towards re-engaging with the ongoing discourse on the negative historic legacies of trans-Atlantic slave trade slavery, colonialism and looting of cultural heritage and artifacts and the related issues of restitution, reparations and atonement for these wrongs, including the need for an agreement on strategies for achieving them.

178. The Conference further mandated the OIC, its relevant Organs and its Groups in New York and Geneva to support the convening an international conference to comprehensively discuss the issue of the slave trade, slavery, colonialism, restitution and reparations. Such a conference shall also discuss measures and strategies to address the lasting negative impact of these historic wrongs. Thus, the Conference called upon other stakeholders including other member states of the United Nations, the Caribbean Community, the African Diaspora and relevant CSOs to advance this agenda from where it was left at the Durban Conference of 2001 and its follow-up review meetings.

179. The Conference strongly condemned the crimes committed against tangible and intangible cultural heritage in all its forms in Syria, Iraq, Mali, Libya, and in other Member States, and invited ISESCO and IRCICA, in coordination with Member States and all relevant partners at different levels, to strengthen the cooperation with competent institutions in order to monitor the situation of cultural, civilizational and religious heritages in the Muslim World, and take part in countering acts of destruction and vandalism against such heritage, as well as jointly organize an international seminar on "Islamic Action to Protect Cultural Heritage" at the earliest convenience.

180. The Conference welcomed the efforts and initiatives of the State of Qatar in support of the UNESCO, the World Heritage Committee and the UNESCO's programme for the protection of cultural and natural heritage in emergency situations. It also welcomed the State of Qatar’s nomination of Dr. Hamad Ben Abdelaziz Al-Kouari to the position of UNESCO Director General.

181. The Conference applauded the Egyptian role in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in particular with respect to agreeing on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the UNESCO Strategy for the Protection of Cultural heritage. In this respect, the Conference welcomed decision of the Arab Republic of Egypt to present a candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO.

182. The Conference welcomed Lebanon's nomination of Ms. Vera Khoury to assume the post of Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

183. The Conference welcomed the establishment by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Programme for the care of Cultural Heritage, the establishment by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage of a center for architectural heritage to preserve and rehabilitate national heritage, the recent change of the name of the "Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities" to become the "Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage" to be inclusive of all aspects and components of heritage, the decision to preserve Islamic heritage sites, and the adoption of the Monuments, Museums and Architectural Heritage System and regulations.

184. The Conference commended the efforts of the Republic of Senegal to reenergize COMIAC, and encourages it to create programmes and activities in the domain of media and information, and those geared towards upholding the profile of Islamic culture and identity, intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue, as well as increasing OIC visibility globally, by COMIAC through cooperation with relevant OIC institutions and international partners.

185. The Conference called on the General Secretariat to take measures, in cooperation with Member States in order to support cinematographic production and promote cooperation in the cultural domain, including through holding an OIC film festival, with a view to reinforcing cultural relations among Member States.

186. The Conference welcomed the efforts and initiatives, in the field of preservation of family values, taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which, together with the Islamic Group, sponsored a resolution on "family protection" during the 29th session of the Human Rights Council. The Conference also welcomed its contribution to the adoption of the ministerial resolution on strengthening the marriage and family institution and the preservation of their Islamic values. The Conference further welcomed ??the readiness of the Kingdom to host the first session of a specialized conference on this topic in 2016, and called upon OIC Member States and relevant Organs to cooperate with the General Secretariat and the host country, for the success of the conference.

187. The Conference welcomed the ministerial resolution on preserving the welfare and social security of the elderly people with special needs in the Islamic world, adopted by the 42nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held in Kuwait (May 27-28, 2015), and the preparedness of the Islamic Republic of Iran to host the first session of the Conference during 2016. The Conference also called upon OIC Member States and relevant Organs in collaboration with the Secretariat and the host country to make efforts for the success of the conference.

188. The Conference underlined the importance of building capacity of the youth and enhancing their role in the overall development and the promotion of peace and security in Muslim societies. The Conference also welcomed the training and rehabilitation programs and activities undertaken by the OIC Subsidiary Organs and Affiliated Institutions and the civil society organizations in this regard. It further called upon Member States and OIC Institutions to promote, coordination and cooperationto support the activities and projects of these organizations, and to work for launching an international Islamic Youth Forum.

189. The Conference underlined importance of youth development and capacity building and of enhancing youth role in the overall development and the promotion of peace and security in Muslim societies. The Conference also welcomed the recommendations delivered by the 1st OIC Pre-Summit Youth Event (12-13 April 2016, Istanbul) organized by the OIC General Secretariat and ICYF-DC within the programme of the 13th Islamic Summit Conference and called upon the Member States and the OIC Subsidiary Organs, Affiliated Institutions and the civil society organizations to support implementation of these Recommendations via relevant development, capacity building, training and rehabilitation programs and activities. It further called upon the Member States and the OIC Institutions to promote coordination and cooperation to support the activities and projects of these organizations, in particular towards holding "The OIC Youth Capital Programme" on an annual basis and organizing an International Muslim Youth Forum in Africa in 2017.

190. The Conference welcomed the initiative of his Royal Highness Prince Al-Hussein Ibn Abdullah II Crown Prince of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on youth, peace and security launched at the Security Council during His Highness’ presidency of the Session in April 2015. It also commended His Highness’ patronage of the Global Forum for Youth, Peace and Security held in Amman in August 2015, and the historic resolution of the Security Council no, 2250 on youth, peace and security adopted on 9 December 2015.

191. The Conference condemned the biased Western media campaign against the State of Qatar doubting its entitlement to organize the 2022 World Cup tournament and the insistence of some western media to spread and disseminate erroneous and biased information aimed at belittling its right to organize the tournament despite the success of Qatar’s bid in an absolutely fair and transparent completion. The Conference reiterated that the hosting of the 2022 World Cup by Qatar – a Member State of the OIC – is an achievement and gain for OIC States and a right for peoples of the Muslim world. The Conference called on joint Islamic action institutions and the media in the Member States to support the State of Qatar in refuting the media’s falsehood methods and incitements by some western media in this regard.

192. The Conference commended the role of non-governmental organizations active in the field of family, women, children, youth, the protection of the elderly and people with special needs in the Member States. The Conference also called on the OIC General Secretariat to take all necessary measures to promote coordination and joint action with these organizations to serve the OIC objectives.

193. The Conference commended the role of the OIC Secretary-General for his tireless efforts aimed at promoting the advancement and empowerment of women and the welfare of the family in the OIC Member States, strengthening the status of children and safeguarding their rights, and enhancing the role of youth in promoting citizenship and the well-being and social security of the elderly and people with special needs and maintaining security.

194. The Conference called upon Member States, which have not yet done so, to expedite the process of the ratification of the Statute of the Organization of Women's Development in OIC Member States, so that the statute may enter into force, and the Organization may become operational. It called on Member States to expedite the signing and ratification of the Covenant of the Rights of the Child in Islam.

195. The Conference welcomed and commended the Government of the Islamic Republic of the Gambia's recent decision to ban the practice of female genital mutilation and called upon other OIC Member States which have not done so to take a similar action.

Source:WAM