Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 06/10/2016
The deliberations of the preparatory Senior Officials Meetingof the Third Session of the OIC Ministerıal Conference of the Youth and Sports Ministers, started on Wednesday in Istanbul Republic of Turkey.
The meeting discussed the draft resolutions to be submitted to the Ministerial Conference on Thursday, 6 Oct. 2016.
The current session assumes special importance as it will discuss a number of vital subjects as suggested by the conference theme “Empowering Youth for Peace, Solidarity and Development”.
At the outset of the Preparatory Meeting, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Conference’s Second Session, handed over the chairmanship to the Republic of Turkey.
Mr. Abdul-Lattif Al-Harish, Head of the Saudi Delegation, Deputy Minister of Sports, indicated that focusing on youth and implementing their programs, constitutes an inevitable duty which should be viewed comprehensively.
Furthermore, he stated that sports play an important role in preparing the youth both physically and psychologically, so that they may act as ambassadors of their countries. He also stressed that interacting with programs and activities of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, should enrich these aspects and promote them while realizing the noble goals of their contributions
On his part, the Deputy Turkish Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr. Kamuran Ozden, indicated that there were some extremist movements which sought to distort the image of Islam.
The Minister underlined the need to combat such movements and to endeavor to put an end to Islamophobia particularly under the attempts made by some to associate terrorism with the sublime Islamic faith.
To this end, while underscoring the need to promote the commendable principles of the Islamic faith, Mr. Ozdenpointed out that youth in the Islamic world should shoulder the responsibility in this regard.
In her statement, Mrs. Mahla Talibn, Director General of Social, Cultural and Family Affairs, at the OIC General Secretariat, addressed a number of issues. She underlined the significant importance accorded by the OIC to the youth sector in line with the provisions of its Charter and the 2nd OICTen-year Program of Action, adopted by the 13th Islamic Summit Conference held in April 2016 in Istanbul, Republic of Turkey.
She also indicated that the OIC looked forward to the adoption, by the Conference, of important resolutions and strategies that would contribute to empowering youth and enhancing their capacities through coordinated action among Member States and organizations active in the field of youth. The aim is to organize several activities to promote the role of youth in Member States and enhance their solidarity and involving them in peace building and maintenance as well as renouncing violence.
