Media Center

H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, participated in the virtual Extraordinary Conference of Culture Ministers in the Member States of the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO) on 17 June 2020, held under the theme “Sustainability of Cultural Work in the Face of Crises (Covid-19).” The meeting was chaired by Dr. Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development of the United Arab Emirates.

The inaugural session was  presented by the President of the Conference, who initiated the opening session thanking ICESCO, its Director-General and his assisting team for the organization of the Conference in these trying circumstances that gravely affected all cultural activities, followed by Dr. Salim M. Al Malik, ICESCO Director-General, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), H.E Ernesto Ottone Ramírez, Assistant UNESCO Director-General for Culture and His Excellency Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé,  UN High Commissioner for the Alliance of Civilizations.

The conference kicked off with the speeches given by main speakers, namely, Dr. Talal Abu-Gazaleh, Founder and President of Talal Abu-Gazaleh Global, Mr. Webber Ndoro, Director General of the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), Dr. Taleb Rifai, former Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in addition to the excellences and ministers of culture in the Muslim world and representatives of international  cultural organizations.

The four sessions of the online conference meeting discussed a number of topics and issues related to the challenges faced by cultural sectors in the countries parties of ISESCO amid the exceptional circumstances dictated by Covid -19 Virus pandemic outbreak. Indeed, the first session shed lights on the cultural challenges and the virus outbreak, while the second session discussed the future of culture in the aftermath of Covid -19 Virus. The third session of conference, centered on the new plans and tendencies of ministers of culture and presidents of cultural sectors with regard to cultural tourism, while the fourth dealt with ISESCO’s strategic digital project.  

At the end of this conference, the participants adopted its declaration stating their commitment to renew support and encouragement to ISESCO’s vision with regard to the safeguard of cultural and historical heritage in the Islamic world, protection of the cultural rights and best ways to guarantee the sustainability of these rights. The conference also welcomed the organizations’ state parties, regional and international organizations aimed at safeguarding and guaranteeing the sustainable cultural right in times of crises.  

In addition, the final session adopted the meeting declaration with regard to ISESCO’s visionary strategy and ICESCO Digital Home, a new creative science and education initiative strongly supporting international community efforts to curb coronavirus effects. At the end of the session, the participants watched a short film on “ICESCO Portal for Islamic World Heritage,” established by ICESCO, out of its awareness that about 80% of cultural heritage in the Islamic world is in danger. Through this portal, heritage sites and elements of intangible cultural heritage will be inscribed on the Islamic World Heritage List (IWHL) and valued as Islamic rich cultural and historical heritage.
The conference declaration also stated the commitment of state parties to enhance and support cultural sectors in order to face the future challenges with regard cultural programs and developments, reaching out to the people in rural areas, remote villages and support the livelihood of culture-related work force. The conference also stressed the importance of cultural tourism development and the strong will and determination to strengthen the complementary relationship between culture and sports