Regarding reinforcing the role of cultural economy in achieving the SDGs, the Doha Declaration issued by Conference affirmed support for the ICESCO initiative to generalize the mechanisms and strategies of the cultural economy, while adopting the new mechanisms proposed by ICESCO to develop its program for capitals of culture in the Islamic world. In this context, it hailed the success of the celebrations of the capitals of culture in the Islamic world (2019-2022) in Doha, Jerusalem, Tunis, Bissau, Rabat, and Cairo, and the great efforts made by the competent authorities in the host countries in this regard.
The conference stressed the importance of presenting an action program and executive visions, in coordination with the Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World, that would boost the preservation of Islamic culture and its landmarks in Al Quds Al Sharif, which are being subjected to systematic obliteration and Judaization, and support cultural and environmental tourism, and in
troduce the Islamic world’s abundant unique cultural treasures.
The conference also stressed the importance of supporting entrepreneurship and startups in traditional and cultural industries, protecting traditional handmade products, strengthening the cultural economy to achieve sustainable development, providing job opportunities and developing skills in the cultural sector, and developing cultural industries.
The conference agreed to support an initiative by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and ICESCO to unify and develop cultural indicators in the Islamic world that led to signing a bilateral agreement between the two sides. The statement also backed ICESCO’s proposal to allocate an 18th development goal to be added to the development goals of the international community for the year 2030 in a bid to enhance the role of culture in development and to demand that the UN add it to its 17 SDGs.
The concluding statement also urged educational institutions in the Islamic world to develop educational curricula th
at preserve family values and stand as a strong barrier in the face of calls for the disintegration of those values, while supporting the calls of ICESCO in coordination with member states to include culture on the agenda of the World Summit on the Future due in 2024.
It also called for adopting the use of modern technology techniques and applications, especially artificial intelligence and the metaverse, in studying and anticipating the future of culture in a changing world and work with all responsibility to build basic foundations that preserve the cultural identity of the Islamic world.
The conference issued a statement of solidarity with the Kingdom of Morocco and Libya in the face of the effects of the Al Haouz earthquake and Storm Daniel, stressing the willingness of the participating countries to provide all the necessary capabilities and assistance to the two countries.
The third working session witnessed speeches by heads of delegations and representatives of participating organizations and bodie
s, where visions and rich discussions were exchanged for the renewal of cultural work in the Islamic world, and agreement on the means and mechanisms to achieve this goal.
Source: Qatar News Agency