OIC charges member states to empower youths with digital skills

 

JEDDAH – The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha has called on member states to intensify their empowerment of youths through digital skills.

Taha who was speaking on the OIC Youth Day extended his cordial congratulations to youth in the OIC member states and expressed grave concerns for the well-being of youth in the conflicts zones.

He appreciated the diligent efforts and huge strides taken by the esteemed Member States in close cooperation and coordination with the relevant OIC institutions towards the capacity-building and empowerment of youth, strengthening the role of youth in policy-decision-making, meaningful engagement of youth in economic and social development, protecting them from the misleading doctrines and violent extremism, their progressive role in the development of their communities and societies.

He  called on member states to reinvigorate their collective efforts for the capacity-building and empowerment of youth in order to achieve the goals delineated in the OIC-2025 Program of Action and the OIC Youth Strategy, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals through strengthening youth partnership for youth.

He urged the youth to acquire modern knowledge and to equip themselves with innovative sustainable technologies, skills, and contemporary knowledge to shape a cleaner, greener, more climate resilient, and prosperous future.

He also called upon all member states to invest more in digitalization for its key role in empowering youth and achieving OIC goals and SDGs in the area of youth empowerment. He also called on the OIC relevant institutions to support the efforts of Member States in this field.

He highlighted the oppressed plight and sufferings of the Palestinian youth in the wake of the unwarranted military aggression by the Israeli illegal occupation authority.

He seized this opportunity to urge the OIC Member States to make renewed efforts to sensitize the International Community to fulfill its responsibility so that life in safety and peace in Palestine is no longer a dream or a luxury but a reality and right.

It is worth noting that the 50th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held on 29-30 August 2024 in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroun adopted the Statute of the OIC Youth Fund to support Youth in the Sahel and Lake Chad region.

In this regard, the OIC Secretary-General seized this opportunity to urge all OIC Member States to accelerate the process of the signature and ratification of the Statue to facilitate its entry into force and allow this important instrument to start its work for the benefit of the youth facing challenges in the OIC Member States in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin region.