Jeddah (IINA) : The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has initiated coordination with the concerned agencies in implementing more than 16 projects within the framework of joint Islamic media action projects, as well as other projects included in the OIC Media Strategy to address Islamophobia and the Ten-Year Program of Action until 2025.

A consultative meeting held at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah on Monday brought together the OIC organs concerned with media affairs and reviewed those projects and ways to coordinate the joint Islamic media action. It also touched upon the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Jeddah, on 21 December 2016.

It also reviewed the possibility of holding information seminars to raise awareness of the local and international public opinion on the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and organizing workshops and forums on how to conduct research and studies on empowerment of women in media institutions and through the media.

The most important projects discussed included convening an annual conference and exhibition of information institutions in member states, holding of seminars on topics of special interest, such as Islamophobia, terrorism, development, women, tourism and others, and organization of regional conferences. They also included the methods for financing OIC satellite channel, organizing tours for journalists from member states in Africa, organizing training programs for OIC journalists, and joint production of television and documentary programs on social and development issues.

The meeting also discussed the establishment of forums on promoting dialogue and cultural exchange and highlighting OIC member states in this field and preparing a study on the training media personnel specialized in dealing with terrorist events.

In his speech at the opening session, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the OIC Ambassador Mohammad Al-Tayyeb, referred to the importance of the joint Islamic media action in promoting Islamic solidarity, deepening the bridges between the peoples of the Islamic Ummah, spreading the true image of Islam, showing values of tolerance, moderation, and rejection of fanaticism, extremism, and violence.

He stressed the need for serious and objective media action to confront these challenges and support the joint Islamic media institutions to enable them to undertake their role effectively especially that the Islamic Ummah is living in an age of open and influential media.

For her part, Director of the OIC Information Department Maha Mustafa Akeel welcomed the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the OIC on behalf of the OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen.

Akeel referred to the OIC Media Strategy to address Islamophobia and the Ten-Year Program of Action upto 2025. She also touched upon organizing information seminars to raise awareness of the local and international public opinion on the question of Palestine and Jerusalem, and organizing workshops and information forums on how to conduct research and studies on the empowerment of women in media institutions and through the media. She also touched upon the cooperation with the OIC Women’s Media Observatory and the promotion of the media personnel and organizations of the OIC.