OIC Celebrates 55th Anniversary

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) today celebrated its 55th anniversary. The organization was founded in response to the arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem by a resolution issued from the historic summit held in Rabat, Morocco, on September 25, 1969. OIC is currently chaired by Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, and operates through its Jeddah-based General Secretariat and through ita offices in New York, Geneva, Brussels, Kabul, Ramallah, Baghdad, Niamey, and Mogadishu. It has thousands of employees in its 41 offices and specialized agencies spread in 23 capitals and cities throughout the Islamic world. OIC serves as a vital arm for its member states in international forums, specifically representing the Islamic group of nations at the United Nations General Assembly in its New York and Geneva offices. The organization is active in political, economic, cultural, humanitarian, social, scientific, research, youth, sports, and media fields. It holds the Islamic Summit Co nference at heads of state level regularly, along with the annual Council of Foreign Ministers. The Islamic Summit on Science and Technology has also become a regular fixture on the organization's agenda. The organization plays a notable role in addressing the concerns of Muslim communities in non-member states, and in addressing Islamophobia, as well as in activities and projects carried out jointly with various international bodies, mainly the UN. Its areas of focus include peace and security issues, Palestine and Jerusalem, poverty alleviation, combating terrorism, investment and project financing, food security, science and technology, climate change, sustainable development, spreading moderation, cultural and interfaith harmony, women empowerment, joint Islamic humanitarian action, human rights, and good governance. Source: Saudi Press Agency