RIYADH: The secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Hissein Brahim Taha, conveyed his congratulations to young people across the world on Saturday to mark International Youth Day, celebrated annually on Aug. 12.
International Youth Day was conceived in order to mobilize and promote political support for youth-related issues, and to recognize the resilience and potential of young people. It also highlights the importance of involving youth in decision-making processes, as well as the implementation and evaluation of policies and programs that enhance their abilities and opportunities.
Taha expressed his appreciation for the endeavors of member states and the initiatives undertaken by OIC organs and institutions to strengthen the adaptability and resilience of youth in the Muslim world.
He emphasized that, when provided with the necessary information and opportunities, young people can become “a driving force for development.”
Taha said that the Islamic Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers — hosted by Saudi Arabia in September 2022, along with the Council of Foreign Ministers in Nouakchott, had decided to transform the Youth Unit of the General Secretariat into the Department of Youth and Sports. This change, he said “aims to enhance the representation of youth and sports issues within the OIC.”
Taha urged OIC member states and relevant entities to support the Department of Youth and Sports and emphasized the need for collective action to implement OIC resolutions on youth empowerment and to activate the OIC’s Youth Strategy.
