Kuwait galvanizes Arab & Islamic action to condemn Islamophobia

Youth a priority for development: Al Mousawi

PARIS, Dec 16 (KUNA): Kuwait had led a collective action by Arab and Islamic countries at an international heritage meeting in Colombia because the draft resolution, already approved by consensus, did not include Islamophobia condemnation.

Adam Al-Mulla, Kuwait’s permanent representative to UNESCO who participated in the annual meeting of an Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, said he rejected the fact member countries failed to mention Islamophobia in the draft resolution.

Speaking to KUNA Monday, AlMulla said he urged participants to reword the statement issued by the committee, which met in Bogota on December 9-14.

He explained the final statement was approved by consensus but did not include Islamophobia when it was issued by UNESCO.

The Arab and Islamic group, said Al-Mulla, urged committee chair to amend the statement. “The Chairperson apologized and included Islamophobia in the statement,” he added.

The Committee, composed of representatives of 24 States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), meets once a year. It monitors the implementation of this international legal instrument, which has

been ratified by 178 States.

The head of a Kuwait state-funded youth programme highlighted the importance of engaging the next generation and private enterprises in the development of nations at the World Youth Forum in Egypt. “We need to be closer to the youth, enabling them to participate effectively through their own proposals and ideas and monitor how they are adopted by various state bodies,” Fatima Al-Mousawi, executive director of Kafo said.