Invited as a special guest; H.E. Mr. Nebil DABUR, the Director General of SESRIC, addressed the Launching Ceremony of the Pilot Program to Introduce ICESCO Peace 360^o Approach in Academia. He dedicated his address for highlighting the importance of promoting research on the OIC challenging issues of peace building and security, conflict resolution and mediation. He also highlighted the tireless efforts of the OIC, since its inception in 1969, to promote global peace, stability, harmony and security. In this context, Mr. DABUR pointed out that despite all the efforts of the OIC, achieving peace and security remains one of the most challenging tasks facing the OIC due to the undesirable state of conflicts in a great number of the Member Countries. He mentioned that the number of conflicts in OIC countries is showing an upward trend and currently the majority of conflicts in the world are taking place in OIC countries with devastating consequences on human life, society and the economy.

In his address, Mr. DABUR emphasised that prevention is the least costly way to avoid the consequences of conflict. To succeed at this, he underlined that there is a need to understand the drivers of conflict. Here, he emphasised the importance of promoting research on peace building and conflict resolution in order to identify the drivers of conflict and eliminate them. Mr. DABUR also underscored the need to promote research in order to develop new ideas, models, tools and proposals for conflict resolution and prevention relevant to the OIC context with special attention to the areas of power sharing and wealth sharing as these are now among the contentious issues in OIC Countries experiencing conflicts.

Mr. DABUR concluded his address by expressing his confidence that ICESCO Peace 360^o Approach in Academia will be an instrumental approach in ensuring that all voices of peace are heard and that synergies are built and concerted action is taken for a lasting peace in the Islamic World and beyond. To that end, he stated the SESRIC stands ready to provide any support that ICESCO may require for the success of its admirable initiative.

The pilot program to introduce ICESCO Peace 360^o in Academia is part of ICESCO commitment through its policies, strategies and programs to promote and strengthen peacebuilding through a holistic and multisectoral approach and to strengthen educational programs on peace and security in its Member States with collaboration from the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of the International University of Rabat.

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