The Fourth Session of the Islamic Conference of Ministers in Charge of Childhood was held in Baku, capital-city of the Republic of Azerbaijan, under the patronage of H.E. Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the theme “Children and the Challenges of Urbanization in the Islamic World” on 11-12 November 2013. The Conference was attended by Ministers of in Charge of Childhood of the OIC Member Countries, as well as the representatives of relevant regional and international institutions and organisations. SESRIC was represented by Mr. Mehmet Fatih Serenli, Director of Training and Technical Cooperation Department at the Centre.

The Conference discussed the main document on “Children and the Challenges of Urbanization in the Islamic World” and a draft document on “Pre-school Education in the Islamic World: Some successful experiences”. The Conference also presented the outcome of the First Session of Forum for Children of the Islamic World. In addition, the heads of Member States’ delegations presented their statements and reports on childhood issues in the Muslim world. Furthermore, participants adopted the conference resolutions and the “Baku Declaration: Toward a Better Future for Children in Urban Settings in the Islamic World” where member countries called for integrated policies, appropriate measures and adequate services for children, and pledged commitment to its directions to improve equal access to decent living conditions for urban children in the Islamic World.

The Islamic Conference of Ministers in Charge of Childhood is one of the specialized Islamic Conferences held by ISESCO in the fields of higher education and scientific research, culture, the environment and childhood, in coordination with the OIC General Secretariat and the competent parties in the host countries. The Conference held three sessions: the first one was organized in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on 7-9 November 2005, and issued the “Rabat Declaration on Child’s Issues in the Member States of  the Organization of the Islamic Conference”; the second session was held in Khartoum, Republic of Sudan, on 2-4 February 2009 and issued the “Khartoum Declaration: Towards a Brighter Future for Our Children”; whereas the third session was held in Tripoli, Libya, on 10-11 February 2011, and issued the “Tripoli Declaration on Accelerating Early Childhood Development in the Islamic World”.

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