A high-level regional seminar on promoting cancer awareness and advocacy programmes in the OIC African Member States took place in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso, on 1-2 August 2018. The Seminar was organised under the patronage of the First Lady of Burkina Faso, H.E. Madam Sika Kabore.

The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Standards and Metrology Institute for the Islamic Countries (SMIIC) to further accelerate collaboration between two institutions in the area of common interest. The MoU was signed by H.E. Ambassador Musa Kulaklıkaya, Director General of SESRIC, and H.E. Mr. İhsan Övüt, Secretary General of SMIIC, on 27 July 2018 at SESRIC Headquarters in Ankara.

In accordance with its 2018 Annual Work Plan and within the framework of Statistical Capacity Building (StatCaB) Programme, SESRIC organised the Study Visit on ‘Understanding the Business of Statistics and Project Management’ for the benefit of the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) of Republic of Albania on 26 – 27 July 2018. The Study Visit was hosted by the BPS-Statistics Indonesia.

SESRIC, the Ministry of Health of Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Ministry of Health of Sudan, jointly organised a training course on “Disaster and Prehospital Medicine” on 15-19 July 2018 in Khartoum, Sudan.

SESRIC organised a training programme on Muslim Friendly Tourism (MFT) under the theme “Improving Islamic Tourism Ecosystem in OIC Member Countries: Destination and Industry Development”. The training took place in the historical city of Malatya, Turkey on 09-12 July 2018.

The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the High Commission for Planning (HCP) of Kingdom of Morocco to further strengthen collaboration and cooperation between two institutions in the area of statistics.

The 14^th Session of UN-OIC Coordination Meeting was held at the ISESCO Headquarters on 03-05 July 2018 in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco. The biannual regular meeting evaluated the progress of joint cooperation activities in order to set directions, make assessments, evaluate prospects and provide a follow-up for collaboration between the two major international organizations and it was attended by high level delegations from both the OIC General Secretariat and relevant institutions of the OIC and the UN.

SESRIC and UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) launched a joint publication on “Best Practices Guidelines and Toolkit on Engaging the Private Sector in Skills Development” on the sidelines of the Fourth Regional Networking Forum on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SS&TC) on 28 June 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey.

A Statement of Intent (SoI) was signed between SESRIC, United Nations Development Programme Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (UNDP IICPSD) and United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) on 28 June 2018 in Istanbul.

SESRIC, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly organised the 4^th Regional Networking Forum for the Arab States, Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on South-South and Triangular Cooperation. The forum took place on 28 June 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey. Fifty participants from different countries and various organisations attended the event.

SESRIC, in collaboration with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the University of Jordan, organized a 2-day Regional Seminar on Innovative Technologies in Water Sector for the achievement of the SDG 6 on 26-28 June 2018 in Amman, Jordan. Researchers and experts from 15 OIC Member States, namely, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey and Uzbekistan attended the Seminar.

SESRIC, in collaboration with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and La Poste Tunisienne, organized a Workshop on Digital Transformation and Diversification of Postal Services on 26-28 June 2018, in Tunis, Tunisia.

SESRIC and the Ministry of Health of Turkey organised a 3-week training programme on Intensive Care & Infection Control between 25 June and 13 July 2018 in Ankara, Turkey. The training was organised within the framework of the OIC Strategic Health Programme of Action (OIC-SHPA) 2014-2023, under Thematic Area 1: “Health System Strengthening”.

Though it is observed by the international community, Israeli occupation settlers have increased their activities to take control of Palestinian properties within neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) and West Bank. These illegal efforts have led to restrictions on residential rights and freedom of movement for Palestinians. Settler occupation of the Palestinian properties worsens the current environment facing Palestinians and increases the risk of displacement. As stated by UN Security Council resolutions, all legislative and administrative measures taken by Israeli occupation to alter the character and status of Al-Quds are invalid and cannot change the status. (See; inter alia, UN Security Council resolutions 252, 267, 471, 476 and 478.)

A training on “South-South & Triangular Cooperation in Implementing the 2030 Agenda: Youth4South Edition” was organised in cooperation with SESRIC, United Nation Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), China Institute for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (CISSCA) and the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) in Istanbul, Turkey on 20-22 June 2018.

SESRIC organized the First Meeting of Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) of the Capacity Development Project on “Improving Occupational Safety and Health in Mauritania” in partnership with Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety of Turkey, hosted by the National Office of Occupational Medicine of Mauritania (ONMT) on 18-20 June 2018 in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

HE Amb. Musa Kulaklıkaya delivered a welcoming speech at the Iftar Programme organized on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of SESRIC.

The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), a subsidiary organ of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – the world’s second largest intra-governmental organisation – celebrated its 40th Anniversary this Friday with an Iftar Programme organised for the occasion.

HE Amb. Musa Kulaklıkaya, Director General of SESRIC, delivered a presentation on the “Global Muslim Diaspora Project” at the European External Action Service (EEAS) Headquarters in Brussels. Amb. Kulaklıkaya was in Brussels on a working visit to attend the Fourth Meeting of the Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) Task Force, held between 29-31 May 2018.

The Fourth Meeting of the Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) Task Force was organized by the Development Co-operation Directorate (DCD) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in collaboration with the European Union (EU) on 29-31 May 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. At the Meeting, SESRIC was represented by HE Amb. Musa Kulaklıkaya, Director General, and Dr. Atilla Karaman, Researcher.