The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) participated in the Second United Nations High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States held virtually over 28-30 June 2021 under the theme of "Preventing Terrorism in the Age of Transformative Technologies", as part of its constant commitment in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet, OIC Assistant-Secretary General for Humanitarian, Social and Cultural Affairs, in the name of OIC Secretary General, stressed the importance the OIC attaches to the promotion of the values of moderation, tolerance and dialogue. He emphasized on the numerous initiatives taken by the OIC in combatting terrorism, including the adoption of the Convention on Combatting International Terrorism in 1999, the establishment of various partnerships with international and regional organizations specialized in counter-terrorism, including UNOCT, the "Sawt Al-Hikma" Center based at the OIC General Secretariat with the aim of deconstructing extremist rhetoric on social and other media, among other things. In its drive to stem the rise of Islamophobia in certain parts of the world, the OIC has strongly called for the urgent implementation of the UNHCR Resolution 16/18 "combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence, and violence against persons based on religion or belief" as well as other United Nations Resolutions to better address the issue of terrorism in its various forms and manifestations.
