Jeddah (UNA) – The Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Ambassador Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Dubaie, affirmed that youth represent one of the most important elements of strength and change in the organization, in light of a world witnessing rapid transformations that include technological progress, economic challenges, and social and environmental transformations.
In a speech delivered on behalf of the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during the opening session of the 26th regular session of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC), which commenced on Sunday, December 14, 2025, he said: “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome His Excellency Dr. Hadi bin Ali Al-Yami, the new Executive Director of the IPHRC Secretariat, and wish him every success in organizing his first regular session. Given Dr. Al-Yami’s extensive legal and legislative experience in the field of human rights, I am confident that his expertise will significantly contribute to enhancing the Commission’s efficiency and maximizing its impact.”
He also expressed his sincere appreciation to His Excellency Dr. Haji Ali Acikgul, whose term as Chairman of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission has ended, stressing that his wise leadership, dedication to work and insightful vision contributed to enhancing the Commission’s influence and strengthening its role as a beacon of human rights within the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, indicating that Dr. Haji, during his leadership of the Commission, not only promoted issues of human dignity and justice, but also laid a strong foundation for the Commission’s future work.
He added, “As we bid farewell to Mr. Haji as he departs this prestigious position, we extend to him our deepest appreciation and gratitude for his contributions, wishing him every success in his future endeavors. Similarly, all the esteemed members of the Commission have played a significant role in establishing its reputation and standing as one of the most distinguished bodies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, thanks to their professionalism, dedication, and commitment. I assure you that the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will continue to provide its support and assistance to the Commission and its members to enable them to fulfill their mandated tasks in the field of human rights.”
He explained that the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are home to approximately 350.8 million young people, representing 30% of the world's total youth population. This surge in youth numbers presents significant demographic opportunities for OIC member states, while simultaneously posing challenges in achieving social and economic development and prosperity.
He pointed out that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is fully aware that young people are not only its greatest asset, but also its strongest agents of change. The global landscape today is rapidly evolving, characterized by rapid technological advancements, economic uncertainty, social transformations, and environmental challenges, which simultaneously present unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges for young people.
It also renewed the OIC’s firm commitment to empowering youth through education, innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusive participation, to ensure they are equipped with the tools to build a future of justice, prosperity and shared human dignity, and to continue supporting youth issues by promoting education, moral values, solidarity and dialogue among civilizations through the OIC’s Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation.
He explained that, guided by the OIC’s 2025 Action Plan and the OIC Youth Strategy, the organization focuses its efforts on building the capacities of young people and enhancing their role in economic growth, peace and security, human rights and entrepreneurship. He noted that the Islamic Development Bank has led many programs and initiatives aimed at young people, while the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) continues its role in guiding young people through its programs aimed at bringing about a real transformation in their capabilities, such as: the Year of Youth 2023, the Elite Youth Program, and the Youth Leadership Training Program for Peace and Security.
SESRIC also provides crucial data and training through its reports on “The State of Youth in OIC Member Countries” and “The OIC Youth Policy Performance Index,” helping countries integrate youth strategies into their national action programs.
He explained that the youth of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation are already contributing to supporting the resilience of their societies, proposing innovative solutions, and driving social progress, and thus they represent a huge demographic force that provides a great opportunity for development and prosperity.
He added, “Because time is of the essence, we must trust in the ingenuity and commitment of young people and rely on them. We must move quickly to empower young people by ensuring their representation on decision-making platforms at the national and international levels, and that there is sufficient representation of the younger generation in political institutions such as parliaments, political parties, and public administration, so that we can enable them to play their desired role in formulating and implementing policies and programs that value and suit young people. Since there is already a comprehensive youth strategy adopted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, it is time to develop an action plan and a monitoring mechanism to oversee its implementation. This plan should include specific timelines, budget allocations, and key performance indicators, as well as defining the roles of OIC member states, the General Secretariat, and relevant OIC institutions.”
He concluded, “Cooperation with the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development and the United Nations Development Programme should be intensified to promote policy coherence, share best practices, broaden the stakeholder base, and establish common links between actors to enhance cooperation on shared policy priorities and opportunities.”
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