-Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha emphasized the need for member states to intensify their collective efforts to build capacities and empower youth to achieve the targets set out in the OIC-2025: Programme of Action, the OIC Youth Strategy, and the Sustainable Development Goals by strengthening youth partnerships. In a speech delivered on the occasion of OIC Youth Day, celebrated annually on September 3, the OIC Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for the significant efforts and steps taken by member states, in close cooperation and coordination with relevant OIC institutions, to build capacities and empower youth, enhance their role in political decision-making, engage them meaningfully in economic and social development, protect them from misleading ideologies and violent extremism, and enable them to play a progressive role in developing their communities. The OIC secretary-general urged the acquisition of contemporary knowledge and skills, as well as the adoption of innovative sustainable technologies to shape a cleaner, greener, more prosperous, and climate-resilient future. He called upon all member states to invest more in digital transformation, given its pivotal role in empowering youth and achieving the OIC goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. He also urged relevant OIC institutions to support the efforts of member states in this regard. Furthermore, he highlighted the ordeal and suffering endured by Palestinian youth as a result of the unjustifiable military aggression of the illegal Israeli occupation authorities. Source: Saudi Press Agency