A/RES/73/135 GA

United Nations A/RES/73/135 General Assembly Distr.: General 9 January 2019 18-21870 (E) 110119 *1821870* Seventy-third session Agenda item 128 (b) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 13 December 2018 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/73/L.45)] 73/135. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/4 of 22 October 1982, 38/4 of 28 October 1983, 39/7 of 8 November 1984, 40/4 of 25 October 1985, 41/3 of 16 October 1986, 42/4 of 15 October 1987, 43/2 of 17 October 1988, 44/8 of 18 October 1989, 45/9 of 25 October 1990, 46/13 of 28 October 1991, 47/18 of 23 November 1992, 48/24 of 24 November 1993, 49/15 of 15 November 1994, 50/17 of 20 November 1995, 51/18 of 14 November 1996, 52/4 of 22 October 1997, 53/16 of 29 October 1998, 54/7 of 25 October 1999, 55/9 of 30 October 2000, 56/47 of 7 December 2001, 57/42 of 21 November 2002, 59/8 of 22 October 2004, 61/49 of 4 December 2006, 63/114 of 5 December 2008, 65/140 of 16 December 2010, 67/264 of 17 May 2013, 69/317 of 10 September 2015 and 72/74 of 6 December 2017, Recalling also its resolution 3369 (XXX) of 10 October 1975, by which it decided to invite the Organization of the Islamic Conference1 to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and of its subsidiary organs in the capacity of observer, Welcoming the efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which have been undertaken in coordination with the United Nations and in full respect of the Charter of the United Nations, in strengthening its role in conflict prevention, confidence-building, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and post-conflict rehabilitation, mediation and preventive diplomacy, including conflict situations involving Muslim communities, Noting the adoption by the Islamic Summit Conference at its thirteenth session, held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 14 and 15 April 2016, of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation 2025 Programme of Action and the adoption on 14 March 2008 by the __________________ 1 On 28 June 2011, the Organization of the Islamic Conference changed its name to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. A/RES/73/135 Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation 18-21870 2/8 Islamic Summit Conference at its eleventh session, held in Dakar on 13 and 14 March 2008, of the amended Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its registration with the United Nations Secretariat, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,2 Taking into account the desire of the two organizations to continue to cooperate closely in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and scientific fields and in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, the promotion of a culture of peace through dialogue and cooperation, decolonization, fundamental human rights, economic and social development, and combating international terrorism, Recalling the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, and in this regard taking note of the holding, on 17 November 2016, of the Security Council briefing on the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, 3 as well as the high-level meeting of the Council of 28 October 2013 on strengthening the partnership synergy between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the statement by the President of the Council adopted as an outcome of the meeting, 4 through which the Council, inter alia, recognized and further encouraged the active contribution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the work of the United Nations towards the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, Noting that the Secretary-General, in his report, recognized the strengthening of practical cooperation and the building of complementarity between the United Nations, its specialized agencies, funds and programmes and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, its subsidiary organs and its specialized and affiliated institutions, Noting also the encouraging progress made in the 10 priority areas of cooperation between the two organizations and their respective agencies and institutions, as well as in the identification of other areas of cooperation between them, Noting further that the Secretaries-General of the two organizations have met regularly and that consultations among senior officials of the two organizations have enhanced cooperation, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its subsidiary organs, specialized and affiliated institutions and standing committees contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Taking note of the results of the general meeting of the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions, held in Rabat from 3 to 5 July 2018, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 72/74, to review and appraise the level of cooperation in the fields of international peace and security, __________________ 2 A/73/328-S/2018/592. 3 See S/PV.7813. 4 S/PRST/2013/16; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2013–31 July 2014 (S/INF/69). Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation A/RES/73/135 3/8 18-21870 science and technology, trade and development, implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals,5 protection of and assistance to refugees, human rights, human resource development, food security and agriculture, environment, health and population, arts and crafts, and the promotion of heritage, and of the fact that these meetings are now being held every two years, with the next meeting scheduled for 2020, to be hosted by the United Nations, Acknowledging the intention expressed by the representatives of the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to reinforce cooperation and understanding in areas of common interest, noting the commitment of both organizations to fostering a global dialogue for the promotion of tolerance and peace, calling for enhanced cooperation to promote better understanding across countries, religions, cultures and civilizations, and in this regard using, inter alia, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations as a useful tool in advancing that agenda in international forums, and welcoming the promotion of the effective implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 16/18 of 24 March 2011 6 to counter global violence, religious discrimination and intolerance, and in this regard, in particular, the Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance, Discrimination and Incitement to Hatred and/or Violence on the Basis of Religion or Belief, Taking into account the strengthened spirit of cooperation reflected in the agreement on a matrix of activities within the framework of United Nations- Organization of Islamic Cooperation collaboration, to be implemented over the next biennium, Recalling that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation remains an important partner of the United Nations in peace, security and the fostering of a culture of peace at the global level, and noting various decisions reached by the two sides, including the agreement to continue cooperation in conflict prevention and resolution, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, promotion of good governance at the national and international levels, combating international terrorism, preventing violent extremism, countering religious intolerance, including Islamophobia, promoting and protecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, humanitarian assistance and capacity-building in electoral assistance, and the agreement to improve the follow-up mechanism, Noting the growing cooperation between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on mediation, Noting also the commitment of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to building its capacity in the field of conflict prevention and resolution, mediation and preventive diplomacy through conferences, training sessions and workshops delivered by experts and organizations specializing in that field and the organization of “Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections” training courses and round-table discussions on election monitoring at the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in February 2014, Noting further the adoption by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, at its forty-fifth session, of the resolution on strengthening the mediation capacity of the Organization and the holding of the first and second Conferences of Organization of Islamic Cooperation Member States on Mediation on 21 November 2017 and 29 November 2018, __________________ 5 See resolution 70/1. 6 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/66/53), chap. II, sect. A. A/RES/73/135 Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation 18-21870 4/8 Noting the contribution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding within the framework of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and other initiatives in this regard, Welcoming the initiatives for interfaith dialogue undertaken by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations, as well as their member States, including the activities of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in Vienna, and emphasizing the importance of engaging relevant United Nations agencies in promoting interfaith dialogue and other related activities, as well as General Assembly resolutions 68/127 of 18 December 2013, 70/109 of 10 December 2015 and 72/241 of 20 December 2017 on a world against violence and violent extremism, Taking note of the cooperation between the Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and relevant United Nations bodies, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and recognizing the need for further enhancing this cooperation, Noting the adoption by the sixth Ministerial Conference on the Role of Women in the Development of Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held in Istanbul from 1 to 3 November 2016, of its revised Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women and its implementation mechanism, and the establishment of the Advisory Women Council, as well as activities of the Department of Family Affairs of the General Secretariat of the Organization to deal specifically with issues concerning women and children, and underscoring the cooperation between the Department and relevant United Nations agencies, including the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), Welcoming the decision of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, at its forty-fifth session, to establish the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Women’s Achievement Award so as to encourage and promote the advancement and empowerment of women, Noting with appreciation the close and multifaceted cooperation between the specialized agencies of the United Nations and the specialized and affiliated institutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation with a view to strengthening the capacities of the two organizations to address challenges to development and social progress, including ongoing cooperation between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Children’s Fund on health issues, as well as discussions between the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on formalizing their partnership through specific initiatives linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, as part of the relevant sections of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation 2025 Programme of Action, Welcoming the existing cooperation between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, including dialogue between the two entities on reaching out to non-governmental organizations and other humanitarian actors in States members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as participation in joint activities and events and information-sharing, with a view to furthering proactive engagement and implementing concrete programmes in the areas of capacity-building, emergency assistance and strategic partnerships, Welcoming also the decision taken by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the general meeting of the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its subsidiary organs and specialized and Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation A/RES/73/135 5/8 18-21870 affiliated institutions, held in Istanbul from 20 to 22 May 2014, to co-organize an event under the auspices of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue on the theme “Countering violent extremism: elements of an effective strategy”, Noting the organization of the brainstorming session to review opportunities for collaboration between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the political and security situation in the Middle East, at the General Secretariat of the Organization in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 10 and 11 May 2017, and the agreement to organize a similar session on African issues later, Noting also the request of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for greater interaction between the secretariats of the United Nations and the Organization extending beyond the current biennial arrangement so as to include periodic reviews of cooperation, in the light of the expanding areas of cooperation between the two organizations, Noting with appreciation the determination of the two organizations to further strengthen the existing cooperation by developing specific proposals in the designated priority areas of cooperation, as well as in the political field, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;2 2. Urges the United Nations system to cooperate with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in areas of mutual interest, as appropriate; 3. Notes with satisfaction the active participation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the work of the United Nations towards the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations; 4. Affirms that the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation share a common goal of promoting and facilitating the Middle East peace process so that the process can reach its objective of establishing a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and also share a common objective of fostering peaceful and political solutions to other conflicts in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council; 5. Requests the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to continue to cooperate in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, promotion of a culture of peace through dialogue and cooperation, decolonization, human rights and fundamental freedoms, countering international terrorism, including violent extremism, addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, capacity-building, health-related issues such as combating pandemic and endemic diseases, protection of the environment, climate change, emergency relief and rehabilitation and technical cooperation; 6. Welcomes the strong commitment of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the fight against violent extremism and terrorist groups such as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Al-Nusrah Front and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida, affirms the important role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in responding, in coordination with the United Nations, to the threat posed by violent extremism, in particular with regard to countering violent extremism and developing counter-narratives, and welcomes the establishment of Sawt Al-Hikma (the Voice of Wisdom) and the Centre for Dialogue, Peace and Understanding within the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to delegitimize and deconstruct the extremist narratives and dismantle their contexts, especially through social media; A/RES/73/135 Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation 18-21870 6/8 7. Also welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation towards combating intolerance and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or belief, recognizes the strong need for global awareness about religious intolerance, condemns any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and welcomes cooperation towards addressing the issue with all urgency, including through the Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance, Discrimination and Incitement to Hatred and/or Violence on the Basis of Religion or Belief; 8. Invites increased cooperation and exchanges between the Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 9. Requests the secretariats of the two organizations to strengthen cooperation in addressing the social and economic issues that affect the efforts of Member States to eradicate poverty, achieve sustainable development and realize the internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals;5 10. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to continue to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations in areas of common concern and to review and explore innovative ways and means of enhancing the mechanisms of such cooperation through the recent establishment of a working group; 11. Affirms that, to enhance cooperation and for the purpose of the review and appraisal of progress, a general meeting between representatives of the United Nations system and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation should continue to be held once every two years and to include joint inter-agency sectoral or thematic meetings; 12. Welcomes the cooperation between the Office of Counter-Terrorism and the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism, and notes the signing of a memorandum of understanding on 25 September 2018; 13. Also welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) and the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment, in particular the signing of a memorandum of understanding on 22 September 2017; 14. Further welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in particular the signing of a memorandum of cooperation on 24 January 2016, which provides, inter alia, for the elaboration of a strategic plan for joint programmes, activities and projects; 15. Encourages the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and their subsidiary organs, specialized and affiliated institutions and standing committees to intensify actions in creating bilateral frameworks for cooperation in the area of human and industrial capacity development, trade promotion, transportation and tourism; 16. Invites the United Nations system to cooperate with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, including the Islamic Development Bank, and its member States in their efforts to implement the internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals; Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation A/RES/73/135 7/8 18-21870 17. Welcomes with appreciation the continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the fields of peacemaking, preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and notes the close cooperation between the two organizations in reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Central African Republic, Mali, Sierra Leone and Somalia; 18. Welcomes the efforts of the secretariats of the two organizations to strengthen information exchange, coordination and cooperation between them in areas of mutual interest in the political field and to develop practical modalities for such cooperation; 19. Notes with satisfaction the increasing cooperation between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which was marked by the opening of the representation office of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Paris, and calls upon the two organizations to expand their cooperation in the protection of cultural and historic heritage; 20. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its subsidiary organs, specialized and affiliated institutions and standing committees to serve the mutual interests of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, cultural, humanitarian and scientific fields; 21. Welcomes the commitment of the Secretary-General to reinforcing cooperation in areas of common interest between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations, also welcomes the periodic high-level meetings between the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as between senior secretariat officials of the two organizations, and encourages their participation in important meetings of the two organizations; 22. Encourages the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to expand their cooperation with the subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, particularly in the fields of science and technology, higher education, health and environment, by negotiating cooperation agreements and through necessary contacts and meetings of the respective focal points for cooperation in priority areas of interest to the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; 23. Invites the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system, especially the lead agencies, to consider providing increased technical and other forms of assistance to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its subsidiary organs, specialized and affiliated institutions and standing committees in order to strengthen their capacities for cooperation; 24. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to increase awareness, as appropriate, of the work and activities of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in accordance with established practice between the United Nations and other regional organizations; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session on the state of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; A/RES/73/135 Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation 18-21870 8/8 26. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fifth session, under the item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations”, the sub-item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation”. 52nd plenary meeting 13 December 2018

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