Jeddah, July 19, 2022, SPA -- The 15th Session of the Biennial General Cooperation Meeting between the Secretariats of the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and their specialized organizations and agencies started Monday, on 18th July, 2022, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting is co-chaired by OIC Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs and Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary General for Afghanistan Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakhiet and Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs of the United Nations Ambassador Khaled Khiari. The meeting is being attended by the senior officials from the relevant OIC institutions and UN agencies. The OIC Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha, in his statement delivered by Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakhiet during the opening session recognized the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and underscored the importance of enhanced cooperation between the two Organisations in making peace, security, and economic prosperity in many parts of the world. The meeting, which will continue until 20th July, 2022, will adopt a Matrix of Joint Activities that covers cooperation between OIC and the United Nations in areas such as peace and security, combating Islamophobia, countering violent extremism, human rights, women empowerment, education, humanitarian assistance, sustainable socio-economic development, including climate change and disaster risk reduction among others. The meeting will also exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern. --SPA 15:43 LOCAL TIME 12:43 GMT 0015 www.spa.gov.sa/w1762889