First Conference of Humanitarian Organizations in The OIC Member States Dakar - Senegal, 7-9 March 2008

31 Mar 2008 09:37:34 / 20 Rabiul Awwal 1428 H


First Conference of Humanitarian Organizations in The OIC Member States
Dakar - Senegal, 7-9 March 2008

The First Conference of Humanitarian Organization in the OIC Member States gathered in the resort of Sally Portudal in the Republic of Senegal from 7 to 9 March 2008,

- Inspired by the provisions of the Ten-Year Programme of Action to meet the challenges facing the Islamic Ummah in the Twenty-First Century adopted by the Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference held in Makkah A1 Mukarramah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Dhulqaadah 1426H (December 2005);

- In pursuance of the resolutions adopted by the 34s' session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held from 28 to 30 Rabiul Thani 1428H (15-17 May 2007) In Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan;

- Guided by the outcome of the Consultative Meeting Preparatory to the First Conference of Humanitarian Organizations in the OIC Member States, which was held in the City of Doha, Qatar, on 15-16 January 2008.

- Upon the kind invitation of His Excellency Mr. Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal;

- And given the belief of charitable and humanitarian organizations in the importance of joint humanitarian action, of ensuring the conditions of its success and raising its standard through cooperation with the Organization of the Islamic Conference, makes the following recommendations:

I. Recommendations of the Workshop on Capacity Building and Databases

1. Call on government bodies to support the capacity building programmes of charitable and humanitarian organizations and to develop this sector so as to ensure the scientific professionalism required to contribute effectively to development efforts.

2. Work towards benefiting from the expertise and the efforts finternational organizations in building the capacities of Islamic organizations and in developing databases.

3. Root the concepts of humanitarian work in Islamic values and principles.

4. Establish within the OIC a centre for studies, information and training
to be concerned with the work of organizations, disasters, crises and development needs in the Member States, it being understood that the
States and humanitarian organizations will contribute to its establishment
and provide it with information.

II. Reccomendations of the workshop on the national legislations on charitable and humanitarian action in the OIC Member States.

1. Observe within the framework of the national legislations and the establishment of oversight institutions a balance between the independence of charitable and humanitarian institutions and the criteria of control and oversight according to the best international practices.

2. Encourage consultation and particular participation with the charitable and humanitarian organizations in drawing up or developing national legislations.

3, Prepare formulations of legal models, rules and regulations for charitable and humanitarian work within the framework of the OIC to be used as a guide and inspiration by the Member States.

4. Establish a committee in Member States' parliaments and councils in charge of relations with humanitarian and charitable organizations in these States.

5. Energize the role of Zakat, Waqfs, financing and local donations in Member States to support charitable and humanitarian action and fill the legislative gaps therein.

6. Endeavor to adopt codes of conduct arid a code of honor for humanitarian and charitable action, in the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

III-- Relation between Humanitarian Organizations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference

1. Endeavor to develop the relationship between humanitarian
organizations and the OIC in accordance with the best practices at
the international level.

2. Emphasize the adoption of consultative status to regulate and advance the relationship between humanitarian organizations in the Member States and the OIC in pursuance of resolutions 1/34-ORG and 3/34¬ ORG adopted by the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, calling upon Member States to support the Secretary-General's efforts to that end.

3. To stress the role of the OIC as a coordinator in emergency humanitarian situations, proceeding from the fact that this relation is one of coordination, cooperation and complementarity.

4.Consider humanitarian organizations as the executive arm of numerous humanitarian and charitable programmes and projects financed by the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

5. Help provide information and technical assistance in the
humanitarian and charitable field.

6. Endeavor to create a relief fund to support bumanitarian and charitable action in the Muslim world.

7. Act toward establishing an early warning system to strengthen capacities in the, areas of preparedness and response in the Muslim world.

8. Demand the adoption of the proposal to organize a conference of humanitarian organizations alongside all meetings scheduled at the ministerial and summit meetings in the Member States.

9. Recommend adopting the establishment of a mechanism within the OIC to be entrusted with competencies relating to humanitarian affairs and coordination between the humanitarian organizations in the Member States.

10. Direct humanitarian organizations to implement strategies complementing Member States' policies in the field of humanitarian action and utilize their competencies and expertise to carry out humanitarian programmes.

11. Establish a joint expert committee entrusted with developing the final proposals for organizing and regulating the legal relationship between the OIC and humanitarian organizations in the Member States for submission to the 35th session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers due to be held in Uganda.

IV - Relations between humanitarian organizations

1. Endeavor to create an OIC framework or forum of humanitarian organizations in the Muslim world in order to develop the relationship, coordination, partnership and complementarity.

2. Correct the conception of humanitarian organizations and their activities in order to overcome the hatred and defamation campaigns facing them.

3. Appoint goodwill Ambassadors for the OIC consisting of eminent Islamic personalities in order to encourage coordination and partnership between humanitarian organizations.

4. Organize special meetings in specific areas and activities through the OIC in order to strengthen relations and create opportunities for the greater coordination among humanitarian organizations.

At the end of the meeting, the participants expressed their thanks to the President of the Republic of Senegal, His Excellency Maitre Abdoulaye Wade, the Qatar Authority for Charitable Activities and Action de Solidarite Islamique, The Conference called upon them to continue with their commendable efforts.

Sally Portudal, Senegal, on 9/3/2008
1ST-CONF-HUM-ORGS-01C