Background The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) (formerly Organization of the Islamic Conference) is the second largest inter-governmental

organization after the United Nations which has membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) as a result of criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. In 1970 the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organizations secretary general. The present Charter of the Organization was adopted by the Eleventh Islamic Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008 which laid down the objectives and principles of the organization and fundamental purposes to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among the Member States. The Organization has the singular honor to galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented the Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5 billion Muslims of the world. The Organization has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. Under the Charter, the Organization aims, inter alia, to: Enhance and consolidate the bonds of fraternity and solidarity among the Member States; Safeguard and protect the common interests and support the legitimate causes of the Member States and coordinate and unify the efforts of the Member States in view of the challenges faced by the Islamic world in particular and the international community in general; Respect the right of self-determination and non-interference in the domestic affairs and to respect sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of each Member State; Ensure active participation of the Member States in the global political, economic and social decision-making processes to secure their common interests; Reaffirm its support for the rights of peoples as stipulated in the UN Charter and international law; Strengthen intra-Islamic economic and trade cooperation; in order to achieve economic integration leading to the establishment of an Islamic Common Market; Exert efforts to achieve sustainable and comprehensive human development and economic well-being in Member States; Protect and defend the true image of Islam, to combat defamation of Islam and encourage dialogue among civilizations and religions; Enhance and develop science and technology and encourage research and cooperation among Member States in these fields; In order to realize these objectives, Member States shall act, inter alia, in accordance with the following principles: All Member States commit themselves to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter; Member States are sovereign, independent and equal in rights and obligations; All Member States shall settle their disputes through peaceful means and refrain from use or threat of use of force in their relations;

All Member States undertake to respect national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of other Member States and shall refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of others; Member States shall uphold and promote, at the national and international levels, good governance, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.

Structure:

The Organization is composed of the following main bodies: The Islamic Summit, composed of Kings and Heads of State and Government of Member States, is the supreme authority of the Organization. It convenes once every three years to deliberate, take policy decisions and provide guidance on all issues pertaining to the realization of the objectives and consider other issues of concern to the Member States and the Ummah. The Council of Foreign Ministers, which meets once a year, considers the means for the implementation of the general policy of the Organization by, inter alia: a. Adopting decisions and resolutions on matters of common interest in the implementation of the objectives and the general policy of the Organization; b. Reviewing progress of the implementation of the decisions and resolutions adopted at the previous Summits and Councils of Foreign Ministers; The General Secretariat, which is the executive organ of the Organization, entrusted with the implementation of the decisions of the two preceding bodies. So far eleven Islamic Summit Conferences and 38 Councils of Foreign Ministers (CFM) have been held. In order to coordinate and boost its action, align its view points and stands, and be credited with concrete results in various fields of cooperation -political, economic, cultural, social, spiritual and scientific- among Member States, the Organization has created different committees, nearly all, at ministerial level, a number of which are chaired by Heads of State. The Al-Quds Committee, the Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC), the Standing Committee for Economic and Trade Cooperation (COMCEC), and the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) are the ones Chaired by Heads of State. The number and types of secondary organs and institutions, working toward the achievement of the OIC objectives, have been steadily increasing, and cover various areas of cultural, scientific, economic, legal, financial, sports, technological, educational, media, as well as vocational, social and humanitarian. Depending on their degree of autonomy vis--vis the parent organization, they are classified as subsidiary organs and specialized or affiliated institutions.

MEMBER STATES

Republic of ALBANIA Member Since 1992 National Day 28/11 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

State of The UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Member Since 1972 National Day 2/12 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of INDONESIA Member Since 1969 National Day 17/8 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of UZBEKISTAN Member Since 1996 National Day 1/9 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of UGANDA Member Since 1974 National Day 9/10 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Islamic Republic of IRAN Member Since 1969 National Day 11/2 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Islamic Republic of PAKISTAN Member Since 1969 National Day 23/3 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kingdom of BAHRAIN Member Since 1972 National Day 16/12 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

BRUNEI-DARUSSALAM Member Since 1984 National Day 23/2 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Peoples Republic of BANGLADESH Member Since 1974 National Day 26/3 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of BENIN Member Since 1983 National Day 1/8 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

BURKINA-FASO (then Upper Volta) Member Since 1974 National Day 11/12 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of TAJIKISTAN Member Since 1992 National Day 9/9 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of TURKEY Member Since 1969 National Day 29/10 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Turkmenistan Member Since 1992 National Day 27/10

Republic of CHAD Member Since 1969 National Day 11/8

Republic of TOGO Member Since 1997 National Day 27/4

Republic of TUNISIA Member Since 1969 National Day 20/3 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Peoples Democratic Republic of ALGERIA Member Since 1969 National Day 1/11 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of DJIBOUTI Member Since 1978 National Day 27/6

Kingdom of SAUDI ARABIA Member Since 1969 National Day 23/9 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of SENEGAL Member Since 1969 National Day 4/4 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of The SUDAN Member Since 1969 National Day 1/1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

SYRIAN Arab Republic Member Since 1972 National Day 17/4

Republic of SURINAME Member Since 1996 National Day 25/11

Republic of SIERRA LEONE Member Since 1972 National Day 27/4 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of SOMALIA Member Since 1969 National Day 1/7

Republic of IRAQ Member Since 1975 National Day --/-Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Sultanate of OMAN Member Since 1972 National Day 18/11 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of GABON Member Since 1974 National Day 17/8

Republic of The GAMBIA Member Since 1974 National Day 18/2

Republic of GUYANA Member Since 1998 National Day 23/2 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of GUINEA Member Since 1969 National Day 2/10

Republic of GUINEA-BISSAU Member Since 1974 National Day 24/9

State of PALESTINE Member Since 1969 National Day 1/1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Union of The COMOROS Member Since 1976 National Day 6/7

KYRGYZ Republic Member Since 1992 National Day 31/8 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

State of QATAR Member Since 1972 National Day 18/12 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of KAZAKHSTAN Member Since 1995 National Day 16/12 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of CAMEROON Member Since 1974 National Day 20/5

Republic of COTE D'IVOIRE Member Since 2001 National Day 7/8

State of KUWAIT Member Since 1969 National Day 25/2 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of LEBANON Member Since 1969 National Day 22/11 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Libya Member Since 1969 National Day 1/9 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of MALDIVES Member Since 1976 National Day 26/7 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of MALI Member Since 1969 National Day 22/9 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

MALAYSIA Member Since 1969 National Day 31/8 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Arab Republic of EGYPT Member Since 1969 National Day 23/7 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kingdom of MOROCCO Member Since 1969 National Day 30/7 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Islamic Republic of MAURITANIA Member Since 1969 National Day 28/11

Republic of MOZAMBIQUE Member Since 1994 National Day 25/6

Republic of NIGER Member Since 1969 National Day 18/12

Federal Republic of NIGERIA Member Since 1986 National Day 1/10 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Republic of YEMEN Member Since 1969 National Day 22/5 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Observers
STATES 1 2 3 4 5 Bosnia and Herzegovina Central African Republic Kingdom of Thailand The Russian Federation Turkish Cypriot State Date of Joining 1994 1996 1998 2005 1979

Muslim Communities/Organization 1 Moro National Liberation Front Islamic Institutions 1 Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUOICM) International Organizations 1 2 3 4 5 United Nations (UN) Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) League of Arab States (LAS) African Union (AU) Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) 1976 1977 1975 1977 1995 2000 1977

THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT It was established by the First Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Muharram 1390H (February 1970). The General Secretariat co mprises a Secretary General who is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Organisation and such staff as the Organisation requires. The Secretary General: The Secretary General is elected by the Council of Foreign Ministers for a period of five years, renewable once only. The Secretary-General is elected from among nationals of the Member States in accordance with the principles of equitable geographical distribution, rotation and equal opportunity for all Member States with due consideration to competence, integrity and experience. The personalities having been elected OIC Secretaries General since the establishment of the Organization are the following:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

H.R.H. Tunku Abdul Rahman (Malaysia) 1971-1973 H.E. Hassan Al-Touhami (Egypt) 1974-1975 H.E. Dr. Amadou Karim Gaye (Senegal) 1975-1979 H.E. Mr. Habib Chatty (Tunisia) 1979-1984 H.E. Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada (Pakistan) 1985-1988 H.E. Dr. Hamid Algabid (Niger) 1989-1996 H.E. Dr. Azeddine Laraki (Morocco) 1997-2000 H.E. Dr. Abdelouahed BELKEZIZ (Morocco) 2001-2004 H.E.Prof. Dr. EKMELEDDIN IHSANOGLU (Turkey) 2005

ACHIEVEMENTS INTERNATIONAL TREATIES As a reflection of their commitment to children, all members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference have embraced the Millennium Declaration, the Millennium Development Goals, and the goals of A World

Fit for Children, the outcome document of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session for Children in 2002. All members (except Somalia) have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. A Resolution on Child Care and Protection in the Islamic World was issued by the Cultural Affairs Committee of the OIC and adopted at the Islamic Summit Conference in 2003.

LEGAL REFORM Turkeys January 2002 Civil Code contains provisions that promote gender equality and the rights of the child by raising the minimum age for marriage by both sexes to 17. Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo and Tunisia are among countries that have enacted or amended education laws to align them with child rights standards. Many of these laws raise the age covered by compulsory education, or schoolleaving age. Juvenile justice codes have undergone extensive revisions in Afghanistan, Morocco and Tunisia. In Nigeria and Pakistan, federal reforms have been adopted. Turkey and the United Kingdom tabled a resolution co-sponsored by Azerbaijan, Nigeria and Uganda titled "Working toward the elimination of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour", adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2004. Turkeys Penal Code, adopted in September 2004, removed mitigating clauses in honour killings and envisages much more severe penalties for such crimes.

NATIONAL POLICIES, BUDGETS Many OIC governments have increased budgets for vaccine procurement and delivery, with 31 out of 57 governments now financing 100% of routine vaccinations. The Nigerian Governments development plan outlines a major increase in health and education spending, with 10 per cent of expenditures slated for water and sanitation. The budget for Senegals Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper includes funding for eliminating child labour, the care and supervision of children at risk, setting up child feeding centres and rehabilitating juvenile offenders.

ADVANCING CHILDREN HEALTH AND EDUCATION Malaysia, a well-developed primary health care system, equitable access to vaccines and to oral rehydration therapy for diarrhea, good childhood nutrition, and a broad reach of clean water and improved sanitation Oman, reduction in its child death rate to 12 per 1,000 from 280 per 1,000. Turkeys success in reducing under-five mortality rates; lowered fertility rates and increased levels of girls education, improved neonatal care and expanded breastfeeding. Programmes to encourage the consumption, and in many cases, the domestic production, of iodized salt, critical for preventing mental retardation in millions of children, are underway in a number of OIC countries. A number of Arab OIC countries have succeeded in narrowing the gender gap in schooling.

PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ARMED CONFLICT Somalia, former combatants have benefited from a six-month period of vocational training, along with counseling and training in conflict resolution. In Sierra Leone, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission began public hearings on childrens wartime experiences in June 2003.

PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE Trilateral meetings between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines sought to develop a joint regional plan to combat cross-border trafficking.

Gambia has developed a rapid response programme to fight sexual tourism. Albania, Azerbaijan and Bangladesh, have developed national plans to fight human trafficking, with Benin, Burkina Faso and Nigeria adopting anti-trafficking legislation in 2003.

PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM HAZARDOUS LABOUR Several Arab countries have enacted legal reforms in line with ILO Convention 138, which urges states to progressively raise the minimum age for employment to a level consistent with the fullest physical and mental development of young persons.

PROTECTING GIRLS FROM FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION / CUTTING The Cairo Declaration on Legal Tools for the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation (June 2003) and the Maputo Protocol (July 2003), adopted by 53 Heads of State of the African Union and now ratified by 10 African governments, prohibits the practice.

THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS Lebanons five-year AIDS plan addresses distinctive aspects of the spread of the epidemic: high numbers of migrants in high-risk areas; the early onset of sexual activity and infrequent condom use among young people; the increase in tourism and transient business; the young ages of sex workers; and a sharp increase in drug use. In Jordan, where the national strategy relies heavily on peer education, there is a greater willingness to discuss the threat posed by HIV/AIDS, its link to sexual behaviour among young people and the dangers of under-reporting the extent of the disease.

UPDATES

Ten-year programme of action to meet the challenges facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21st century, Third Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, Makkah al Mukarramah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 5-6 dhul qadah 1426 h 7-8 December 2005
OIC Condemns Settlement Expansion in East Jerusalem and Calls on International Community to Rise up to its Duty OIC Participates In The Humanitanitarian Efforts Made By The Philippines Following a Field Tour by OIC Delegation to Take Stock of the Conditions of Affected People in Mindanao, OIC Declares Cagayan de Oro and Iligan as the Cities Most Affected by Washi. OIC General Secretariat Renews Call For End Of Violence In Syria Ihsanoglu sends a humanitarian mission to the Philippines following typhoon Washi

Organization of Islamic Cooperation

Group 4

Submitted to: Prof. Sonia Masaoay

Gallente, Tremorlyn Kiwang, Chesty Joy Nepomuceno, Isaiah Siguenza, Mikael Anthony

July 10, 2012