Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC)
Dr Khalil Hussein
Professor at faculty of law at Lebanese university
Director of studies at Lebanese Parliament
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is an inter-governmental organization grouping fifty-six States. These States decided to pool their resources together, combine their efforts and speak with one voice to safeguard the interest and ensure the progress and well-being of their peoples and those of other Muslims in the world over.
The Organization was established in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on 12 Rajab 1389H / 25 September 1969 when the First meeting of the leaders of the Islamic world was held in this city in the wake of the criminal arson perpetrated on 21 August 1969 by Zionist elements against Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied Jerusalem. It was indeed in order to defend the honour, dignity and faith of the Muslims, to face this bitter challenge launched in the holy city of Al-Quds so dear to them and against the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, the first Qibla and third holiest Shrine of Islam, that the leaders of the Muslim world, at their Summit in Rabat, seized that event - which brought about unanimous worldwide condemnation and reprobation - to think together of their common cause and muster the force required to overcome their differences, unite and lay the foundations of this large grouping of States, that is, the Organization of the Islamic Conference which they entrusted, in absolute priority, with liberating Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa from Zionist occupation.
Six months after that historical meeting, i.e. in Muharram 1390H (March 1970), the First Islamic Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Jeddah set up a permanent General Secretariat, to ensure a liaison among Member States and charged it to coordinate their action. The Conference appointed its Secretary General and chose Jeddah as the Headquarters of the Organization, pending the liberation of Jerusalem, which would be the permanent Headquarters.
Two and a half years after Rabat, in Muharram 1392H /February 1972, the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, meeting in its Third Session, adopted the Charter of the Organization, whose purpose is to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among Islamic States in the political, economic, cultural, scientific and social fields.
Objectives
The objectives of the Islamic Conference are:
- to promote Islamic solidarity among Member States;
- to consolidate cooperation among Member States in the economic, social, cultural, scientific and other vital fields of activities, and to carry out consultations among Member States in international organizations;
- to endeavor to eliminate racial segregation, discrimination and to eradicate colonialism in all its forms;
- to take necessary measures to support international peace and security founded on justice;
- to coordinate efforts for the safeguarding of the Holy Places and support of the struggle of the people of Palestine, to help them regain their rights and liberate their land;
- to back the struggle of all Muslim people with a view to preserving their dignity, independence and national rights.
- to create a suitable atmosphere for the promotion of cooperation and understanding among Member States and other countries.
Principles
The principles of the Islamic Conference are:
- total equality between Member States;
- respect of the right of self-determination, and non-interference in the domestic affairs of Member States;
- respect of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of each Member States;
- settlement of any conflict that may arise by peaceful means such as negotiation, mediation, reconciliation or arbitration;
- abstention from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity, national unity or political independence of any Member States.
Membership:
The Organization of the Islamic Conference is made up of the States which took part in the Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government held in Rabat and the two Foreign Ministers' Conferences held in Jeddah and Karachi, and signatory to the Charter. Every Muslim State is eligible to join the Islamic Conference on submitting an application expressing its desire and preparedness to adopt this Charter. The application shall be deposited with the General Secretariat, to be brought before the Foreign Ministers' Conference at its first meeting after the submission of the application. Membership shall take effect as of the time of approval of the Conference by a two-third majority of the Conference members.
Withdrawal:
Any Member State may withdraw from the Islamic Conference by sending a written notification to the Secretariat General, to be communicated to all Member States. The State applying for withdrawal shall be bound by its obligations until the end of the fiscal year during which the application of withdrawal is submitted. It shall also settle any other financial dues to the Conference.
Finance:
- All expenses on the administration and activities of the Secretariat shall be borne by Member States proportionate to their national incomes.
- The Secretariat shall administer its financial affairs according to the rules of procedure approved by the Conference of Foreign Ministers.
- A Standing Financial Committee shall be set up by the Conference from the accredited representatives of the participating States, and shall meet at the Headquarters of the General Secretariat. This Committee shall in conjunction with the Secretary General, prepare and supervise the budget of the General Secretariat in accordance with the regulations approved by the Conference of Foreign Ministers
Conference bodies:
The Islamic Conference is made up of: The Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government ,the Conference of Foreign Ministers, and the General Secretariat and Subsidiary Organs.
Conference of Kings and Heads of State:
The Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government is the supreme authority in the Organization.
The Islamic Summit Conference convene periodically, once every three years.
It shall also be held whenever the interest of Muslim Nations warrants it, to consider matters of vital importance to the Muslims and coordinate the policy of the Organization accordingly.
Conference of Foreign Ministers:
1- Conference sessions:
a) The Islamic Conference shall be convened once a year of whenever the need arises at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs or their officially accredited representatives. The sessions shall be held in any one of the Member States.
b) An extraordinary session may be convened at the request of any Member State or at the request of the Secretary General, if approved by two-thirds of the Member States. The request may be circulated to all Member States in order to obtain the required approval;
c) The Conference of Foreign Ministers has the right to recommend the convening of a Conference of Heads of State or Government. The approval can be obtained for such a Conference by circulating the request to all Member States.
2 - The purposes of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers are :
- To consider the means of implementing the general policy of the Conference.
-To review progress in the implementation of resolutions adopted at previous sessions.
-To adopt resolutions on matters of common interest in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Conference set forth in this Charter.
- To discuss the report of the Financial Committee and approve the budget of the Secretariat General.
- To appoint the Secretary General.
- To appoint four Assistants to the Secretary General on recommendation of the Secretary General; (The post of a fourth Assistant Secretary General will be for the cause of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and Palestine), and In recommending his Assistants, the Secretary General shall duly take competence, integrity and duly take into consideration their dedication to the Charter's objectives as well as the principle of equitable geographical distribution.
- To fix the date and venue of the coming Conference of Foreign Ministers;
- To consider any issue affecting one or more of the Member States whenever a request to that effect is made with a view to taking appropriate measures in that respect
3 - Resolutions or recommendations of the Conference of Foreign Ministers shall be adopted by a two-third majority.
4 - Two-thirds of the Member States in any session of the Conference of Foreign Ministers shall constitute the quorum.
5 - The Conference of Foreign Ministers decides on the basic procedures which it follows and which could be good for the Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government. It appoints a Chairman for each session. This procedure is also applied in subsidiary organs set up by the Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government and also by the Conference of Foreign Ministers.
The General Secretariat:
The General Secretariat shall be headed by a Secretary General appointed by the Foreign Ministers Conference for a period of four years renewable once only.
The Secretary General shall appoint the staff of the General Secretariat from amongst nations of Member States, paying due regard to their competence and integrity, and in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution.
In the performance of their duties, the Secretary General, his Assistants, and the staff of the General Secretariat, shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or authority other than the Conference. They shall refrain from taking any action that may be detrimental to their position as international officials responding only to the Conference. Member States undertake to respect this quality and the nature of their responsibilities, and shall not seek to influence them in any way in the discharge of their duties.
The Secretariat General shall work to promote communication among Member States and provide facilities for consultations and exchange of views as well as the dissemination of information that may have common significance to these States.
The headquarters of the Secretariat General shall be in Jeddah pending the liberation of "Baitul Maqdis" (Jerusalem).
The General Secretariat shall follow up the implementation of the resolutions and recommendations of the Conference and report back to the Conference. It shall also directly supply the Member States with working papers and memoranda through appropriate channels, within the framework of the resolutions and recommendations of the Conference.
The General Secretariat shall prepare the meetings of the Conference in close cooperation with the host states insofar as administrative and organizational matters are concerned.
Immunities and Privileges
In the light of the agreement on immunities and privileges to be approved by the Conference:
a) The Conference shall enjoy, in the Member States, such legal capacity, immunities and privileges as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulfillment of its objectives.
b) Representatives of Member States shall enjoy such immunities and privileges as may be necessary for the exercise of their functions related to the Conference; and The Staff of the Conference shall enjoy the immunities and privileges necessary for the performance of their duties as may be decided by the Conference.
SPECIALIZED BODIES
1. Afghanistan Committee:
This Committee was established pursuant to resolution 19/11 –P adopted by the 11th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Islamabad, Pakistan, from 17 -21 May 1980.
Function: The Committee coordinates aids and assistance to mitigate the suffering of the Afghan people fighting to regain their fundamental rights. It is required to cooperate with the Secretary General of the OIC or his special representative in finding peaceful, just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Afghan question.
Chairmanship: This Committee is chaired by the Secretary General of the OIC.
Membership: Membership of this committee is made up of four Member States as follows: Islamic Republic of Iran .Republic of Tunisia . Islamic Republic of Pakistan Republic of Guinea, and The Secretary General of the OIC.
Meeting: The Committee meets in New York on the fringes of the annual meeting of foreign ministers during the General Assembly of the United Nations.
2. Islamic Committee for Solidarity with People of African Sahel
Establishment: This Committee was established pursuant to resolution 7/3-P (IS) adopted by the 3rd Islamic Summit Conference, held in Makkah al Mukarramah and Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in January 1981.
Function: This Committee follows up the implementation of measures adopted within the framework of the programme of assistance to the countries of the Sahel, either in the form of urgent food aid or assistance in development projects. It also studies the best means to intensify the fight against drought and desertification; and offers forms of initiatives within the same framework and presents them to the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
Membership: Membership of the Committee is made up of 7 Member States, the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the representative of the head of international Committee on Combating Desertification in the Sahel. The 7 Member States are as follows: State of the United Arab Emirates. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .Republic of Iran.State of Palestine . State of Kuwait .Malaysia . Kingdom of Morocco . State of Qatar
Chairmanship: The Committee has been under the chairmanship of the Foreign Minister of Qatar since the 9th Islamic Summit Conference held in Qatar.
Meetings:This Committee meets once every year on the fringes of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
3. Ministerial Committee of Eight on Philippines Muslims
Establishment :This ministerial Committee is charged with following up the question Muslims in Southern Philippines, pursuant to resolution 4/4 adopted by the 4th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Benghazi, Libya, from 24-26 March 1973.
Function: This Ministerial Committee together with the Government of Philippines examines the situation of Muslims in southern Philippines.
Membership: Membership of this Committee is made up of the Foreign Ministers of the following Eight Member States: Republic of Indonesia.People's Republic of Bangladesh. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . Democratic Republic of Somalia. Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah. Republic of Senegal. .Sultanate of Brunei Malaysia .
Chairmanship: This Committee's meetings are chaired by the Foreign Minister of Indonesia; and the meetings are held on the fringes of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers and the Islamic Summit Conference, when conditions so warrant.
4. Committee of Six on Palestine
Establishment:The Committee of Six on Palestine was established pursuant to resolution 1/12-P adopted by the 12th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq, from 1-5 may 1981.
Function: To follow up the implementation of sanctions decided by the OIC as well as the sanctions provided for in article 7 of the Charter of the United Nations against the Zionist entity for underestimating international legitimacy, for refusing to implement the resolutions of the United Nations, and for violating the principle of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
Membership: Membership of this Committee is made up of the following 5 Member States:Islamic Republic of Pakistan .Republic of Senegal . Republic of Guinea . State of Palestine .Malaysia, and The Secretary General of the OIC.
Meetings:This Committee's meetings are held annually on the fringes of the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
5. Contact Group on Bosnia Herzegovina
Establishment: The Group was established on 24 May 1993 pursuant to the declaration of Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference adopted at the United Nations on the position on Bosnia Herzegovina.
Function: The Group coordinates the activities of Member States on Bosnia Herzegovina.
Membership: Membership of the Group is made up of Nine Member States and the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as follows:.Islamic Republic of Iran Islamic Republic of Pakistan .Republic of Turkey .Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .Republic of Senegal .Malaysia .Arab Republic of Egypt .Kingdom of Morocco .Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Chairmanship: The Group is chaired by Member States in succession.
MeetingThe Contact Group holds its meetings upon request from a Member State in the Group. The Group has held a number of meetings and created a fund to accelerate the return of refugees and displaced persons to Bosnia. The fund is headquartered in Sarajevo.
6. Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir
Establishment: The Group was established on 3 October 1994 pursuant to resolution 3/EX7 adopted by the 7th Extraordinary Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Islamabad in September 1994.
Function: The Group coordinates efforts of Member States to support the rights of the Jammu and Kashmir people to self determination in accordance with United Nations resolutions, and to safeguard the basic human rights of this people.
Members of the Group: Membership of the Group is made up of four Member States and the Secretary General of the OIC, as follows: Islamic Republic of Pakistan.Republic of Turkey. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . Republic of Niger.
Chairmanship: The Group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
Meetings: Meetings of this Group are held regularly at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York.
7. Sierra Leone Committee
Establishment: The Committee was established pursuant to resolution 51/27-P adopted by the 27th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between 24 – 27 Rabiul Awwal 1421H (27 – 30 June 2000).
Membership:Malaysia .Arab Republic of Egypt . State of Kuwait . Republic of Guinea . Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . Federal Republic of Nigeria . Islamic Republic of Iran .Republic of Sierra Leone
8. Contact Group on Somalia
Establishment: The Group was established pursuant to resolution 12/9 – P (IS) adopted by the Islamic Summit Conference, held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 12 – 13 November 2000.
Membership: State of Qatar (Chairman) .Brunei Darussalam .Malaysia . Islamic Republic of Pakistan . Islamic Republic of Iran . Republic of Turkey . State of the United Arab Emirates . Republic of Yemen . Djibouti . Republic of Sudan . Arab Republic of Egypt . Gabon . State of Kuwait . Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
9. Committee on United Nations reform
The Committee is made up of permanent representatives of Member States to the Organization of the Islamic Conference in New York, and it's membership is open-ended.
(OIC)
Dr Khalil Hussein
Professor at faculty of law at Lebanese university
Director of studies at Lebanese Parliament
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is an inter-governmental organization grouping fifty-six States. These States decided to pool their resources together, combine their efforts and speak with one voice to safeguard the interest and ensure the progress and well-being of their peoples and those of other Muslims in the world over.
The Organization was established in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on 12 Rajab 1389H / 25 September 1969 when the First meeting of the leaders of the Islamic world was held in this city in the wake of the criminal arson perpetrated on 21 August 1969 by Zionist elements against Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied Jerusalem. It was indeed in order to defend the honour, dignity and faith of the Muslims, to face this bitter challenge launched in the holy city of Al-Quds so dear to them and against the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, the first Qibla and third holiest Shrine of Islam, that the leaders of the Muslim world, at their Summit in Rabat, seized that event - which brought about unanimous worldwide condemnation and reprobation - to think together of their common cause and muster the force required to overcome their differences, unite and lay the foundations of this large grouping of States, that is, the Organization of the Islamic Conference which they entrusted, in absolute priority, with liberating Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa from Zionist occupation.
Six months after that historical meeting, i.e. in Muharram 1390H (March 1970), the First Islamic Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Jeddah set up a permanent General Secretariat, to ensure a liaison among Member States and charged it to coordinate their action. The Conference appointed its Secretary General and chose Jeddah as the Headquarters of the Organization, pending the liberation of Jerusalem, which would be the permanent Headquarters.
Two and a half years after Rabat, in Muharram 1392H /February 1972, the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, meeting in its Third Session, adopted the Charter of the Organization, whose purpose is to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among Islamic States in the political, economic, cultural, scientific and social fields.
Objectives
The objectives of the Islamic Conference are:
- to promote Islamic solidarity among Member States;
- to consolidate cooperation among Member States in the economic, social, cultural, scientific and other vital fields of activities, and to carry out consultations among Member States in international organizations;
- to endeavor to eliminate racial segregation, discrimination and to eradicate colonialism in all its forms;
- to take necessary measures to support international peace and security founded on justice;
- to coordinate efforts for the safeguarding of the Holy Places and support of the struggle of the people of Palestine, to help them regain their rights and liberate their land;
- to back the struggle of all Muslim people with a view to preserving their dignity, independence and national rights.
- to create a suitable atmosphere for the promotion of cooperation and understanding among Member States and other countries.
Principles
The principles of the Islamic Conference are:
- total equality between Member States;
- respect of the right of self-determination, and non-interference in the domestic affairs of Member States;
- respect of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of each Member States;
- settlement of any conflict that may arise by peaceful means such as negotiation, mediation, reconciliation or arbitration;
- abstention from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity, national unity or political independence of any Member States.
Membership:
The Organization of the Islamic Conference is made up of the States which took part in the Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government held in Rabat and the two Foreign Ministers' Conferences held in Jeddah and Karachi, and signatory to the Charter. Every Muslim State is eligible to join the Islamic Conference on submitting an application expressing its desire and preparedness to adopt this Charter. The application shall be deposited with the General Secretariat, to be brought before the Foreign Ministers' Conference at its first meeting after the submission of the application. Membership shall take effect as of the time of approval of the Conference by a two-third majority of the Conference members.
Withdrawal:
Any Member State may withdraw from the Islamic Conference by sending a written notification to the Secretariat General, to be communicated to all Member States. The State applying for withdrawal shall be bound by its obligations until the end of the fiscal year during which the application of withdrawal is submitted. It shall also settle any other financial dues to the Conference.
Finance:
- All expenses on the administration and activities of the Secretariat shall be borne by Member States proportionate to their national incomes.
- The Secretariat shall administer its financial affairs according to the rules of procedure approved by the Conference of Foreign Ministers.
- A Standing Financial Committee shall be set up by the Conference from the accredited representatives of the participating States, and shall meet at the Headquarters of the General Secretariat. This Committee shall in conjunction with the Secretary General, prepare and supervise the budget of the General Secretariat in accordance with the regulations approved by the Conference of Foreign Ministers
Conference bodies:
The Islamic Conference is made up of: The Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government ,the Conference of Foreign Ministers, and the General Secretariat and Subsidiary Organs.
Conference of Kings and Heads of State:
The Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government is the supreme authority in the Organization.
The Islamic Summit Conference convene periodically, once every three years.
It shall also be held whenever the interest of Muslim Nations warrants it, to consider matters of vital importance to the Muslims and coordinate the policy of the Organization accordingly.
Conference of Foreign Ministers:
1- Conference sessions:
a) The Islamic Conference shall be convened once a year of whenever the need arises at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs or their officially accredited representatives. The sessions shall be held in any one of the Member States.
b) An extraordinary session may be convened at the request of any Member State or at the request of the Secretary General, if approved by two-thirds of the Member States. The request may be circulated to all Member States in order to obtain the required approval;
c) The Conference of Foreign Ministers has the right to recommend the convening of a Conference of Heads of State or Government. The approval can be obtained for such a Conference by circulating the request to all Member States.
2 - The purposes of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers are :
- To consider the means of implementing the general policy of the Conference.
-To review progress in the implementation of resolutions adopted at previous sessions.
-To adopt resolutions on matters of common interest in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Conference set forth in this Charter.
- To discuss the report of the Financial Committee and approve the budget of the Secretariat General.
- To appoint the Secretary General.
- To appoint four Assistants to the Secretary General on recommendation of the Secretary General; (The post of a fourth Assistant Secretary General will be for the cause of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and Palestine), and In recommending his Assistants, the Secretary General shall duly take competence, integrity and duly take into consideration their dedication to the Charter's objectives as well as the principle of equitable geographical distribution.
- To fix the date and venue of the coming Conference of Foreign Ministers;
- To consider any issue affecting one or more of the Member States whenever a request to that effect is made with a view to taking appropriate measures in that respect
3 - Resolutions or recommendations of the Conference of Foreign Ministers shall be adopted by a two-third majority.
4 - Two-thirds of the Member States in any session of the Conference of Foreign Ministers shall constitute the quorum.
5 - The Conference of Foreign Ministers decides on the basic procedures which it follows and which could be good for the Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government. It appoints a Chairman for each session. This procedure is also applied in subsidiary organs set up by the Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government and also by the Conference of Foreign Ministers.
The General Secretariat:
The General Secretariat shall be headed by a Secretary General appointed by the Foreign Ministers Conference for a period of four years renewable once only.
The Secretary General shall appoint the staff of the General Secretariat from amongst nations of Member States, paying due regard to their competence and integrity, and in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution.
In the performance of their duties, the Secretary General, his Assistants, and the staff of the General Secretariat, shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or authority other than the Conference. They shall refrain from taking any action that may be detrimental to their position as international officials responding only to the Conference. Member States undertake to respect this quality and the nature of their responsibilities, and shall not seek to influence them in any way in the discharge of their duties.
The Secretariat General shall work to promote communication among Member States and provide facilities for consultations and exchange of views as well as the dissemination of information that may have common significance to these States.
The headquarters of the Secretariat General shall be in Jeddah pending the liberation of "Baitul Maqdis" (Jerusalem).
The General Secretariat shall follow up the implementation of the resolutions and recommendations of the Conference and report back to the Conference. It shall also directly supply the Member States with working papers and memoranda through appropriate channels, within the framework of the resolutions and recommendations of the Conference.
The General Secretariat shall prepare the meetings of the Conference in close cooperation with the host states insofar as administrative and organizational matters are concerned.
Immunities and Privileges
In the light of the agreement on immunities and privileges to be approved by the Conference:
a) The Conference shall enjoy, in the Member States, such legal capacity, immunities and privileges as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulfillment of its objectives.
b) Representatives of Member States shall enjoy such immunities and privileges as may be necessary for the exercise of their functions related to the Conference; and The Staff of the Conference shall enjoy the immunities and privileges necessary for the performance of their duties as may be decided by the Conference.
SPECIALIZED BODIES
1. Afghanistan Committee:
This Committee was established pursuant to resolution 19/11 –P adopted by the 11th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Islamabad, Pakistan, from 17 -21 May 1980.
Function: The Committee coordinates aids and assistance to mitigate the suffering of the Afghan people fighting to regain their fundamental rights. It is required to cooperate with the Secretary General of the OIC or his special representative in finding peaceful, just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Afghan question.
Chairmanship: This Committee is chaired by the Secretary General of the OIC.
Membership: Membership of this committee is made up of four Member States as follows: Islamic Republic of Iran .Republic of Tunisia . Islamic Republic of Pakistan Republic of Guinea, and The Secretary General of the OIC.
Meeting: The Committee meets in New York on the fringes of the annual meeting of foreign ministers during the General Assembly of the United Nations.
2. Islamic Committee for Solidarity with People of African Sahel
Establishment: This Committee was established pursuant to resolution 7/3-P (IS) adopted by the 3rd Islamic Summit Conference, held in Makkah al Mukarramah and Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in January 1981.
Function: This Committee follows up the implementation of measures adopted within the framework of the programme of assistance to the countries of the Sahel, either in the form of urgent food aid or assistance in development projects. It also studies the best means to intensify the fight against drought and desertification; and offers forms of initiatives within the same framework and presents them to the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
Membership: Membership of the Committee is made up of 7 Member States, the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the representative of the head of international Committee on Combating Desertification in the Sahel. The 7 Member States are as follows: State of the United Arab Emirates. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .Republic of Iran.State of Palestine . State of Kuwait .Malaysia . Kingdom of Morocco . State of Qatar
Chairmanship: The Committee has been under the chairmanship of the Foreign Minister of Qatar since the 9th Islamic Summit Conference held in Qatar.
Meetings:This Committee meets once every year on the fringes of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
3. Ministerial Committee of Eight on Philippines Muslims
Establishment :This ministerial Committee is charged with following up the question Muslims in Southern Philippines, pursuant to resolution 4/4 adopted by the 4th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Benghazi, Libya, from 24-26 March 1973.
Function: This Ministerial Committee together with the Government of Philippines examines the situation of Muslims in southern Philippines.
Membership: Membership of this Committee is made up of the Foreign Ministers of the following Eight Member States: Republic of Indonesia.People's Republic of Bangladesh. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . Democratic Republic of Somalia. Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah. Republic of Senegal. .Sultanate of Brunei Malaysia .
Chairmanship: This Committee's meetings are chaired by the Foreign Minister of Indonesia; and the meetings are held on the fringes of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers and the Islamic Summit Conference, when conditions so warrant.
4. Committee of Six on Palestine
Establishment:The Committee of Six on Palestine was established pursuant to resolution 1/12-P adopted by the 12th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq, from 1-5 may 1981.
Function: To follow up the implementation of sanctions decided by the OIC as well as the sanctions provided for in article 7 of the Charter of the United Nations against the Zionist entity for underestimating international legitimacy, for refusing to implement the resolutions of the United Nations, and for violating the principle of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
Membership: Membership of this Committee is made up of the following 5 Member States:Islamic Republic of Pakistan .Republic of Senegal . Republic of Guinea . State of Palestine .Malaysia, and The Secretary General of the OIC.
Meetings:This Committee's meetings are held annually on the fringes of the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
5. Contact Group on Bosnia Herzegovina
Establishment: The Group was established on 24 May 1993 pursuant to the declaration of Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference adopted at the United Nations on the position on Bosnia Herzegovina.
Function: The Group coordinates the activities of Member States on Bosnia Herzegovina.
Membership: Membership of the Group is made up of Nine Member States and the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as follows:.Islamic Republic of Iran Islamic Republic of Pakistan .Republic of Turkey .Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .Republic of Senegal .Malaysia .Arab Republic of Egypt .Kingdom of Morocco .Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Chairmanship: The Group is chaired by Member States in succession.
MeetingThe Contact Group holds its meetings upon request from a Member State in the Group. The Group has held a number of meetings and created a fund to accelerate the return of refugees and displaced persons to Bosnia. The fund is headquartered in Sarajevo.
6. Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir
Establishment: The Group was established on 3 October 1994 pursuant to resolution 3/EX7 adopted by the 7th Extraordinary Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Islamabad in September 1994.
Function: The Group coordinates efforts of Member States to support the rights of the Jammu and Kashmir people to self determination in accordance with United Nations resolutions, and to safeguard the basic human rights of this people.
Members of the Group: Membership of the Group is made up of four Member States and the Secretary General of the OIC, as follows: Islamic Republic of Pakistan.Republic of Turkey. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . Republic of Niger.
Chairmanship: The Group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
Meetings: Meetings of this Group are held regularly at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York.
7. Sierra Leone Committee
Establishment: The Committee was established pursuant to resolution 51/27-P adopted by the 27th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between 24 – 27 Rabiul Awwal 1421H (27 – 30 June 2000).
Membership:Malaysia .Arab Republic of Egypt . State of Kuwait . Republic of Guinea . Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . Federal Republic of Nigeria . Islamic Republic of Iran .Republic of Sierra Leone
8. Contact Group on Somalia
Establishment: The Group was established pursuant to resolution 12/9 – P (IS) adopted by the Islamic Summit Conference, held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 12 – 13 November 2000.
Membership: State of Qatar (Chairman) .Brunei Darussalam .Malaysia . Islamic Republic of Pakistan . Islamic Republic of Iran . Republic of Turkey . State of the United Arab Emirates . Republic of Yemen . Djibouti . Republic of Sudan . Arab Republic of Egypt . Gabon . State of Kuwait . Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
9. Committee on United Nations reform
The Committee is made up of permanent representatives of Member States to the Organization of the Islamic Conference in New York, and it's membership is open-ended.
