Working with inter-governmental organizations

© UNICEF/HQ04-1213/Vitale

During the 10th Islamic Summit Conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in October 2003, the joint efforts of The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and UNICEF resulted in the adoption of a resolution on Child Care and Protection in the Islamic World, "intended to promote greater impetus among member states to ensure the well-being of children." It specifically mandated the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) to coordinate the First Ministerial Meeting on the Child which will be held in Rabat, Morocco from 7-9 November 2005.

OIC Member States represent a group of countries spanning Africa, Asia and the Pacific each with varying economic wealth, development and socio-political environments.

On a global scale, about 11 million children die each year before their fifth birthday of preventable causes. Of these 11 million under-five deaths, approximately 4 million or 40 percent occur in OIC member states. Many sub-Saharan African countries, including several OIC members, have experienced increases in child mortality because of the high incidence of AIDS.

There is a growing threat of HIV/AIDS outbreaks in high-risk groups in OIC member states.

The upcoming Ministerial Conference on the Child, in Rabat in November 2005, represents an important and timely opportunity for the members of the OIC to demonstrate their commitment to children and, through increased mutual solidarity, to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and the goals of the World Fit For Children, including those relating to children and AIDS.

The conference will focus on issues specific to OIC member states  in four major areas: health and HIV/AIDS, culture and education, protection against abuse, exploitation and violence, and a review of the sufficiency of resources promised to children and their actual allocation in support of policies, institutional frameworks and programmes.

An important element of the preparations for the Conference is the recent publication Investing in the Children of the Islamic World. This joint OIC/ISESCO/UNICEF publication addresses all of the key issues confronting children in OIC member countries.