“Islamic Conference Youth Initiative”
Non-Governmental project on initiating First Meeting (Forum) of youth organizations, Representing Member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference
1. The Main Goal of the Project: Organization of the first-ever meeting of the representatives of non-governmental youth organizations from the Member countries of the OIC with the aim to establish coordinating body - Youth platform for the OIC, functioning on the permanent bases.
2. Project Organizers – National Assembly of Youth Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (NAYORA), Eurasian International Development Association and other Organizations to be identified in the process of creation of the Preparatory Committee for the meeting and further implementation of the project.
3. Key partner – Organization of Islamic Conference
4. Content of Project
The definition of “Civil Society” in present world becomes increasingly crucial both on national and international levels in shaping the frame for such a fundamental issues as preservation of moral and cultural values in globalizing world, human rights and environment, creation of more just social and economic order and establishment of dialogue among cultures and civilizations. Although above-mentioned terms as well as civil society per se sometimes being related to the western philosophical world vision, civil societies of the Muslim countries more widely Members of the OIC are also on the way of raising strong voice toward both domestic and international issues. Their active part has become the part of the worldwide movement of peoples of good will, united by desire to address mutual concerns, humanity facing with, the movement frequently being identified as “the second superpower”. However on the other hand, civil societies of the Muslim world lack the wee-established contacts and networking within the region, necessary for strengthening their aggregate capacities vis-à-vis scope of mutual problems and concerns. This could be fairly applied to the contemporary stage of the youth movement and contacts between organized youth of the countries in the question.
Youth movement in the many of Muslim and developed countries, it is worth to be mentioned, played a historically positive role in such a remarkable process as struggle against foreign imperial domination, gaining national independence, modernizing their societies and preserving their national decent and identity. The roots of this activism are originated from the times when prophet Muhammad (SAS) as youth was a member of “Hitful fidul” youth organization struggling against injustice in his country and examples of young Ali bin Abu Talib, Musab bin Zubeyd, Bilal bin Habashi and others youth of first Muslims who played prominent role in dissemination of Holy Islam. However despite the fact of similarity of many concerns, which our youth faces today an as future leaders of their nations will be dealing with in coming decades, obvious lack of effective coordination of activities of organized youth groups as well as of sustainable dialogue among them is in existence.
Now when the Muslim world enters a new era of challenges but also opportunities, when there is more need for voices of our peoples to be heard all around the world it is time for the first ever try to bring together prominent youth leaders from all over the vast region, which shares common values and faces similar challenges and to establish permanent frame for dialogue among them. No doubts, there are plenty of issues on the table, which need to be themes for such a discussion and among those themes are:
- How to find better ways for our youth to be active participators of the main track of the globalizing world and at the same time to keep essential values of our ethic tradition alive.
- Elaborate better strategies of addressing common threats, including just resolution of the regional conflicts, burdening our peoples.
- How to contribute to the strengthening and development of each of our nations and at the same time help to harmonize national agendas with that of the broader region of the OIC.
- How to explain to the rest of the world the true nature of our great civilization, clean the perception of Islam of misunderstanding, misconceptions or evil-minded deliberate falsifications and search better ways to contribute to the sincere dialogue among civilization.
The latter issue constitutes a special importance in current momentum, when each of our peoples suffers from such kind of anti-Islamic propaganda. Islam religion is not need to be defended. In order to make certain of it, it is enough to read the Holy Koran. The religion, adherents of which number about one billion people cannot be source of conflict. It should be said with regret that, some religious figures’ behaviour bewilders the people who are not familiar with this religion. This message should be delivered not only to the Governments, but also to the people of the outside world, especially to the young generation, including through the means of the interregional youth dialogue. And if not now then when?
The framework of the Organization of Islamic Conference seems to be the best option for launching such an initiative for several substantial reasons. First and foremost since its establishment in September 25, 1969, it carries the very important function of dual nature. On the one hand, it represents a global manifestation of Islamic identity (similar to the role of European integration to maintain European identity). The organization is aimed “to strengthen Islamic solidarity among Member States, cooperation in the political, economic, social, cultural and scientific fields, the struggle of all Muslim people to safeguard their dignity, independence and national rights”. On the other hand, OIC is not merely of organization of peoples united by the common religious values but represent wider geographic region (some of its 57 member - states confirms the Islam identity only to some extent) and express the wider desires and opinions of the developing world as well as countries in transition, concentrating on the “ work to eliminate racial discrimination and all forms of colonialism, to create a favorable atmosphere for the promotion of cooperation and understanding between Member States and other countries”, as it is noted in the charter adopted by Third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Jeddah from 29 February – 4 March 1972.
Another reason is that the goals of the Initiative are corresponding with those of the OIC in the sphere of youth policy. As it was recently declared in the resolution17/9 - C on the “Education and Muslim youth rehabilitation” adopted at ninth session of Islamic Summit Conference in Doha (November 2000):
“Urges again Member States to pursue their efforts to institutionalize Islamic values and the cultural activities stemming there from among all Muslim youths…
Welcomes enhancement of cooperation among Member States to achieve better exchange of ideas and experience between Muslim youth and youth organizations in different societies, and underlines the need to provide youth with sound entertainment and sport with the aim of developing the academic and cultural capacity of youth.”
It is also worth to mention that such kind of non-governmental youth platforms representing common cultural and political areas have been existing for a long time in different regions. The notable example is one of our international partners, namely European Youth Forum, an international umbrella NGO, which serves as a joint youth platform for The Council of Europe and the European Union. Trough the working frame of the Forum, distinct representatives of European youth frequently meet each other, exchange ideas regarding the future of European Union and pan European community as well as advocate the values of the uniting Europe on the international level.
Azerbaijan as Muslim country is the place, where the traditions and habits of west and east meet. The present tricolour of Azerbaijan, whose history dates backs to Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918 – 1920), reflects the symbols of Turkic origin of Azerbaijanis (blue), democracy (red) and belonging to Islam religion (green). After the Soviet Union collapsed, when atheism was an official ideology, and Azerbaijan gained its independence the Azerbaijanis have rapidly begun to return to their religion. For the time being, in Azerbaijan society where the democratic principles dominate, the Islam keeps its honourable place.
Taking into consideration the aforesaid thoughts Eurasian International Development Association and National Assembly of Youth Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan consider that, the implementation of the Project of holding forum of OIC non – governmental youth organizations (NGYO) in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan can answer the purpose.
3. Goals of Project
The main goals of “ Islamic Conference Youth Initiative ” is to held the first ever meeting of the non-governmental youth organizations from all member-countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference with the aim to discuss issues of common interest and explore the ways for future cooperation, coordination and networking. We believe that such initiative will be able:
1. To mobilize the efforts to institutionalize Islamic values and the cultural activities stemming from among all Muslim youths as it is noted in the resolution adopted in IX session of OIC summit (2000, November, Doha);
2. To demonstrate solidarity of youth of the region on just resolutions of conflict, which our peoples suffer from, on the base of the UN and OIC principles with the respect to the human dignity and basic human rights, commitment to peace and freedom, opposition of all forms of racism, colonialism and foreign occupation.
3. To enhance the cooperation among organized youth of Member States to achieve better exchange of ideas and experiences in the field of promotion of youth agenda on local national and international levels.
4. To identify the priorities and strategies at the Non - Governmental level in order to promote correct perception of Islamic values and to overcome the negative attitude against Islamic civilization as well as develop common work program in that direction.
5. To work out mutual roadmap for promoting the socio-political and cultural agenda of the OIC on the international level, specifically within the participation in the work of non-governmental segment of the UN system.
6. To create informational network and bases for sustainable relationship and communication among participants; trough the network to promote inter alia exchange of richness of cultures of different peoples of the region.
7. To discuss the problems, associated with development and modernization of our, countries affecting young generation and discuss better strategies to overcome them;
8. To explore new tracks of cooperation with youth of different regions and trough it contributes to establishment of cultural tolerance and dialogue between civilizations.
9. To discuss the role of youth in the field of helping to the suffering Moslem countries.
Eventual goal at the meeting could be working out and establishment of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum (the preliminary working name for the youth platform of OIC, which is the subject for future discussion).
4. Steps of Implementation
The following working plan can be considered in order to pursue step-by-step implementation of the project:
1. To establish the relations with the youth NGOs from OIC countries trough the channel of embassies of these countries in Azerbaijan and in international organizations and to inform those NGOs about the purposes of Forum;
2. To hold the initial meeting with the participation of at least 10 representatives of youth NGOs from OIC countries in August, 2003 in Baku city;
2.1 To set up working group (preparatory body in charge of organizing of the Forum to be consist of the representatives of above mentioned representatives of different OIC countries) with the aim to define the report themes of Forum, to solve the organizational, technical and other issues at the meeting;
2.2 To create WEB site expressing the purposes and principles of Forum, to discuss the technical issues and to define the working principles.
3. To communicate on the project with the OIC headquarters as well as other
Organizations on the regional level.
4. To start fund-raising campaign, communicate with sponsoring organizations and accumulate necessary resources for organizational expenses. Taking into consideration secured resources to finalize the organizational and technical details.
5. To communicate with the youth NGOs of member states, send and applications, collect the responses for participation as well as their advises on the substantial and organizational issues of the conference.
6. To hold second meeting of the working group with the aim to evaluate the work done and finalize the agenda of the Forum, its program and other matters.
7. To hold two - day forum in September or October 2004.
5. Expected results of Project
This first-ever Forum of young leaders throughout OIC region will serve the strengthening of the relations between youth from different countries, contribute an establishment of new relations basis for future friendships.
Successful creation of the coordinating body or the OIC Youth Platform will contribute the crystallization and enhancement of the voice of Muslim Youth throughout the world, provide a solid foundation for coordinated actions on regional and international levels, in particular vis-à-vis matters of highest concern for the OIC region.
Thoughts and ideas resounded in the forum will lead to the exchange of views around the notion of Islamic identity and trough it mutual work on directed to solution of the problem, facing youth in contemporary world.
5. About the initiators
National Assembly of Youth Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, member of European Youth Forum and an NGO in special consultative status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations.
Eurasian International Development Association, has held scientific conferences related to religious and cultural problems, also organized and financed Advanced English Language courses.
