OIC Urges Granting Orphans Good Care, Treatment

Jeddah, April 27, 2021, SPA – Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on the occasion of the Day of the Orphan in the Muslim World, renewed its call to grant orphans what they deserve of generous care and good treatment, especially that millions of orphans are victims of wars, natural disasters, diseases and hunger in several member states, noting that the situation is even worse in light of the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the world. As a gesture of OIC’s interest in this precious category of the community and their causes and concerns, the Council of Foreign Ministers at OIC member states, during the 40th session that was held in Conakry, Guinea, in December 2013, approved a decision to mark Orphans Day in the Muslim World on Ramadan 15 annually to raise awareness of their causes and needs. Celebrating the day aims at stimulating member states, organizations, and social commissions to care about orphans and emphasize what Islam recommends of caring of orphans and sponsorship program at the educational, health, social, and livelihood levels, as well as maintaining their rights and good bringing up, which the Holy Quran urged for in more than 20 situations, especially that orphans rights are among the top rights ordered by Islam and other divine faiths. It is worth mentioning that the Secretariat General of OIC works closely with international and regional organizations and social commissions in member states on a comprehensive approach for caring, sponsoring, and protecting orphans. The Secretariat General called on member states, social and humanitarian organizations to celebrate Orphans Day through several activities to raise awareness of orphans’ causes and needs and exert more efforts in providing care to orphans and sponsoring them. --SPA