Charter and Statute of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (UNIW)

The statute herein designates the functioning rules of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World, the foundation process of which has been completed with the Cabinet Decree No. 2005/9910 dated 12.30.2005 and the Approval of the President of the Republic of Turkey under the provisions of the Act No. 3335 regarding the Foundation of the Organizations Having International Characteristics.

The abbreviations used in the statute herein and meanings thereof are as follows: UNIW: The Union of NGOs of the Islamic World, General Assembly: General Assembly of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World, Council: Council of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World,

Founder Members: Members who founded the UNIW, Member: Member NGOs of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World, Associated Member: Non-Governmental Organizations that participate in the activities of the Union as observers having no right to vote, or UNIW member social initiatives with no legal entity,

Representative: A person or a chairman of a member organization authorized by the commissioned organs of the member organizations as having the power to represent and bind the organization by the UNIW, Presidential Board: General Assembly Presidential Board of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World, Secretary General: Secretary General of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World, Headquarters: Headquarters of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World, Turkey, Host Country: Host countries to general assemblies, council meetings or other events of the UNIW.

The name of The UNIW in Turkish is: “İslam Dünyası Sivil Toplum Kuruluşları Birliği”, and its abbreviation is: “İDSB”

The name of The UNIW in English is: “The Union of Non- Governmental Organizations of the Islamic World”,and its abbreviation is: “UNIW”

The name of The UNIW in Arabic is: “Ittihad al-Munazzamah al- Ahliyye fi al-Alam al-Islami”,and its abbreviation is: “AL-ITTIHAD”.

The center of the UNIW is located in Istanbul/Turkey.

The emblem of the UNIW is as follows:

The official languages of the UNIW are Turkish, English, Arabic and French. Turkish, English and Arabic are essential for official documents. Besides the official documentation, the UNIW may use other languages in correspondence and publications for purposes of publicity, communication and coordination.

The organs of the UNIW are the following: General Assembly, Council, Secretariat, Commissions, Consultancies, Auditing Board, Advisory Board and Branches and Representative Offices as well as other organs the formation of which is deemed appropriate by the Council. The UNIW carries out its functions through these organs.

The Council may establish various working groups and temporary commissions and bodies other than the organs mentioned herein.

Functioning and working procedures of the UNIW’s organs are designated by the statute herein.

The UNIW shall be represented and bound to the largest extent in compliance with the statute by the individual signature of the Secretary General and joint signatures of any two of the Deputy Secretary Generals appended over the title of the UNIW.

In cases deemed necessary, the Council may authorize one of the council members to enact transactions individually.

The objectives of the UNIW are;

Ensuring sustainable development, consolidation and coordination between non-governmental organizations of the Islamic world;

Contributing to the formation of just, peaceful and stable environments all around the world; Protecting the principle rights and freedoms of individuals and societies;

Performing, with mutual cooperation, technical and social studies for the further development of civil society on the basis of participatory and pluralist principles;

Performing activities towards the introduction of Islamic culture and values.

Based on the objectives of the UNIW, the activities of the UNIW are;

Ensuring cooperation and coordination between nongovernmental organizations of the Islamic world by considering their constitutional systems; developing common positions and obtaining institutional gains within the frame of the UNIW objectives by providing exchanges of knowledge, experience and views between member organizations;

Working for a better world in cooperation with all non- governmental organizations thatstrive for a safer and more peaceful world;

Making the structural arrangements required for these purposes, opening the requisite branches, subunits and representation offices;

Together with member organizations, ensuring participation to international mechanisms effectively;

Generalizing the programs which are deemed proper and which are of interest to voluntary organizations, and attending all related events and supporting them; setting up collective working groups; establishing research centers; arranging training programs;

Contributing to the solutions of problems relating to the Islamic world in a collective manner; observing the developments and crisis regions within the sphere of interest of the UNIW, and determining a common attitude towards the ongoing events and changes by ensuring the participation of member organizations; developing projects; obtaining required initiatives, setting up monitoring committees when required;

Devising activities for introducing Islamic culture and civilization and for preventing all types of discrimination;

Supporting all local, regional and international attempts aiming towards the establishment of cooperation and solidarity in the Islamic world; Helping those who are in difficulty and have suffered harm due to wars and disasters through cooperating -when required- with local or international charitable institutions. The UNIW may buy and sell real and movable estates, make any type of savings, create and lift mortgage, create in kind and personal rights for real estates and accept grants while it performs the activities specified in the statute.

Furthermore the UNIW may perform all types of commercial activities and found factories and establish partnerships. It may execute common projects in coordination with governmental and private companies.

1. Adoption of Islamic Culture and adherence to the purposes

of the UNIW,

1. Having not been involved in in any form of violent activity,
2. Having the characteristics of a non-profit organization,
3. Not receiving directives from any external authority,
4. Having legal entity under the law of the relevant country,
5. Having legal entity under the law of the relevant country,
6. Not being a political party or a subsidiary organisation of a

political party,

1. Any NGOs that obtain a reference from two member

organizations may apply for membership of the UNIW.

Each and every NGO on the condition of having application qualities for membership may apply for membership in writing by the agency of its representative to the UNIW after rendering such a decision through the competent organs thereof. In the decision of the competent organ, the full name of the representative to the UNIW shall be expressly mentioned.

Application for the membership shall be submitted to the Council through a fully filled-out Application Form comprising the organization’s application decision and references of two current member organizations of the UNIW appended.

Procedures pertaining to membership applications will be followed by the secretariat to be submitted at the next first Council Meeting.

The Council shall examine the membership application of NGOs in terms of qualities that give it eligibility for membership.

The application after being found eligible by the Council, all members shall be informed of this status along with the agenda of the meeting at least 15 days prior to the General Assembly meeting in which membership applications are to be put to vote.

NGOs whose applications for membership are rejected by the Council or not responded to within three months must wait for three years to reapply for membership.

Following approval of the application by the General Assembly, applicant organizations shall have the same rights as other members have as of the date of the General Assembly’s approval.

NGOs whose applications for membership are rejected by the General Assembly shall not apply again for membership before the termination of five years of standby period.

Representatives shall legally represent and bind their own organizations to the UNIW as the members of the UNIW. Each member organization may substitute its representative to the UNIW at any time with a written request submitted to the Council.

Representatives may either represent their organizations permanently or depending on the nature of the meeting different representatives may be appointed substituting the permanent one.

Every member organization shall have the following rights within the provisions of the statute;

1. The right to vote,
2. The right to be selected to the UNIW’s organs and nominate

candidates,

1. The right to be informed of the UNIW’s budget and activities,
2. The right to attend the General Assembly and other UNIW

organs where one holds a responsibility, and expresses views,

1. The right to participate in the UNIW’s activities,
2. The right to express views regarding the admission of new

members.

Every member organization shall have the following responsibilities within the provisions of the statute;

1. Attending the General Assembly meetings,
2. Continuously protecting UNIW’s membership eligibility qualities,
3. Attending activities of the organs they have been elected in,
4. Protecting and maintaining the internal harmony of the UNIW,
5. Financing their own expenses for participation in the UNIW

activities,

1. Regularly paying their annual membership dues,
2. Urgently providing information regarding their own

activities whenever such a request is made, in order to ensure coordination within the UNIW.

Within the frame of provisions of the statute;

1. Every member can resign from membership on condition of

having informed the UNIW’s headquarters of said decision to resign, in written form.

1. The resigning member shall pay all of the membership dues

of the year in which they resign.

Reasons for dismissal from the membership are as follows;

1. Having lost the membership eligibility qualities,
2. Having abused the duties in the UNIW’s organs,
3. Having breached the UNIW’s harmony and acted in an

unfriendly manner towards the UNIW,

1. Having acted or expressed views contrary to the UNIW’s

purposes,

1. Having committed acts that may offend the UNIW’s

personality as an entity,

1. Having not paid membership dues for two consecutive

terms despite written warning,

1. Having not attended three consecutive meetings of the

General Assembly without any excuses

the status of a member organization or its representative capable of representing and binding the organization who are confirmed as having one of the reasons for being dismissed from membership shall be conveyed to the organization in writing by the Council, and the organization shall be asked to submit a defense statement within 60 days.

The said warning shall explicitly mention the reasons for dismissal. In cases where delay is prejudicial, the relevant organization’s membership shall be suspended by the Council. The organization whose membership is suspended shall not attend UNIW’s activities until the relevant General Assembly decision is made.

Following the evaluation of the defense statement of the relevant organization, on the Council’s recommendation and General Assembly’s approval the member shall be dismissed from membership.

The dismissed member is liable to pay all membership dues of the year of dismissal.

The General Assembly is the most authorized organ of the UNIW consisting of representatives of the members who joined the UNIW as founder members, representatives of members who were later admitted to membership and observer members.

The General Assembly shall hold an ordinary meeting once a year on the date assigned and declared by the Council.

If deemed necessary by the Council, the duration of the gathering of the General Assembly may be extended to two years. An extraordinary meeting may be held at any time on the decision of the Council or the written request of one fifth of members of the UNIW.

General Assembly meetings shall be held at the UNIW’s Center.

Secretariat shall prepare a list of members that are eligible to attend the General Assembly under the statute of the UNIW.

Members who are eligible to attend the General Assembly shall be summoned by the Council at least 15 days prior to the meeting via mail or e-mail including the date, time, venue and agenda of the meeting, as well as new membership applications to the UNIW. For extraordinary meetings summons shall be made 10 days prior to the meeting, while regular procedures shall be followed except in this case.

This summons shall also include the warning that in case session quorum may not be attained the second meeting shall be held the next day, this taking the international characteristics of the UNIW into consideration.In case the meeting is postponed by the Council for reasons other than session quorum, the reason for postponement shall be announced to the members via the same procedure as those of the first summons five days prior to the designated meeting date at the latest. Such meeting shall be held within 6 months following the postponement date.

Members shall be summoned to this meeting under the procedures mentioned in the first paragraph.

Except for compelling reasons, the General Assembly meeting shall not be postponed on more than one occasion.

The General Assembly has the following functions and powers:

1. Determining the general policy, fundamental strategy,

vision and mission of the UNIW,

1. Electing the Secretary General and members of the Council,
2. Passing decisions regarding amendments in the UNIW’s

Statute herein,

1. Establishing new organs or amending the status of existing

organs, or abrogating them in cases deemed necessary,

1. Electing the General Assembly Presidential Board,
2. Rendering final decisions on the Council’s proposals

regarding applications for membership and deciding upon the state of the General Assembly or Council members whose membership has been suspended by the Council,

1. Deciding upon: the establishment or if deemed necessary

closure of the branch or representative offices, abolition of the branch offices not acting in conformity with the aims and principles of the UNIW, dismissal of the representatives, and resolving the state of the branch and representative offices whose activities are suspended on the Council’s decision,

1. Electing and if deemed necessary dismissing members of

the Auditing Board,

1. Evaluating the activities of the UNIW’s organs, examining

the budget and discharging or dismissing the Council,

1. Discussing and deciding upon the general activity plan for

the next year,

1. Designating the amount of annual membership due,
2. Deciding upon the annulment and dissolution of the UNIW

and fulfilling other duties imposed thereon by the legislation and the statute herein.

The General Assembly meeting agenda shall be prepared by the Council and sent to members along with the summons.

Only the articles mentioned in the agenda shall be discussed in the General Assembly meeting. However, articles proposed by at least one tenth of those present in the meeting shall be included in the agenda.

The General Assembly may amend the sequence of the articles in the agenda.

Every member has the right to use one single vote. The president of the member organization or its representative by the UNIW or the competent representative of the member organization authorized by a written and evident authorization bill shall use the vote on behalf of the concerned organization. A member cannot represent by proxy more than three members in the general assembly.

During voting concerning a legal transaction of a conflict regarding a member, the member himself shall not vote.

Member organizations who have not deposited their annual membership dues before the General Assembly meeting shall attend the General Assembly meeting of the concerned year as observer members with no right to vote.

Balloting, up to the decision of the chairmanship of the presidential board, may be held either as open balloting by raising hands or secret balloting by using envelopes.

The General Assembly meeting shall be held at the date, time and venue stated in the summons in the headquarters of the UNIW in conformity with the UNIW Headquarters provision.

Members who are to attend the General Assembly meeting shall sign the line where their names are written on the attendants list.

Every new representative shall submit his written authorization bill to the Secretariat official at the entrance of the meeting hall. Nobody other than one representative from each member organization and officials designated by the Secretariat before the meeting having official identities shall be allowed to the delegation section of the meeting hall.

Other attendees are accepted to the observers’ sections arranged separately if there are available spaces in the hall.

Council shall determine whether the session quorum for the meeting is attained or not and take the record regarding this issue in the minutes.

The meeting shall be opened by the Secretary General or a member of council authorized by him. After the opening a presidential board composed of one chairman, and at least one vice chairman and one secretary shall be elected in order to conduct the meeting.

The chairman of the presidential board manages the meeting. The hairman of the presidential board shall ensure the regular conduct of the meeting, invite spokesmento the floor, designate their speaking time, limit interventions, end discussions, submit questions to balloting and declare balloting results.

Members of the presidential board shall sign the meeting minutes issued by the secretary together with the chairman. At the end of the meeting all the minutes and documents shall be given to the council.

The General Assembly shall hold its meeting with the attendance of at least fifty members who are eligible to attend the meeting under the provisions of the UNIW’s statute.

If quorum is not attained at the first meeting, the session quorum required at the second meeting shall be twenty-five members.

General Assembly meetings in which annulment of the UNIW is to be discussed shall be held by attendance of at least two thirds of all the UNIW members in every case.

The General Assembly shall render decisions by the absolute majority of the members who have attended the meeting. However, decisions regarding amendments to the statute and annulment of the UNIW shall be rendered by a two thirds majority of the attendants.

The Council shall be composed of one secretary general as well as ten regular and ten substitute members, in total twenty one members, council members being consecutively appointed starting with the regular ones according to the number of votes they receive, every council member being elected from a different country but one of them being from the UNIW center in every case, who are elected by the General Assembly from among the representatives of the member organizations.

The secretary general, the deputies of the secretary general and the members of council shall be elected for three years.

Members

Every General Assembly member having the intention to stand as a candidate for council membership shall apply to the council in writing ensuring the Council’s receipt of said application at least 40 days prior to the General Assembly meeting in which the election is scheduled to be held. The list including names of all the candidates shall be sent to members along with the General Assembly summons and the agenda of the meeting. Council members’ electoral districts, whose particular borders are to be specified by the Council, consist of the following ten districts;

1. Central Region
2. Middle East
3. Arabian Peninsula
4. Asia Minor
5. Far East
6. North Africa
7. South Africa
8. West Africa
9. Europe
10. America General Assembly members shall elect ten candidates

in total, each candidate being from one of the electoral districts, using the ballot papers issued by the Secretariat which have names, surnames, organizations, countries and electoral districts of the candidates written thereon. Ballot papers in which this regional distribution condition is not observed and those in which names of more than ten candidates are written shall be assumed null and void.

In line with the statute herein at most one member from every country shall be elected for Council membership, so the candidate who has received the greatest number of votes among the members from one country shall be elected to the council as the representative of that country.

Candidates shall be listed according to the votes they have received; first ten candidates shall be the regular members and the other ten candidates shall be the substitute members.

In case of a tie vote, the presidential board shall eliminate one of the candidates by drawing lots in the same General Assembly meeting in front of the attendants.

sırayla In case membership of any regular member terminates for any reason, the council shall summon the substitute member in turn depending on the number of votes substitutes have received.

The duties of the council members are as follows;

1. To attend the council meetings and to contribute to all the

activities of the council in line with the UNIW’s purposes,

1. In case they are elected for the commissions of the UNIW, to

act as the chairman of the commission they are elected for,

1. To engage in representational and introductory activities in

ever scale during regional events in respect of their electoral regions on behalf of the UNIW,

1. To preserve the UNIW’s spirit.

Council members shall perform their duties not on behalf the organization or country they represent but on behalf of the UNIW, and they are accountable to the General Assembly.

The duties and responsibilities of the council are;

1. To represent the UNIW towards third persons,
2. To implement the decisions rendered by the General

Assembly,

1. To render decisions regarding the UNIW’s activities and

implement them on the basis of the foundational philosophy and general policy of the UNIW as the executive body of the UNIW,

1. To establish or amend permanent and temporary

commissions and special working groups of the UNIW through ensuring exchange of information, experience and opinions among member organizations, with the purpose of establishing common reflexes and obtaining institutional earnings in compliance with the UNIW’s objectives,

1. To refer the issues on its agenda to relevant commissions, to

monitor their work; to evaluate projects, programs and final reports of the commissions and working groups, to approve and publish them if considered appropriate; to contribute to social, cultural and economic stability and welfare in the field of interest of the UNIW in line with these earnings,

1. To contact with other groups of culture and contribute to

the promotion of Islamic culture and civilization,

1. To follow and evaluate the world agenda, developments and

crisis regions in the field of interest of the UNIW, to determine a common attitude without delay ensuring participation of member organizations towards the changing situation and developments, to develop projects, to take on the required initiative and set up monitoring committees when necessary,

1. To act as a mediator in controversial regions and contribute

to peace,

1. To amicably settle disputes which may occur between

member organizations,

1. To elect the deputy secretaries general except for the one

representing the central country from among the council members,

1. To submit the membership applications which it deems

appropriate to the approval of the General Assembly,

1. To decide on the suspension of the General Assembly or

Council membership of the UNIW members in compliance with the statute,

1. To issue the UNIW’s internal legislation, to inform member

organizations immediately of any amendments or proposals for amendments to be made in the UNIW’s legislation,

1. To submit annual activity report, statement of account

and general working plan of the next term to the general assembly,

1. To propose the final declaration at the end of every General

Assembly meeting,

1. To prepare the UNIW statute and relevant regulations, to inform

member organizations without delay of every amendment and amendment proposals to be made on the UNIW regulations,

1. To assign, change, supervise members for duties in branch

and representative offices, and to suspend activities of branch and representative offices in cases deemed necessary,

1. If deemed necessary for the UNIW, to render decisions

regarding the foundation of every kind of commercial companies and enterprises; the purchase and sale of immovable properties; the acknowledgement of all kinds of donation and allocation; the establishment and disposal of real rights upon immovable properties,

1. To arrange personal rights of the employees of the UNIW.

Council shall hold its meetings at least two times a year, that is, every six months. Venues and dates of ordinary meetings shall be designated by the council. This date may be changed if required on the initiative of the secretary general depending on the council members’ opinions. Council meeting shall be held every year, one being in the central country, in member countries or another suitable country.

Council shall hold an extraordinary meeting on the initiative of secretary general or on the written request of half of the council members. In cases where delay is prejudicial, the council may render its decisions online via e-mail. Such online decisions shall be converted to text and approved by the members at the first upcoming council meeting.

Along with regular members, substitute members may also attend council meetings.

The Secretary General taking the international characteristic of the UNIW into consideration may summon a sufficient number of members to the council meetings with observer status to ensure a general participation in the meetings.

The Secretariat shall inform council members of the venue, date and agenda of ordinary meetings via e-mail or in writing at least fifteen days prior to the meetings and of extraordinary meetings at least ten days prior to the meetings with the same content.

Council shall gather by an absolute majority of its number of members, and render decisions by an absolute majority of the members present at the meeting. A second discussion shall be opened with reference to issues which have received tie votes in balloting; those issues for which an absolute majority is not attained despite the second discussions shall be regarded as rejected. Decisions regarding suspension of council membership shall be taken by a two thirds majority of all members of the council.

Council members shall not vote during a balloting upon issues of which they are also parties as themselves or their organizations.

Those attending council meetings by proxy can represent one member at maximum. This right of representation is not permanent, but granted only for that meeting.

Balloting, up to the decision of the council, may be held either as open balloting by raising hands or secret balloting by using envelopes.

A council member wishing to resign before or at the end of his term shall inform Secretary General of his wish in writing and this request shall be settled by the Council.

The council membership of a member who does not attend three consecutive meetings of the council without declaring any excuse may be terminated upon the decision of council.

The council membership of those council members who act, treat others and behave in contrast with the rules of the statute herein and the UNIW’s objectives and activities shall be suspended on the proposal of suspension by three council members in the next council meeting following the appearance of such state and by two thirds majority of the council members.

Such decisions of membership suspension shall be finally settled at the first upcoming General Assembly.

The Secretary General shall represent the UNIW at the highest level in the General Assembly, the Council, UNIW’s all commissions and working groups, contacts made and all meetings participated on behalf of the UNIW and by third persons.

These duties shall be performed by Deputy Secretaries General in cases where Secretary General himself is not present.

Election of Secretary General shall be held at the same time with election of council members from among candidates from at least three different electoral regions nominated upon the proposal of at least ten members.

Every member shall nominate only one candidate. The UNIW’s head quarters shall be informed of nominations at least 40 days prior to the General Assembly meeting in which an election is scheduled to be held. The list of candidates for becoming the secretary general shall be sent to the members along with the General Assembly summons, the list of candidates for the Council membership and the General Assembly agenda.

The candidate receiving maximum number of the votes among other candidates for becoming the secretary general in the election shall be the Secretary General for three years duration of office along with the newly elected council members.

Duties of Secretary General are as follows:

amacıyla 1. To ensure coordination within the UNIW and between all members in order to facilitate the performance of the duties of the UNIW’s organs,

1. To summon the council for ordinary and extraordinary meetings,
2. To preside over the council and in case he attends the

commission meetings,

1. To follow up and execute the decisions rendered in General

Assembly and Council,

1. To arrange the cooperation between the council and other

organs of the UNIW, ensure effective functioning thereof,

1. In cases he deems necessary to hold written or online

referendum among members regarding certain issues in order to find out general tendency about those issues,

1. To coordinate the draft agenda for council meetings,
2. To invite certain persons to council meetings if deemed

necessary because of their relation to topics in the agenda of the council and thereby ensure exchange of opinions and information,

1. To make oral and written declarations regarding the council’s

decisions and the UNIW’s activities within the frame designated by the council and to represent the council on every platform,

1. To execute all and every kind of correspondence regarding

the council. Secretaries-general who end their term become "Honorary President of the Union"

There shall be five deputies to the secretary general.

The representative of Turkey chosen by the General Assembly shall also be also one of the deputies of the secretary general naturally since the UNIW’s headquarters is located in Turkey.

Other deputies of the secretary general shall be elected by the council from among its own members.

Duties of the deputy secretary general, among whom the eldest will have priority over others if there is no decision otherwise, are as follows;

1. To help Secretary General in all kinds of issues,
2. To coordinate the affairs of the UNIW according to their

division of tasks,

1. To substitute for the Secretary General at council meetings

and UNIW’s other activities in his absence,

1. In case Secretary General leaves office for any reason, the

Deputy Secretary General who is the Representative of Turkey shall act as Secretary General by proxy until the next General Assembly meeting.

The secretariat which executes all and every kind of administrative and technical office work of the UNIW shall be made up of the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary Generals who represent the UNIW as the administrative authority and the person in charge, and of a sufficient number of administrative and technical personnel under the chairmanship of the general coordinator.

Secretary General shall appoint all the personnel of the UNIW and shall dismiss thereto if it deems this necessary.

General coordinator shall perform secretariat tasks as the UNIW’s top-level personnel and the head responsible for office works. The General coordinator shall participate in the UNIW’s activities with his deputies and ensure professional contribution to the UNIW.

The Secretariat shall carry out its studies at the center of the UNIW.

Under the supervision of Secretariat, Secretary General and his Deputies;

1. To accept on behalf of the UNIW all sorts of applications to

the Council and the UNIW organs in order to submit them to relevant departments without any delay,

1. To ensure communication and general coordination

between the organs and members of the UNIW,

1. To implement orders given by the Secretary General, Deputy

Secretaries General and the Council,

1. To follow up the UNIW’s administrative activities and

correspondence,

1. To provide facilities for the meetings of the UNIW’s organs,
2. To coordinate drafting of the agenda and the list of

members who will participate in the General Assembly and council meetings, to issue minutes of the meetings and to circulate decisions that have been taken among member organizations, observer members and relevant authorities,

1. To implement the summoning procedures envisaged for the

General Assembly and Council meetings, and coordinate transportation and accommodation services for the attending members,

1. To ensure coordination of the regular conduct of the UNIW’s activities

through continuous contact with the UNIW’s consultancies,

1. To arrange promotional activities of the UNIW and keep

them updated,

1. To set up and operate an archive, correspondence and

documentation system for the UNIW’s activities,

1. To carry out office work and supply the secretariat support that

organs of the UNIW requires, and perform all other bureau services.

The UNIW commissions consist of six main commissions, which are; Commission of Culture and Education, Commission of Women, Family and Youth; Commission of Human Rights and Freedoms; Commission of Financial and Administrative Affairs; Commission of Social and Humanitarian Affairs and Solidarity; Commission of Research and Development, as well as temporary commissions that may be formed when deemed necessary.

The executive board of every commission shall be composed of members who are specialized in their branch chosen up to the relevant commission’s field of activity. Geographical distribution shall be taken into consideration as far as possible while choosing members of the commissions.

In order to achieve a wider participation in the UNIW’s activities a member organization shall not have more than one representative to the same commission.

Every main commission taking its requirements into consideration may appoint inspector members from among its own members and establish a sufficient number of temporary or permanent sub-commissions of special fields electing the chairmen and members thereto from among its own members.

The number of members, budgets, functions and responsibilities, working procedures and principles of the commissions shall be designated by the council. Chairmen of the commissions shall not vote in the council during a balloting regarding budget of their own commissions.

Every commission on the condition of abiding by the general provisions of the statute herein may designate its own working principles.

Commissions regarding their own field of activity may cooperate with every possible technical and academic person and body to ensure necessary support and invite experts to their meetings. Chairmen of the commissions are responsible for making expenditures of the commissions within the limits of the budget allocated to them.

Commissions shall apply to the secretariat to supply their need of personnel.

1. To carry out comprehensive studies, prepare projects,

arrange events on issues designated by council or commission or requested by the member organizations towards the UNIW’s purposes and foundation goals of the commission,

1. To carry out local inspections and interviews with relevant

institutions in cases deemed necessary for the commission activities,

1. To support projects prepared by member or sister organizations

having similar purposes, where deemed necessary to establish cooperation with them on the basis of those projects and contribute to the realization of their project aims,

1. To submit results of the studies and proposals of the

commission to the council as a report in order to ensure the benefit of all non-governmental organizations of the member countries,

1. To take feedback from member organizations regarding

working issues, evaluate results that have been taken in order to establish common reflexes in the context of our cultural and moral values, ensure permanent institutional contributions to commission studies,

1. To promote education and development of member

organizations and volunteers towards the UNIW’s aims and objectives and foundational purposes of the commission, and to this end to arrange education programs at various centers, and ensure exchange of information and experience among the members.

Sub-commissions subject to main commissions are as follows. Commissions taking the requirements into consideration may establish any of these sub-commissions or even different ones.

1. Commission of Culture and Education
2. Sub-commission on Islamic culture and values education,
3. Sub-commission on visual and audio publications,
4. Sub-commission on civil society school.
5. Commission of Human Rights and Freedoms
6. Sub-commission on monitoring violations of human rights,
7. Sub-commission on fighting discrimination,
8. Sub-commission on immigrants and refugees.
9. Commission of Women, Family and Youth
10. Sub-commission on women branches,
11. Sub-commission on family,
12. Sub-commission on youth branches.
13. Commission of Social and Humanitarian Affairs and

Solidarity

1. Sub-commission on humanitarian aid,
2. Sub-commission on health and halal food,
3. Sub-commission on environment,
4. Sub-commission on media and information.
5. Commission of Financial and Administrational Affairs
6. Sub-commission on UNIW budget,
7. Sub-commission on supporting projects,
8. Sub-commission on organization.
9. Commission of R&D
10. Sub-commission on databank,
11. Sub-commission on data processing,
12. Sub-commission on strategic research.

Consultancies, working subject to the Council, consist of Legal Consultancy, Financial Consultancy and Press Consultancy.

Council may establish new consultancies or amend existing ones in cases it deems necessary.

Number, budget, functions and responsibilities, working procedures and principles of the consultants appointed by Secretary General shall be designated by the Council.

Consultants shall contribute to the UNIW’s activities through drafting their opinions in their field of interest towards the requests coming from the UNIW’s organs.

Consultants shall attend meetings of the UNIW when they are invited and express their information, experience and opinions.

Consultants shall also contribute to activities of the UNIW’s branches and representative offices with reference to their field of interest.

Legal consultancy shall comprise of one Legal Consultant registered to bar association of the UNIW’s center and a sufficient number of assistants thereto. In cases deemed necessary assistant attorneys from other countries may be retained to be employed subject to legal consultancy.

Legal consultant shall carry out all and every kind of legal task for the UNIW and shall represent the UNIW in the context of the given proxy before the Presidency of Chamber of Associations, similar institutions local or abroad, all public bodies relevant to the UNIW activities, third persons, Turkish Courts and International Courts.

Financial consultancy shall be made up of one competent Financial Consultant at the UNIW’s center and his assistants, and shall carry out the accounting for the UNIW and keep the necessary financial records.

The financial consultant shall also ensure coordination between the accounting of the branch and representative offices.

The press and information consultant shall composed of one press consultant and a sufficient number of assistants.

The Press Consultant shall manage relations with the press, inform domestic and foreign press institutions of the UNIW’s activities, and coordinate press releases to be issued on behalf of the UNIW. The Press Consultant shall also inform the UNIW’s organs of the actual issues concerning them to in the context of domestic and foreign press.

The Press Consultant shall coordinate the preparation of UNIW’s bulletin and webpage as well as all and every kind of periodic, non-periodic, audio and visual documents and publications towards the UNIW’s promotional activities.

The auditing board shall be composed of three regular and three substitute members elected by the General Assembly from among members of the UNIW for a term of office of three years.

Members shall elect a spokesman from among themselves at the first meeting they hold.

In case there occur vacancies due to any reasons among the regular memberships, substitute members according to number of votes they’ve received shall be summoned by the Auditing Board in order to join the board.

Council shall be informed of such status within one week.

Auditing board shall gather in terms parallel to those of council meetings and supervise the UNIW’s activities.

The Council shall submit all and every kind of information and document to supervision on the request of the auditing board. The Auditing board shall execute its supervision function towards the following issues: compliance of the UNIW’s functions with legislation, the UNIW’s statute and general assembly decisions; compliance of the expenditures with the general accounting rules; utilization of the allocated resources, whether they have been utilized in compliance with allocation purposes or not. In cases deemed necessary the board shall attend council meetings.

Board shall issue reports regarding results of auditing activities at least every six months and submit these reports to the Council if required and, and the General Assembly when it convenes.

Session quorum required for the auditing board shall be the absolute majority of all of its members. Decision quorum required shall be the absolute majority of those attending members. Balloting shall be held whether as open balloting by raising hands or secret balloting by using envelopes.

Members of the auditing board shall not use neutral votes.

Advisory Council shall be composed of persons invited by the UNIW Council upon proposal of three of its members from among opinion leaders, academicians and sages who are regarded as having general acceptance in their fields from any country of the Islamic world who may contribute to development of the UNIW towards its purposes with their vast information and experience.

The number of members of the Advisory Council shall be designated by the UNIW Council. The Advisory Council shall endeavor to convene at least once a year.

The secretariat shall provide the Advisory Council with necessary office and coordination support and ensure communication between advisory council members and the UNIW.

The Advisory Council shall render recommendatory decisions on issues that it endorses towards the UNIW purposes or with which it has been consulted by UNIW organs.

The Advisory council shall render its decisions either collectively or through referring the issue to a specialized sub-commission it would form or to a single member found eligible.

The council submits the results obtained through a study to the UNIW council in the form of observations of the council or specialized group or an individual. Decisions of advisory council shall shed light on the studies of the UNIW’s organs, especially those of UNIW commissions.

In cases deemed necessary the UNIW may establish permanent or temporary branch and representative offices at home and/ or abroad in compliance with the legislation of the relevant country in order to follow up and settle issues regarding its purposes.

The organs of the branch offices are as follows: Branch General Assembly composed of members of the branch; Branch Administrative Board composed of five regular and five substitute members, one to be the secretary; Branch Auditing Board composed of three regular and three substitute members, one to be the spokesman.

Ordinary meetings of branch general assembly shall be completed at least three months prior to the UNIW’s General Assembly meeting.

The General Assembly shall decide on the branch offices to be opened and the Council shall decide on the representatives to be appointed.

Regulations regarding branch and representative offices shall be issued by the Council.

The main sources of revenue of the UNIW are as follows:

1. Membership dues,
2. Aids and donations,
3. Revenues derived from activities organized by the UNIW,
4. Revenues derived from commercial companies and

enterprises that can be established by the UNIW,

1. Revenues derived from operation and rentals of movable

and immovable properties,

1. Revenues derived from every kind of visual and audio

publication,

1. Other legitimate revenues.

The membership fees to be collected from member organizations of the UNIW shall be designated by the General Assembly annually. The Secretary General may cut down this amount individually taking the economic state of member organizations and their countries into consideration.

Observer members shall pay a membership due at the amount of one third of the full membership dues.

Membership dues shall be paid to the center of the UNIW in one single payment annually.

The revenues of the UNIW shall be used towards purposes of the UNIW. The fiscal year for the UNIW is between January 1st and December 31st.

No commitment or expenditure shall be made other than the ones listed in the budget envisaged by the council. However, the Secretary General and his deputies are solely authorized to make expenditures from the budget and issue the required documents to avoid failure in implementing the affairs of the UNIW.Also, the council, due to the nature of work, can empower one or various members or staff members or a commission it would form to make expenditures. In such cases the payment of the expenditures supported by documents shall be settled in the council meeting.

The UNIW Council is authorized to make expenditures or to make necessary amendments to the budget notwithstanding the allocations in the budget in cases where it has to make expenditures towards the UNIW’s purposes.

The General Assembly may decide amendments to the UNIW statute at any time. Procedure of summons and quorum of session to be applied for the General Assembly meetings in which amendments to the statute herein are scheduled to be debated shall be the same as those of ordinary General Assembly meetings as envisaged in general provisions.

However, General Assembly shall render decisions regarding amendments to the statute herein by a two thirds majority of the number of members attending the meeting. Decisions on amendments to the statute shall enter in force with the end of the General Assembly where the decision is taken.

In cases where statute herein does not cover, local legislation concerning the trans action, provisions of international arbitration, provisions of Act of Associations of Republic of Turkey and regulations thereof and provisions of Turkish Civil Code shall be applied respectively. In cases where a conflict of laws arise between member countries, legislation of the ce ntral country shall be applied.

The UNIW may become a member to or resign from membership of international organizations that are relevant to its purposes within the frame of the concerned legislation depending on the decision of General Assembly. General assembly decisions regarding this issue shall be taken by an absolute majority of the number of members attending the meeting.

The General Assembly may at all times render decision regarding the termination of the UNIW. In order to render this decision, it is imperative that an absolute majority of the UNIW members having right to attend general assembly meetings be present at the meeting. It is obligatory for the decision on termination be taken by the two thirds majority of the members present at the meeting.

In case of termination of the UNIW, its assets shall be handed over to another organization at home or abroad having similar purposes by the decision of an absolute majority of the members present at the meeting in which the decision of termination is taken.

Highest local administrative authority shall be informed of the termination of the UNIW by the Council in writing within five days. Settlement procedure shall be finalized by a settlement board comprising of three members to be elected from among the UNIW members at the general assembly meeting.

The Council is responsible for the enforcement of the statute herein. Guaranties and boundaries of the legal requests and responsibilities which may arise during the activities of the UNIW members due to the duties thereof shall be as envisaged in the statute herein.