AAII is committed to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and collaborates with several United Nations Special Agencies and other NGOs toward their achievement. These collaborative efforts are examples of AAII’s unique ability to provide an Islamic perspective to the work of the United Nations and to effectively interpret United Nations goals and programs to Islamic leaders and populations within their religious and cultural contexts.
AAII’s relationship with the United Nations began in 1997 in Association with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI). This Association with UNDPI formalized AAII’s commitment to disseminate information and raise public awareness about the work of the United Nations. AAII’s humanitarian concerns regarding education, health, empowerment of women, protection of children, alleviation of hunger and poverty, and promotion of peace reflect the concerns of the United Nations and sharing information about its efforts to address them was a natural outgrowth of AAII’s own work.
In 1998, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) granted AAII General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, details of which appear on the provided link. General Consultative Status is the highest level of consultative relationship between an NGO and the United Nations.
AAII maintains successful partnerships with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which include formal accreditation, and with the World Health Organization (WHO), details of which appear on the indicated links.
AAII initiates projects in connection with the events of United Nations International Days:
- In honor of the United Nations International Day of Trees, AAII initiated a campaign to raise awareness of ways to fight drought and desertification, educating local people to plant trees. AAII implemented its Reforestation Program in Kossi-Atlanta, Senegal by planting 500 trees and holding an International Day of Trees ceremony.
- In support of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights Day, AAII held conferences in Kaolack,Senegal to explain the significance of Human Rights and translate the information in the three local languages of the region (Wolof, Serer and Fulani). AAII representatives appeared on radio, television and at conferences throughout Senegal to raise awareness of the importance of Human Rights and how they are in keeping with Islamic principles of human dignity.
- In concert with the United Nations International Day for Disabled People, AAII distributes wheelchairs and crutches to those in need of them and holds conferences to raise awareness of the challenges people with disabilities face in their every day lives.
- In keeping with the United Nations Day of Women’s Rights, AAII holds meetings with local women’s groups and co-sponsors events to explore issues and integrate women’s economic development and participation into the social development of the country, promote equal rights for women and eliminate discrimination.
- In concert with the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) World Population Day, AAIIheld a conference in Kaolack, Senegal to address the challenges associated with aging as manifested in Senegalese society.
- AAII supports and participates in the Word Health Organization’s (WHO) No Tobacco Day.
- AAII supports and participates in the United Nation’s Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) activities to raise awareness of the rights of children on International Children’s Day.
- In recognition that water is necessary to promote economic development and social well being, AAII works to make safe drinking water available to people in rural areas. AAIIparticipated in the International Day for Water by distributing free water to twelve rural villages surrounding Kossi-Atlanta, Senegal and provided the necessary pipes to facilitate running water.
