(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) recently co-organised an international conference - 'Preservation of Human Dignity at Times of Armed Conflicts' in Dakar, Senegal.
The two-day conference was co-organised with the Senegalese Red Cross Society and the Islamic Committee of International Crescent (ICIC). QRC was represented by a delegation headed by Dr Fawzi Oussedik, Director of QRC International Relations, together with Professor Mostafa Khaiati and Radia Sahrawi.
More than 40 specialists in International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Islamic scholars and sheikhs representing religious families in West Africa, who play an important role in the political and social arenas in their countries and contribute to the creation of a culture of IHL in the region attended the conference.
The event included presentations on the significant functions of religious families. Dr Oussedik stressed the need to respect IHL rules, which are starkly violated, and to apply them more strictly and effectively to protect human lives and dignity.
Dr Fawzi highlighted the tolerance of Islam and its relation to IHL, calling for measures to stop the exposure of civilians during armed conflicts to drastic forms of genocide; deformation of national identity; large scale displacement; destruction of public utilities such as sewerage, electricity, water, and food supply systems; and use of human shields.
He attributed the issue of preserving human lives and dignity during traditional wars and internal armed conflicts to the disrespect for IHL rules, commending the religious families for reviving the legacy of ancestors and support for IHL. He called for putting an end to the escape from punishment and prosecution by war crime perpetrators as this is detrimental to justice and post-conflict reconciliation attempts.
During the conference, Dr Oussedik distributed Holy Quran copies as gifts to participating West African scholars and sheikhs.
On the sidelines of the conference,
Dr Oussedik held meetings and deliberations with the President of the Senegalese Red Cross, Abdoul Azize Diallo, Chairman of the Consultative Board, Imam Omar Al-Deen, and representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Ibrahima Tounkara. He also visited some Senegalese Red Cross-run schools and joined the children in their activities.
The delegation took a tour of Gorée Island to watch the projects implemented by QRC, notably the mosque and Quran study centre.
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