Al-Sadr's portfolio of projects now includes dozens of schools, community health clinics and training centres that seek to operate at the most fundamental, grass-roots of Iraqi society.
Chaired initially by Dr. Mowaffak Al-Rubaie, the Centre sought to address six key issues it saw as being vitally important for Iraq's long-term progress: Women, religion and democracy Youth and young people The media Religious freedoms and human rights Inter-religious dialogue Conflict prevention and resolution.
In the name of God who is Almighty, Merciful and Compassionate, We who have gathered as clerics, intellectuals and political leaders representing all religions and doctrines pray and appeal for the peace of Iraq and declare our commitment to doing all in our power to ensure the ending of all acts of violence and bloodshed that deny the right to life, freedom and dignity.
‘We have dignified humankind’ (The Holy Quran) According to our faith traditions, killing innocents in the name of God is a desecration of the laws of heaven and defames religion not only in Iraq but in the world.
We, as Iraqis from different traditions, have decided to endeavour to live together as one family, respecting the moral and religious integrity of every individual, and we call upon all to condemn and renounce the culture of incitement, hatred and defamation of the other.
We shall devote ourselves to continue our joint efforts for the unity of the people of Iraq and for the creation of a climate of togetherness in which our present and future generations may live with mutual trust and respect.
We hereby announce the founding of the Iraqi Centre for Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace (ICDRP), whose membership will be drawn from the people of Iraq and which will take a lead to ensure that the tenets of this accord are continuously implemented.
In this context of hardship, suffering, violence and need, the Foundation represented Ayatollah Hussein Ismael Al-Sadr's efforts to respond to the plight of ordinary Iraqis, "irrespective of religious creed or confessional identities and promote understanding amongst the nation’s components".
[6] The Humanitarian Dialogue Foundation seeks to create conditions to help Iraq's nascent civil society flourish, after suffering decades of despotism, war and sanctions.
In doing so, the Foundation hopes to detract away from images of war and suffering that have become inextricably linked with perceptions of Iraq, whilst exposing the unique beauty of Iraqi culture and heritage to the many people who have not witnessed it first hand.