View source for Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Associations

{{Short description|Former international non-governmental organisation}}
{{infobox organization
| name = Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation
| image = GICDF logooo.gif
| image_border =
| size = 300px
| caption =
| map =
| msize =
| mcaption =
| abbreviation = GICDF
| motto =
| formation = 1998
| dissolved = 2011
| type = [[NGO]]
| status = Foundation
| purpose = [[Volunteering]] <br /> [[Human Rights]] <br /> [[Poverty]]
| headquarters = Madinat Saleh Street, [[Tripoli, Libya]]
| location =
| region_served = Worldwide
| membership =
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = [[Saif al-Islam Gaddafi]]
| main_organ = Executive committee
| affiliations =
| num_staff =
| num_volunteers =
| budget =
| website = http://gicdf.org/
| remarks =
}}
The '''Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation''' ('''GICDF''', {{langx|ar|مؤسسة القذافي العالمية للجمعيات الخيرية والتنمية}}), known also as GIFCA, was an international [[non-governmental organisation]] (NGO) with headquarters formerly located in the [[Libya]]n capital [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] and offices in [[Chad]], [[Germany]], the [[Philippines]] and [[Sudan]].<ref>[http://www.gicdf.org/ GICDF website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726104620/http://www.gicdf.org/ |date=July 26, 2010 }}</ref> GICDF was established in 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalhand.org/en/browse/regions/Middle+East/all/organisation/22312|title=Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Associations - Corporate NGO partnerships|website=Globalhand.org|accessdate=28 October 2018}}</ref> upon signature of its charter in [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]]. The president of the Foundation was [[Saif al-Islam Gaddafi]], a son of the former Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]].
== Subsidiaries ==
Elected by the Foundation's executive committee, the executive director was Yousef Swani who oversaw GICDF's seven subsidiaries, each of which had its own management. The subsidiary societies of GIFCA were:
* Human Rights Society;
* Libyan National Society for [[Hard and soft drugs|Drug Control]];
* Society of Brothers in the South;
* [[Landmine|De-mining]] Society;
* Society for the [[Underprivileged]];
* 1973 Libyan Airline Victims Society.
== Objectives ==
GICDF's objectives were:
* to support the efforts of the associated societies and coordinate their activities;
* to support the principle of [[voluntary work]] for the welfare of society and safeguarding [[human rights]];
* to support the establishment of new [[NGO]]s based on [[volunteering]] that will implement projects and activities to the benefit of society;
* to support vulnerable segments of society;
* to work with welfare organisations for the elimination of poverty;
* to create awareness of social and humanitarian work through public information activity at national and international level; and,
* to strengthen co-operation with international and regional organisations with similar objectives.
== Notable activities ==
The Gaddafi International Foundation intervened in various hostage situations involving [[Islamic militants]] and, most notably, the crisis of the [[HIV trial in Libya]] and the resulting [[European Union]]-Libyan [[rapprochement]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/libya/saif-qadhafi.htm|title=Saif al-Islam Qadhafi|first=John|last=Pike|website=Globalsecurity.org|accessdate=28 October 2018}}</ref> In January 2004, GIFCA was instrumental in resolving the compensation issue in relation to the 1989 bombing of [[UTA Flight 772]] when it concluded an agreement with the UTA relatives organisation ''"Les Familles du DC10 d'UTA"''<ref>{{in lang|fr}} http://www.dc10-uta.org Les Familles du DC10 d'UTA</ref> to pay $1 million to each of the 170 victims' families. Interviewed by French newspaper ''[[Le Figaro]]'' on 7 December 2007 GIFCA's president [[Saif al-Islam Gaddafi]] said that the Libyans convicted for the [[Pan Am Flight 103]] and the UTA Flight 772 bombings "are innocent". When asked if Libya would therefore seek reimbursement of the compensation paid to the families of the victims ($2.33 billion in total), Gaddafi replied: "I don't know."<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2007/12/07/01003-20071207ARTFIG00487-seif-el-islam-kadhafi-la-libye-sera-un-pays-heureux.php Saif al-Gaddafi says "Libyans are innocent" of the Pan Am Flight 103 and UTA Flight 772 bombings] ''[[Le Figaro]]'' December 7, 2007</ref>
== Controversies ==
{{Main article|LSE Gaddafi links}}
The Gaddafi International Foundation's donations to the London School of Economics have been a source of controversy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/education-12550876|title=Student protest over Gaddafi cash|first=Katherine|last=Sellgren|date=23 February 2011|publisher=|accessdate=28 October 2018|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In February 2011, LSE students occupied their university<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/02/474637.html|title=LSE Students Occupy Against University’s Ties To Libyan Regime - UK Indymedia|website=Indymedia.org.uk|accessdate=28 October 2018}}</ref> in response to [[Muammar Gaddafi]]'s alleged repressive measures taken against Libyan people.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/feb/23/libyans-muammar-gaddafi|title=Libyans have suffered enough. Muammar Gaddafi must go - Nahla Daoud|first=Nahla|last=Daoud|date=23 February 2011|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=28 October 2018}}</ref> As a result of the [[LSE Gaddafi links]]'s affair, LSE's director Sir Howard Davies resigned from the School on 3 March.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/mar/03/lse-director-resigns-gaddafi-scandal|title=LSE head quits over Gaddafi scandal|first1=Jeevan|last1=Vasagar|first2=Rajeev|last2=Syal|date=4 March 2011|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=28 October 2018}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [[HIV trial in Libya#cite note-41|HIV trial in Libya]]
{{Portal|Libya}}
* [https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.gicdf.org/ Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Associations] (Archive)
{{Muammar Gaddafi}}
[[Category:Charities based in Libya]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1998]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 2011]]