Human rights experts’ recommendations to Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission

10 November 2013 | by Turan Kayaoglu  and Marie Juul Petersen 

The international human rights community faces daunting challenges in advancing human rights in the Muslim world.

Despite being well placed to address those challenges, the most important organization among Muslim states, the OIC, has so far failed to do so. Over the course of the past decade, the OIC has been working to correct this. It has become an active participant in international debates concerning human rights.

In 2008, the organiza¬tion’s charter was revised to include the promo¬tion and protection of “human rights and funda¬mental freedoms” among its goals. The revised charter also paved the way for an Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights (IPHRC) to promote the civil, social, and economic rights enshrined in the organization’s human rights documents. In establishing the IPHRC and thereby formalizing its human rights agenda, the OIC has taken an important step in the right direction.

In September, a group of specialists in Islam and human rights came together at the Danish Institute for Human Rights in Copenhagen to discuss the IPHRC’s potential as an advocate for human rights in OIC’s member states. The group formulated a set of recommendations which were sent to the OIC, outlined at the end of this article.

Introduction

In June 2011, foreign ministers of countries part of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) met in Kazakhstan to establish a new human rights commission: The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC). After first meeting in Jakarta in February 2012 and Ankara in August 2012, the commission concluded its third session in Jeddah in October 2013.

With a mandate to ”advance human rights” and “support the Member States’ efforts to consolidate civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights,” the IPHRC has the potential to become a much-needed forum for constructive exchange of experiences, introspection and internal criticism among OIC member states. As a government representative said at the meeting in Kazakhstan: “It will be 100 times better to hear what is happening in our countries from our own people rather than from the outside world.” But if the IPHRC is to live up to its potential and not end up serving as window-dressing for notorious human rights violators, it needs to strengthen and clarify its position with regard to a number of areas.

Introducing human rights to the OIC agenda

The OIC was founded in 1969 for the purpose of strengthening solidarity among Muslims. In its first decades, the organization focused especially on the Palestinian cause, the protection of Islamic holy sites and the strengthening of economic cooperation between member states.

Currently, as an intergovernmen¬tal body, it is second only to the UN in terms of membership and scope. It has 57 members – most, not all, are Muslim-majority states. It deals with a range of issues: peace and conflict resolu-tion, Muslim minority communities, women’s and children’s rights, humanitarian assistance, com¬bating Islamophobia, the promotion of intra-OIC trade and investment, cultural exchange, and education.

International human rights were not high on the agenda. On the contrary, in 1991, the organization presented the so-called Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, introducing what many human rights scholars considered an alternative set of rights that were based on certain interpretations of Islamic law that are contrary to international human rights standards. Together with the grave human rights violations of many member states, initiatives such as this one have given the OIC a dubious reputation with respect to international human rights.

In 2005, a plan to reform the organization, the “Ten-Year Programme of Action,” was introduced, resulting in major changes. An important part of this was the introduction of human rights to the OIC agenda, in particular the establishment of the IPHRC.  “Establishment of an independent human rights body by the OIC Member States is considered to be one of the major steps in the transformation process of the OIC,” an OIC newsletter states.

The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission

The IPHRC was formally established in June 2011 and held its first session in January 2012. The commission consists in 18 experts, of whom six are from the Arab member states, six from the Asian member states and six from African member states. All experts are elected for a period of four years. According to the statutes, the IPHRC and its 18 experts will work to “advance human rights” and “support the Member States’ efforts to consolidate civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.” This is to be done through providing counseling and legal advice to member states, information campaigns, research and cooperation with other human rights organizations.

At the inaugural speech in IPHRC’s first session in Jakarta in 2012 and during the opening remarks at the third session on Oct. 26, 2013 in Jeddah, the secretary-general, Professor Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, outlined five principles. First, the commission will complement rather than replace other national and international human rights mechanisms. Second, it will follow an introspective approach, helping OIC member states improve human rights practices. Third, it will fulfill a guidance function, providing member states with services like human rights training for the police. Fourth, it will take an incremental approach, building its credibility and mandate over time. And finally, the commission will prioritize the most pressing hu¬man rights problems. These principles put forward by İhsanoğlu were also endorsed by the commission.

Human rights experts’ recommendations to the IPHRC

In September 2013, the Danish Institute for Human Rights invited a group of international human rights researchers to discuss the OIC’s new human rights approach, with a particular focus on the IPHRC. Due to the relative novelty of the IPHRC and the scarcity of concrete initiatives, statements and activities proposed by the commission so far, the researchers did not find that there was ground for an evaluation of the IPHRC as such.

The specialists also noted that despite its shortcomings, the IPHRC has poten¬tial to become an advocate of human rights in the OIC’s member states. To this end, the group formulated a number of recommendations for the commission to take into consideration in its future work.

The following recommendations, proposed by the human rights experts, whose members are listed below, offer concrete suggestions for how the IPHRC can realize its mission in a way that is consistent with the above five principles that İhsanoğlu outlined and the commission endorsed.

The IPHRC should affirm and uphold internationally agreed upon human rights standards and instruments. This includes:

• Recognition by commissioners that OIC member states are bound by international human rights obligations.
• Agreement among commissioners that international human rights treaties constitute minimum standards and that regional human rights instruments must always meet, or exceed, these minimum standards.
• Agreement among commissioners to use only international human rights law as the benchmark in assessing all human rights issues, and clarification of the status of the Cairo Declaration to this end.
• Review of existing member states’ reservations to international human rights treaties, and elaboration of recommendations to remove reservations that undermine the object and purpose of the treaty in question.
• Affirmation of Shariah consistency with international human rights law by rejecting interpretations of Shariah that violate or undermine international human rights law and by elaborating alternative interpretations that respect and further international human rights law.

The IPHRC should encourage and practice transparency and accessibility in its activities. This includes:

• Publication of a comprehensive calendar of meeting times and places well in advance to facilitate participation from civil society, media and other actors interested in the IPHRC.
• Establishment of a system for the rotation of sessions across member states.
• Development and maintenance of a regularly updated website with information on IPHRC activities and statements, as well as other human rights-related OIC activities.
• Establishment of an IPHRC secretariat in a place that is easily accessible to civil society, media and others within and outside the OIC.

The IPHRC should engage with civil society and encourage its participation in the IPHRC’s work. This includes:

• Facilitation of civil society access to IPHRC sessions.
• Organization of civil society forums in parallel with all IPHRC sessions.
• Establishment of cooperation with human rights-related think tanks and research institutions inside and outside the OIC member states.
• Facilitation of inter-sessional dialogue with civil society organizations.
• Facilitation of human rights and civil society organizations’ access and lobby to the member states’ governments.

The IPHRC should engage in regional and international collaboration. This includes:

• Adoption of a common strategy with regional organizations (e.g., the OSCE, or Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) for addressing issues of religious intolerance.
• Establishment of institutionalized relations with international human rights mechanisms. These relations could be maintained by holding every third IPHRC session in Geneva or New York.
• Establishment of relations with OIC member states and other relevant experts in UN bodies, possibly by establishment of external advisory board to the IPHRC.
• Appointment of an IPHRC focal person in Geneva to facilitate regular communication with UN human rights bodies.

The IPHRC should strengthen its internal composition. This includes:

• Promotion of gender diversity among IPHRC commissioners.
• Promotion of religious diversity among IPHRC commissioners.
• Ensuring the independence of commissioners.
• Establishment of transparent mechanisms for selecting candidates, ensuring public access to and information on the pool of candidates.
• Establishment of a mechanism that ensures nomination and election of experts with a strong record of defending international human rights standards.

The IPHRC should strengthen OIC and member state capacities and knowledge on human rights. This includes:

• Promotion of peer-to-peer capacity development.
• Promotion of capacity development by external human rights experts.
• Mainstreaming of outputs to relevant OIC agencies and departments.
• Regular publication of thematic reports on human rights in member states.
• Regular publication of country-specific reports.

After completing the above steps, the IPHRC (and the OIC) should ensure sustainable resources for its work. This includes:

• Upgrade of human resources in the IPHRC secretariat.
• Strengthening the IPHRC and its secretariat’s fundraising capacity.
• Encouragement of in-kind support by international human rights experts, institutions and organizations.
• Advertisement of volunteer positions and internships with the IPHRC.
• Introduction of a system for secondment with other international human rights institutions and organizations.

Signatories*

Evelyn Aswad, professor, College of Law, Oklahoma University, US

Mashood Baderin, professor, School of Law, University of London

Verena Beittinger-Lee, Ph.D., researcher, School of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent, UK

Anthony Chase, associate professor, Diplomacy and World Affairs, Occidental College, US       

Ioana Cismas, Ph.D., international human rights lawyer, Switzerland   

Turan Kayaoglu, associate professor, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, US             

Ann Elizabeth Mayer, associate professor, Legal Studies and Business Ethics Department, University of Pennsylvania, US               

Mahmoud Monshipouri, associate professor, Department of International Relations, San Francisco State University, US               

Johannes Morsink, professor, Department of Political Science, Drew University, US

Marie Juul Petersen, Ph.D., researcher, Danish Institute for Human Rights, Denmark

Heini Skorini, Ph.D. student, King’s College, University of London, UK

*This article reflects the views of its two authors and not necessarily those of the other signatories to the recommendations.

*Turan Kayaoğlu is an associate professor at the University of Washington in Tacoma.

Source: Todays Zaman

OIC Secretary General denounces military coup in Guinea-Bissau

Date: 14/04/2012

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, firmly denounced the coup d’état conducted on Saturday 13 April 2012 by army rebels in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, an OIC Member State.

The Secretary General condemned the coup as an outrageous and inadmissible act which will only thwart the stabilization efforts and democratic process unraveling in the country over the last few months. He noted with profound regret that this unconstitutional coup is launched a few weeks prior to the run-off presidential election.

Prof. Ihsanoglu called on the military in Guinea-Bissau to exercise responsible restraint, refrain from violence, and release all detained officials as a prelude to restore the constitutional order, peace and stability in the country.

Source: OIC

INDONESIAN CIVIL SOCIETY RECOMMENDATION TO THE OIC HUMAN RIGHTS BODY (IPHRC)

INDONESIAN CIVIL SOCIETY RECOMMENDATION

TO THE OIC INDEPENDENT PERMANENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (IPHRC)

Jakarta, 19 February 2012

 

We, 34 civil society organizations and universities in Indonesia from Jakarta, West Java, West Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, who have attended the meeting of Civil Society Forum for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) organized by Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), The Wahid Institute, TIFA Foundation, Setara Institute, Demos Indonesia, Elsam, CSRC, Imparsial, ILRC, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, and Paramadina University on 19 February 2012, would like to deliver recommendations to the Indonesian Commissioner for the First Meeting of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC), which shall be organized in Jakarta, 20-24 February 2012.

We, Indonesian Civil Society, convey our appreciation for the establishment of Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of OIC in the 38^th Meeting of The OIC Foreign Ministerial Meeting, June 2011. We also appreciate the OIC Secretary General’s effort to organize the first meeting of IPHRC on 20-24 February 2012 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian Civil Society delivers 5 substantial themes regarding Human Rights issues in the State Members of OIC that should be taken into consideration by the Indonesian Commissioner and IPHRC, i.e. as regards (1) rights of women and children, (2) freedom of expression and opinion, (3) human rights and conflict between Palestine-Israel, (4) inter-faith dialogue, (5) freedom of religion /belief, and (6) rights of migrant workers. Some inputs are also delivered concerning the process of formulating the procedure and mandate of the Commission in the First Meeting of IPHRC.

Rights of Women and Children

1. The importance of protection for women victim of domestic violence and victim of sexual harassment or sexual violence in public domain. In this case, the Commissioners are expected to ensure, that:

a. The State guarantees the protection of domestic violence victims to access legal aid and protection.

b. The State guarantees and provides access of legal process and legal aid, and that victims won’t be criminalized for the testimony they give.

2. Eliminating all forms of violence and discrimination of women in the household, including within it strengthening the wife’s divorce rights (khulu’), prohibition of polygamy, and prohibition of nusyuz practice that has no longer in accordance with the development of times.

a. Eliminating the tradition of female circumcision.

b. The State to providing safe house for women and children victims of violence.

c. Ensuring the accessibility of protection and guarantee of women’s rights in public domain, including women outside their house without mahram; women as leaders and members of parliament; freedom to access education and governance; guarantee to access profession and rights as employee and right of retirement fund insurance.

3. Ensuring the protection for women’s reproduction rights, such as wife’s right to determine the deployment of contraception, consent of abortion for women victim of rape, availability of sexual and reproduction healthiness education for junior and senior high school students with perspectives of women and human rights.

a. Standardizing the age of child as established in the CRC, ensuring the protection of and rights of child to be satisfactorily fulfilled, such as protection of child from sexual harassment, child exploitation, child pornography, and trafficking; guaranteeing the rights of child victim of divorce, rights of child in education, health, including the rights of adopted child; as well as, standardizing the age of matrimony in respect of child to be consistent with the CRC.

b. Ensuring that the State Members of OIC provide and fulfil public facilities exclusively for women and children, for instances: lactation room, children playground in every public area, office, mall, and etc.

Freedom of Expression and Opinion

1. IPHRC must ensure that OIC States protect, fulfil and respect freedom of expression and opinion. Including guarantee freedom of the press, freedom to associate/politic, freedom of thoughts, freedom to express opinion and rights to obtain information.

2. In addition to welcome the condition of civil freedom and democracy in Arab States most recently, in point of fact there are many OIC States that still inhibit the rights to freedom of expression and opinion. The plurality of Muslim society comprised in the OIC ascertaining the existence of this openness and freedom, more to the point the propensity of the society nowadays is increasingly open and global.

3. The freedom of expression and opinion are strongly guaranteed in Islam, therefore IPHRC must also translate these principles into its mandate in the future.

4. IPHRC must ensure that each member of OIC States eliminates practices that obstruct the fulfilment of those rights, among other things are:

1. Censorship;
2. The arrest of democracy and human rights activist and defender;
3. Prohibition of establishment of political party;
4. Intimidation;
5. Monopoly of media;
6. Prohibition of publication (books or other media).

Human Rights, Conflict of Palestine-Israel

1. Making efforts so as to IPHRC delivers recommendations for OIC States concerning the struggle to solve the conflict between Israel-Palestine, by means of:

a. Creating conflict-study on Israel-Palestine as a conflict that is not isolated from other conflicts; and bringing up the roots of problem and facts of violence and human rights violations suffered by civil society in the conflicting communities.

b. Utilizing human rights and humanitarian instruments as reference in formulating the recommendations.

2. Calling for and ensuring that states in conflict (including Israel-Palestine) to implement international human rights laws and humanitarian laws in the area of conflict in order to provide protection for the civil society, especially for children, women and vulnerable groups.

3. Calling for Israel-Palestine states to reinforce law upon violations of human rights and humanitarian laws on the areas within the jurisdiction of the country in respect.

Inter-Faith Dialogue and Freedom of Religion/Belief

In context of inter faith dialogue and freedom of religion/ belief, it is expected that:

1. IPHRC works and implements its mandates in context of freedom of religion and belief in accordance with the principles of Universal Human Rights.

2. Socializing and ensuring the Resolution of UN Human Rights Council on Combating Intolerance, Discrimination and Violence on the Basis of Religion/Belief, which had been proposed by OIC States in 2011, to OIC Member States and guaranteeing the resolution to function effectively.

3. Encouraging the OIC Member States to ratify or create national legal framework that guarantee the spirit of tolerance, respect of each other and freedom of religion/belief.

4. Conducting monitoring and evaluation on the situation of freedom of religion and belief in Muslim countries.

5. Encouraging the establishment of interfaith dialogue in every Member State of OIC.

Rights of Migrant Workers

There are several things that should be taken into consideration of IPHRC in the future regarding the migrant worker issues, both in short and long terms.

1. In the short term, IPHRC is expected to:

a. Build the relationship with OIC parliaments to follow up the Palembang Declaration on Migrant Workers.

b. Ensure that the results of Parliamentary Meeting in Palembang concerning Migrant Workers can be implemented.

c. Organize International Conference on the condition of migrant workers in Muslim States as an effort to solve migrant workers problems.

d. Make the issues of migrant workers as part of IPHRC’s attention.

2. For the long terms agenda, among other things:

a. Originate OIC declaration on the protection of migrant workers.

b. IPHRC develops standard of protection for migrant workers.

c. Encourage OIC States to ratify UN Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

General Suggestion concerning IPHRC

1. Conducting monitoring and evaluation of human rights situation in all Muslim states in all Human Rights areas.

2. Supporting, encouraging or providing help to OIC States to establish Human Rights bodies, such as National Human Rights Institution (NHRI).

3. Encouraging OIC States to ratify all major international instruments on Human Rights, to make periodic reports and to follow up the recommendations of the Committee/UPR.

4. Integrating consultation with CSO and opening opportunity for CSO to participate in IPHRC, as part of the procedure of implementing the mandate as the guarantee for the accountability and transparency.

5. Opening opportunity for written inputs of human rights issues in Muslim states as modality for the IPHRC Commissioners in running their function and mandate.

6. Making the international human rights instruments, both Declarations and Conventions, as the basis of IPHRC work.

7. Publishing and socializing the result of study, consultation, and communication of IPHRC with Secretariat of OIC as IPHRC’s accountability and participation of all stakeholders in Member states of OIC.

8. Providing universal and relevant meaning regarding Human Rights and Islam, as an effort to encourage and promote Human Rights in OIC Member States.

Indonesian Civil Society Forum for OIC IPHRC

Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) The Wahid Institute Universitas Paramadina Center for Study of Religion and Culture UIN Jakarta Imparsial Komnas Perempuan RI Setara Institute Demos Indonesia Kalyanamitra ILRC UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta TIFA Foundation ICRP: Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace PPIM UIN Jakarta Yayasan Argadia NTT Elpagar Kelimantan Barat Jatam Kalimantan Timur AMAN Kalimantan Tengah LBH Apik NTB Arus Pelangi CIMW/PMK HKBP Jakarta UNIKOM Praxis Peduli Buruh Migran AMAN Pusat LBH Jakarta PATTIRO Jakarta Kompak FAHAM Puskumham UIN Jakarta Ecosoc Rights PBHI Gandi Herlonge PWYP Indonesia Raca Institute

 

_____________________________

Secretariat of Indonesia’s Civil Society Forum for OIC IPHRC:

Human Rights Working Group (HRWG):

Indonesia’s NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy

Jiwasraya Building Lobby Floor. Jl. R.P. Soeroso No. 41 Gondangdia Jakarta Pusat 10350

Phone: +6221 70733505 / +6221 3143015

Fax: +6221 3143058. Email: hrwg@hrwg.org Website: www.hrwg.org

Challenges and Expectation on the first Meeting OIC Human Rights Body (IPHRC)

Press Release

Challenges and Expectation on the first Meeting OIC Independent Commission Human Rights have to work as with in International Standard

Indonesian Civil Society Organizations encourage in the First Session of the OIC human rights commission, IPHRC (Independent Permanent Human Right Commission), in Jakarta February 20^th-24^th, 2012, in order IPHRC dealing with procedure concept (Procedure of Rule) its not contrary to universal human rights principles. In this first session of the crucial agenda is the formulation of rules procedure, which must be in accordance and compliance with the universal human rights principles.

These principles include:

1. Principles of openness and open engagement of civil society. The principle is important in the context of accountability of the IPHRC, especially in the historical character of the OIC Member States has closed and many Members who reject human rights and accountability principles.
2. Civil society engagement is important for strengthening and advancement of human rights in the OIC Member States. This cooperation can be open for complaints communication of human rights violations and also given the range develops dynamic report of human rights in the world, especially with particular regard to human rights and Islam.
3. The principle of accountability. IPHRC should be encouraging regular accountability mechanism for its performance and all that has been done in the context of human rights. This accountability should be given to the public, not only given to the Council of Foreign Ministers.
4. Being accountability to the public will increase the public trust, as long as there are suspicions of the OIC which makes IPHRC to avoid accountability for human rights by the international community.

In addition to the principles relating IPHRC should dare to challenge human rights violations which make IPHRC to avoid accountability for human rights by the international community. Challenge related to various issues, include:

1. Freedom of religion and belief. The issue is related to the issue of defamation of religion, intolerance and acts of violence in the Islamic communities. The IPHRC should encourage the OIC Member States to ensure freedom of religion and belief, compliance with the universal human rights principles. In the international context, defamation of religion is not a part of the scheme of human rights norm, while in many OIC member countries including in Indonesia, was a problem. Moreover, the OIC Member Countries have support the Resolution on Combating intolerance, discrimination and violence based on religion and belief in the UN Human Rights Council, 2011.
2. Freedom of expression and information. This is consistent with the context of democratization in many OIC Member Countries, especially in Middle East (Arab Spring).
3. Migrant Workers. OIC Member States have two characters, both as receiving countries and sending countries. Remarks in a variety of violations of migrant workers in destination countries, the OIC countries was the most extensive notes violations of migrant workers.
4. Women. The biggest problem of human rights in the context and Islam is the equality of women, both in private and public spaces that lead to injustice and the various sources of violence.

On this occasion, we appreciate to the Commissioners IPHCR and the Secretariat of the OIC who have participated in the event of civil society who have been held on Feb. 19^th, 2012 and Feb. 21th, 2012. This participation is a good starting point for the next show IPHCR more transparent and accountable.

Jakarta, February 20, 2012

Muhammad Choirul Anam

Deputy Director of the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG)

Tantangan dan Harapan Pada Sidang Pertama Komisi HAM OKI

Press Release

Tantangan dan Harapan Pada Sidang Pertama

Komisi HAM Independen OKI Harus Bekerja Sesuai dengan Standrat Internasional

 

Kami mendorong dalam sidang pertama IPHRC (Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission/ Komisi HAM Independen OKI) di Jakarta 20-24 Februari 2012, agar IPHRC mensepakati konsep Prosedure (Rule of Procedure) yang tidak bertentangan dengan prinsip-prinsip HAM internasional. Dalam sidang Pertama ini agenda sidang yang krusial adalah perumusan rule of Procedure, yang harus sesuai dengan prinsip-prinsip hak asasi manusia.

Prinsip-prinsip itu, antara lain:

1. Prinsip keterbukaan  dan membuka keterlibatan masyarakat sipil. Prinsip ini penting dalam konteks akuntabilitas IPHRC, apalagi dalam sejarahnya OKI memiliki karakter tertutup dan memilki banyak anggota yang menolak hak asasi manusia dan prinsip akuntabilitas.

Pelibatan masyarakat penting bagi kerja dan kemajuan HAM di Negara-Negara anggota OKI. Pelibatan ini dapat berupa membuka komunikasi komplain pelanggaran HAM yang terjadi maupun penyampaikan laporan berbagai dinamika HAM yang berkembang di dunia, khususnya berkaitan dengan HAM dan Islam.

1. Prinsip Akuntabilitas. IPHRC harus mendorong mekanisme pertanggungjawaban berkala atas kinerjanya dan semua yang telah dilakukan dalam konteks hak asasi manusia. Pertanggungjawaban ini harus diberikan kepada publik, tidak hanya diberikan pada pertemuan para menteri luar negeri.

Petanggungjawaban kepada publik akan menbuat kepercayaan publik membaik, karena selama ini terdapat kecurigaan terhadap OKI yang membuat IPHRC untuk menghindari pertanggungjawaban HAM oleh komunitas Internasional.

Selain berkaitan dengan Prinsip IPHRC harus berani menjawab tantangan Pelanggaran HAM yang banyak terjadi di berbagai Negara-negara anggota OKI. Tantangan itu terkait berbagai masalah, antara lain:

1. Hak kebebesan Beragama dan berkeyakinan. Masalah ini terkait dengan isu penodaan agama, tindakan intoleransi dan kekerasan. IPHRC harus berani masuk dalam isu kebebasan Beragama dengan menggunakan prisip-prinsip Internasional. Dalam konteks internasional, defamasi/penodaan agama tidak menjadi bagian dalam skema HAM, sementara di banyak negara anggota OKI, termasuk di Indonesia itu menjadi masalah. Dalam konteks HAM defamasi tidak masuk dikarenakan, obyek sasarannya tidak berwujud, sangat subyektif penilain orang/obyektifitas sulit dicapai, dan dalam berbagai praktik menyerang kebebasan berpikir (salah satu hak dasar yang tidak dapat dikurangi), dan cenderung ada penyalagunaan kekuasaan dan mayoritas. Apalagi, Negara-negara OKI telah menyepakati adanya pengharpusan Defamasi Agama melalui Resolusi Dewan HAM PBB tahun 2011.
2. Hak kebebasan Bereksperesi dan mendapatkan Informasi. Hal ini sesuai dengan konteks demokratisasi di berbagai Negara-negara anggota OKI khususnya di jazirah arab (Arab Spring).
3. Buruh Migrant. Negara-negara anggota OKI memiliki dua karakter, sebagian Negara tujuan dan Negara pengirim. Dalam berbagai cacatan pelanggaran terhadap buruh migran yang terjadi di Negara tujuan, di Negara-negara OKI-lah paling banyak catatan pelanggaran buruh migran.
4. Perempuan. Masalah terbesar HAM dam Islam dalam konteks ini adalah kesetaraan perempuan, baik dalam ruang privat maupun publik yang mengakibatkan ketidakadilan dan berbagai sumber kekerasan.

Dalam kesempatan ini, kami memberikan apresiasi kepada komisioner IPHCR dari Indonesia dan Sekertariat OKI yang telah berpartisipasi dalam acara masyarakat sipil yang telah diselenggarakan kemarin (19/2/2012). Partisipasi ini menjadi awal yang baik untuk menunjukkan IPHCR ke depan yang lebih tranparan dan akuntable.

 

Jakarta, 20 Februari 2012

Muhammad Choirul Anam

Wakil Direktur Human Rights Working Group (HRWG)

Inistiative Meeting of OIC IPHRC

Inistiative Meeting of OIC IPHRC

Jeddah, 7 – 8 Desember 2011

Opening session of the Preparatory Meeting OIC Human Rights Commission

In his Speech at the opening session of the Preparatory Meeting, Ihsanoglu calls on members of the OIC Human Rights Commission to prove its credibility in the shortest time

07/12/2011

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, in his speech at the opening session of the orientation and preparatory meeting of the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) in Jeddah on Wednesday, 7 December 2011, called on the members of the Commission to prove its credibility in the shortest time possible.

The OIC Secretary General outlined five points that have to be considered in the Commission’s endeavor, notably its complementarity, as the Commission cannot and must not be compared to any of the existing human rights mechanism or seen as duplicating its work. He pointed out that it follows introspection founded in a remedial and not a judgmental approach, emphasizing that the Commission must build capacities and provide solutions for the Member States in the area of Human Rights.

On the other hand, Ihsanoglu stressed that the Commission is not expected to perform its duties perfectly immediately after its establishment and cannot be expected to do everything at the same time, pointing out to the need to identify its work priorities. He emphasized in the meeting, which he considered as a turning point in the OIC history, on the need for the Commission to go through a developmental stage.

The OIC Secretary General expressed a high degree of confidence that the Commission will introduce a paradigm shift within the OIC in the way universal rights and freedoms flow together with Islamic values to offer a coherent and strong system and will constitute an important pillar of the ongoing process of reform at the OIC.

Ihsanoglu stressed on the importance of time frame consumed to establish the IPHRC, and which took less than the stipulated time afforded by the Ten-Year Program of Action which called for its establishment during the Makkah extraordinary Summit of 2005. He also pointed out to the timing of the establishment of the Commission which is an era of transformation.

Ihsanoglu underlined the importance of the Commission, taking into consideration the aftermath of 9/11 tragedy which formed a source of deep concern to the OIC, in addition to the rising trend of the phenomenon of Islamophobia with its multi-dimensions aspects which resulted in wrong misperceptions regarding incompatibility between Islam and Human Rights.

Arab League: Hold Emergency Meeting on Syria

Arab League: Hold Emergency Meeting on Syria

August 15, 2011

Human Rights Watch,

(Cairo) – The League of Arab States should hold an emergency meeting about the crackdown in Syria, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Nabil al-Arabi, secretary general of the league.

Human Rights Watch also urged the league to press Syria for unhindered access to the country for a UN-mandated fact-finding committee and for independent observers and journalists.

“The region is changing, and so should the Arab League,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “To remain relevant, it should break from its history as a closed shop of autocrats who support each other’s crimes, and start looking out for the interest of the citizens of its states. Syria’s people, at this time of severe oppression, deserve to have their voices heard.”

The Arab League, which includes all 22 Arab countries, finally broke its silence on Syria this week, when its secretary general issued a statement calling on the Syrian authorities to end the bloody repression of mostly peaceful protests. The statement did not propose any concrete actions similar to its unequivocal actions on Libya earlier this year. Libya’s membership was suspended for its abuses of its own citizens.

The league has remained generally silent on Syria, in line with the position of most Arab countries. The stance started changing last week when Gulf Cooperation Council members Kuwait and Qatar criticized the ongoing crackdown by Syrian security forces. Saudi Arabia joined the ranks, withdrawing its ambassador from Damascus “for consultations,” although King Abdullah’s statement fell short of condemning the Syrian government’s actions.

The Arab League’s Arab Charter on Human Rights supports the principles of the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It affirms the rights to freedom of assembly and expression, liberty, and security as well as protection from torture.

Local and international human rights organizations and activists have documented a sustained campaign of repression in Syria that has so far left an estimated 2,000 people dead and thousands wounded. More than 120 people have been killed since the beginning of the month of Ramadan, less than a week ago. And more than 10,000 Syrians have been detained for participating in mostly peaceful protests against the government of President Bashar al-Asad. The documented violations of human rights include extra-judicial killings, mass arrests, torture of detainees, and laying siege to cities, towns, and villages, and severing their water and power supplies.

Syrian authorities have claimed they are battling an armed insurrection and accused “terrorists” of inflicting most of the casualties. But they have been unable to offer any credible evidence to support their claims.

“Nabil al-Arabi and the organization he represents shouldn’t limit themselves to words of concern when Syrian tanks are gunning down protesters in the streets,” Whitson said.

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