ARAB AFFAIRS - Apr 16 - OIC Rights Body On Way.

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) held its first meeting to discuss the establishment of an independent and permanent human rights commission. OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu presided over the meeting of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts for the Establishment of an OIC Independent Human Rights Commission at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah. A document prepared by the OIC, detailing the initial stages of the project, was discussed. The OIC has already carried out extensive studies and made contact with relevant international bodies, such as the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, the Geneva Institute for Human Rights, and the OIC Group at the UN Geneva office. The document contained a broad overview of the components of the planned commission, a description of the nature of its work, appellation, principles, objectives, functions, members, experts, recommendations and quorum. Speaking to Arab News, Ihsanoglu said the prospective establishment of an OIC Permanent Independent Commission on Human Rights is "a most positive development". He added that the mandate for the establishment of the commission - as provided by the OIC 10-Year Program of Action that was adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Islamic Summit held in Makkah in 2005 - was accorded a statutory status in the new OIC Charter, unanimously approved and entered into force in March 2008. Ihsanoglu expressed hope that a body of independent experts would constitute an important pillar for ongoing reforms at the OIC with a view to transforming the organization into a body that would effectively cope with existing and emerging challenges faced by the Muslim world. On a question drawing attention to some negative comments on the establishment of the commission that recently appeared in some sections of the Western media, Ihsanoglu emphasized that similar commissions were already in place as part of other international organizations, including the AU. Ihsanoglu said the establishment of the Commission must be appreciated as a positive development that reflected the collective will of OIC member states.