Statement by H.E. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, at the High Level Segment of the 13th Session of the Human Rights Council

Geneva -Monday, March 01, 2010
Mr. President,
Honorable Ministers and Head of the Delegations,
Madame High Commissioner,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a matter of honor and distinct pleasure for me to address this important High Level Segment of the Human Rights Council. My presence here today bears testimony to the increasing importance accorded by the OIC –being the second largest intergovernmental Organization after the UN with 57 Member States-to the Human Rights issues in the wake of an ongoing reform and restructuring exercise. It is propelled by the vision of ‘moderation and modernization’, unanimously adopted at the Summit Level, in the Ten Year Programme of Action.
I take this opportunity to congratulate Madame High Commissioner for her laudable, objective and pertinent efforts in addressing all human rights situations around the world. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation for the progress made by the Human Rights Council over the last four years in fulfilling the mandate stipulated in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/251.
In this year of the commencement of the review procedure, it is important to carry out an objective assessment of the lessons learned through a holistic approach that covers all human rights for all individuals and peoples. The mechanism of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) must be appreciated as an efficient tool to promote Human Rights values. I subscribe to the view that this Council’s main role should be constructive and remedial, and not judge mental or selective. The role of the international community is twofold. In addition to galvanizing political will through the Human Rights Council-being the political component-it is also important to build capacities through the technical components of the Human Rights system, namely, the Office of the High Commissioner, treaty bodies, and special procedures.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The manner in which the Council has been addressing evolving human rights situations, through convening Special Sessions, is a matter of satisfaction. It, however, needs to be complemented by effective strategy and efficient means to implement decisions of the special sessions in the interest of preserving the credibility and relevance of the Council.
In this regard, I would like to reiterate the urgent necessity for the Human Rights Council to effectively address the plight and permanent suffering of Palestinian people, under the continuous and deliberate aggression by Israeli military forces and a frequency of flagrant violations of their basic human rights. Many reports and testimonies from various United Nations independent mechanisms, including the recent Goldstone Report, have highlighted grave breaches of International humanitarian and human rights law, which underpin contentions of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Based on a decision taken at the Emergency Session of the OIC Executive Committee in the wake of Israeli aggression in Gaza in January 2009, the OIC has been particularly active in seeking justice with regard to the acts of the occupying power. These actions were and continue to be riddled with violation f the whole range of Human Rights. The Goldstone Report was appreciated as balanced, impartial and comprehensive. It has been welcomed and widely praised by both UN Member States and international civil society. It is now the task of Human Rights Council and other related UN bodies to take concrete steps for implementing recommendations of the Goldstone Report that addressed policies and measures taken by the occupying power. Limiting access of Palestinians to their properties and holy sites particularly in Occupied East Jerusalem, the confiscation of lands and properties, the demolishing of houses and private properties, the construction and expansion of settlements, the continuous construction of the separation Wall, changing the demographic and geographic character of East Jerusalem, the restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Palestinian citizens of East Jerusalem, as well as the continuous digging and excavation works in and around Al-Aqsa mosque and its vicinity have all been highlighted in the Report and must not be allowed to continue. This Council must demand and ensure action on the Report. I take this opportunity to reiterate the call for a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian territories.
OIC remains keen to encourage efforts for promoting and protecting human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We believe resumption of engagement between Pakistan and India is a positive development that must be continued and intensified with a view to resolving all outstanding issues. We are also following the humanitarian situation of Muslim minorities in non-OIC member states such as the Philippines and Thailand in close and positive collaboration with the Governments of these countries.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Islamophobia is a contemporary form of racism. It signifies proliferation of discrimination against Muslims and distortion of Islam which is partly due to the lack of understanding of Islam in the West. The rising trend of Islamophobia, fueled by heinous propaganda from xenophobic political elements, should seriously raise our concern. Physical and psychological attacks on Muslims as well as the symbols and personalities sacred to Muslims constitute violations of Human Rights. Such incidents, particularly in situations of Muslim minorities, can and have caused serious disturbance of public order and must not be allowed to threaten regional as well as global peace and security.
OIC has been consistently warning against the adverse impact of Islamophobia and highlighting the imperative of sustained engagement to deal with this phenomenon. Events like the recent ban on construction of Minarets in Switzerland continue to fuel our concerns. It is a paradigm shift in terms of institutionalizing the phenomenon. It is indeed ominous in terms of the potential towards escalating manifestations of Islamophobia to a dangerous level. OIC has been clear in expressing its deep concern and disappointment on the ban. It is, however, encouraging to note that this decision attracted widespread criticism by the international community and International Human Rights outfits.
The Human Rights framework provides with a most concrete basis of engagement in this regard. OIC believes in according primacy to multilateralism in dealing with such issues of global concern and import. With an eye on cultural diversity and complexities, we need to engage constructively in dealing with issues like defamation of religions ; discrimination, intolerance and incitement to hatred on religious grounds ; limits to the freedom of opinion and expression ; and complementary standards.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In a globalized world, the task of improving the human rights conditions on a global scale is not the duty of a single region, group or civilization alone. It is a shared responsibility that must be borne collectively by all nations represented in the family of the United Nations. The OIC believes that tackling contemporary threats to global peace and security posed by conflicts and terrorism solely from the security angle would not lead to durable and comprehensive solutions. Short term solutions must give way to mid and long-term approaches requiring proper understanding of the root causes, which often lie in political grievances, backwardness, underdevelopment and concerns related to preservation of national, ethnic, cultural and religious identities.
Human Rights are indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. They should all be accorded same importance and equal emphasis. It is an important development that the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has been opened for signature. This is a historical correction of the unbalanced approach that used to accord priority to Civil and Political Rights. Such an artificial divide should have never existed. However, far from being just a matter of political balance between two artificially divided categories of human rights, the early entry into force of this new important instrument would rather contribute to a fair and equitable process of development. Establishment by the Human Rights Council of a new mandate of Independent Expert in the field of Cultural Rights constitutes another important development. As a part of our commitment to addressing socio-economic problems that often serve as the root causes of conflicts, the OIC has established a special fund for poverty alleviation in Member States and a special program for the development of Africa.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me conclude on a happy note. I am pleased to inform this Council that the OIC is on the verge of establishing an Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights. The vision and the mandate for establishment of the Commission was provided by the leadership in the OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Islamic Summit held in Makkah Al-Mukarramah in 2005. This vision was accorded a statutory status in the new OIC Charter, unanimously approved and entered into force in March 2008. We have been taking swift action in a time bound framework. The statute of the Commission is near finalization and likely to be entered into force following adoption by the forthcoming Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Dushanbe in May this year. The establishment of an OIC Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights must be viewed as a landmark event and a most positive development in the four decade long history of the Organization. It is expected that this Commission of independent experts would constitute an important pillar of the ongoing process of reform at the OIC with a view to transforming the Organization into a body that would effectively cope with the existing and emerging challenges faced by the Muslim world.
The establishment of the Commission must be appreciated as a reflection of the collective will on the part of OIC Member States to engage constructively and substantively within the Organization on wide ranging issues pertaining to human rights. Islam places a premium on human rights by according primacy to ‘Hukook- ul-ibad’ or the rights of the people. We take pride in the fact that Islam was the first religion that called for full equality among people regardless of their race, language, ethnic origin, social status, etc. This equality has been associated with preserving human dignity, a concept that goes far beyond that of human rights. The establishment of the Commission will introduce a paradigm shift within OIC in the way universal Human Rights and freedoms flow together with Islamic values to offer a coherent and strong system aimed at facilitating the full enjoyment of all Human Rights in the Member States.
To end, allow to me express confidence, Mr. President, in your able stewardship of this 13th Session of the Council. An efficient disposal of the substantive agenda of this Session stands to gain from your wisdom and experience.
I thank you all.

Marissa Cramer

2010-03-03