OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission to convene in Jeddah

The 23rd Regular Session of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation takes place from June 30 to July 4 in Jeddah.

The event will bring together representatives from OIC member and observer states, national human rights institutions, international and regional organizations, and senior officials of the OIC’s General Secretariat, as well as media representatives.

The inaugural ceremony will be held on June 30 at the Ministerial Conference Hall. The ceremony will be followed by a debate on “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Rights: Challenges and Opportunities.”

The debate, which will be overseen by the OIC’s Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha and the IPHRC’s Chairperson Talal Khalid Saad Al Mutairi, will feature international experts from specialized institutions from the the UN and the OIC, as well as representatives of OIC member and observer states, including their NHRIs.

The debate will aim to explore the opportunities and challenges posed by AI on human rights, and will look to provide guidance on how to prevent or mitigate its negative impacts.

An outcome document reflecting key recommendations made during the debate will be finalized by the commission and posted on the IPHRC website on the conclusion of the session.

The commission will also hold a high-level event on July 1 called “International Court of Justice Judgment on Gaza: Implications for Future and Possible Way Forward.”

This will analyze the ICJ’s judgment on Gaza and its implications on implementing provisional measures to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis. It will also focus on human rights violations against the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza.

The commission is expected to conclude memorandums of understanding with several international and regional organizations, aimed at enhancing technical cooperation and exchange in various fields.

The commission is to hold closed meetings of its different working groups at the IPHRC’s headquarters in Al-Hamra District, Jeddah, from July 2-4.

It is expected to hold detailed discussions on all issues on its agenda, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights in OIC member states, and human rights violations in Palestine and Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The regular meetings of its four working groups on Palestine; rights of women and children; Islamophobia and Muslim minorities; and the right to development will also be held.