The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) announced Monday its new human rights body will begin operations on Feb. 20 with its first meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. Rizwan Sheikh, the OIC spokesman, said the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHMC) for member countries of the OIC was established four years ago after a 2005 decision. Responding to the Saudi Gazette when asked on why there was no mechanism in place to enforce human rights, Sheikh said the rights body, like any other organization, started with humble beginnings, meaning it did not have the powers of enforcement. “As for now, it has no enforcement mechanisms like the European Court of Human Rights, which has an enforcement body,” he said. “The commission started as an advisory body and the beginnings are always humble.” “Revolutionary changes are not sustainable but incrementally changes are,” he added. Sheikh said the organization is an advisory body that can interact without restrictions with civil society organizations within member states. He was, however, positive that in the future the rights body can become credible enough. “This commission first has to build confidence among member states that it is not in any way threatening or confrontational, but instead is useful for member states.” “IPHMC will be part of the solution and not the problem,” he added. The first session in Jakarta is expected to come up with the rules under which the commission will be operating. “The commission will draft its own rules and this is where the independence starts,” Sheikh said. __
