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OIC Secretary General's message on the Human Rights Day

The international community celebrates the Human Rights Day on 10 December each year to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This annual celebration affords the opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of respect for human rights and human dignity. This year's celebration is most importantly marked by the selection of the theme, "Embrace Diversity: End Discrimination".

It is indeed a most suitable selection at a time when the international community, characterized by diversity, is engaged in a serious effort to forge a world order based on mutual respect and mutual interest and to combat intolerance, xenophobia and prejudices. For the success of this global effort, promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights should go hand in hand with the efforts to ensure respect for cultural and religious diversity.

At the OIC, we have taken due cognizance of the importance of the promotion and protection of the human rights, as reflected in the ongoing time-bound process to establish a Permanent Independent Commission on Human Rights. In December 2005, the OIC leaders at their Third Extraordinary Summit Conference in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, unanimously declared that contemporary reform and development must be anchored in the principles of good governance, protection of human rights, social justice, transparency and accountability. The Summit outlined a Ten-Year Programme of Action with a road map for the enhancement of human rights, for striving for enlargement of political participation and for promotion of equality, civil liberties and social justice in the OIC member states. The new OIC Charter adopted at the last OIC Summit Meeting held in Dakar, Senegal, in March 2008, called for the establishment of an independent permanent Commission to promote "the civil, political, social and economic rights enshrined in the organization's covenants and in universally agreed human rights instruments". By adopting these provisions, the OIC member states have also exhibited their commitment to strengthen their national laws and regulations to guarantee respect for human rights in their respected countries.

The establishment of this Commission would constitute a landmark event in the 40 year history of the OIC and reflects the Member States' interest in human rights. This development will introduce a paradigm shift within OIC and would serve as a concrete evidence of the commitment of the Organization and the Member States to promote and uphold the universal values of human rights.

On this occasion, I would like to urge all Muslims to live up to the teachings of Islam which sanctifies and hallows human life. Unfortunately in the past years, we have been witnessing, to our shock and dismay, horrific crimes and violations against this most fundamental human right. We should all, in the Muslim World, stand up firmly and unify against violence, division and sectarianism.

I would also like to reiterate once more my call to all OIC Member States and to the international community at large as well to give full consideration to the developmental challenges which constitute serious obstacles in implementing the noble objectives of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This day is also an occasion for us to reiterate our appeal to the International Community to have a principled position in order to stop for once and all Israel's gross human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the City of Al Quds.

In celebrating the Human Rights Day this year, we must reiterate our common resolve to accommodate diversity and eliminate discrimination. This can be done by reviving a spirit of dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect at the grassroots level. The international community can count on the OIC as a credible partner in this endeavour.

May we all live in a peaceful, just, tolerant and prosperous world where sanctity of human life is respected and dignity and inalienable rights of human being are upheld.