JEDDAH — The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held its 8th international seminar in Kuala Lumpur on the topic, “Islamic Perspectives on Protection of Refugees: Rights and Access to Education”, in collaboration with the Government of Malaysia.

The two-day event was attended by IPHRC members along with experts from academia, multilateral and intergovernmental organizations, as well as the representatives of OIC member and observer states including national human rights institutions.

The event was inaugurated by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato Sri Saifuddin Abdullah and IPHRC Chairperson Dr. Haci Ali Acikgul.

In addition to comprehensive presentations made by the experts, participants analyzed ongoing international, regional and Islamic initiatives and frameworks related to the protection of the rights of refugees, especially access to education. They identified existing gaps and suggested the way forward, including building capacities and capabilities of host countries to best provide educational opportunities for refugee children, address gender dimensions of refugee education including online learning opportunities, and strengthen national legislations and development plans in ensuring refugee access to education.

The meeting identified avenues for enhanced international cooperation to address refugee issues.

Based on comprehensive deliberations and concrete recommendations during the seminar, IPHRC adopted the “Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Rights and Access to Education for Refugees” as an outcome of the seminar.

The declaration proposes establishing a special institution, mechanism, or fund within the OIC system through a mandate by the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers to systematically improve the welfare of refugee communities in OIC countries on the basis of a burden-sharing approach.

The seminar also welcomed the recent establishment of the Global Islamic Refugee Fund (GIFR) as an innovative Shariah-compliant tool for investment in humanitarian response to forced displacement, by the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), the humanitarian arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), in partnership with the UN refugee agency UNHCR. It urged OIC member states to support the initiative to handle refugee issues and to ensure their welfare including education, health, and livelihood.

At the conclusion of the seminar, the IPHRC chairperson appreciated the dynamic leadership and commendable role played by Malaysia and other OIC member states in the field of human rights and emphasized the need to develop collaborative linkages among all OIC member states, OIC and IPHRC for promoting best practices to ensure full protection of refugee rights in accordance with Islamic teachings and international human rights law. — SPA