Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 06/12/2018
Jeddah, 6 December 2018
The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development (Family Affairs Council) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will hold a symposium at the level of experts on ways to counter the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) resolutions on sexual orientation on Sunday, December 9, 2018 in Jeddah.
The symposium primarily aims to set steps and measures the OIC Member States should adopt to counter the HRC resolutions on sexual orientations and gender identity and the creation of the position of an independent expert on the issue.
The symposium will discuss the economic, social, health and cultural challenges faced by communities with respect to the phenomenon of sexual orientation and gender identity, and propose sustainable solutions to address the repercussions of the HRC resolutions on sexual orientation and gender identity. The symposium will also discuss the support the OIC and its relevant organs can provide to Member States facing pressures in this regard.
It is noteworthy that the OIC Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (CFM) adopted several resolutions that categorically rejected the HRC resolution of 14 July 2011 on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and the creation of the position of an independent expert on the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT).
In addition to the OIC General Secretariat, the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission, and the Family Affairs Council, the participants will include experts from Member States and the Ministerial Committee of the First Ministerial Conference on the Family and Marriage Institution. The representatives of the OIC relevant organs and institutions, such as ISESCO, IDB, SESRIC, IIFA, IRCICA, ICCIA, ICDT, IIUM, ISF, the IBU, and UNA will also attend the symposium. The representatives of some partner organizations, such as the Arab Family Organization, League of Arab States, African Union, Gulf Cooperation Council, some relevant international organizations and some countries that support the OIC position in the United Nations in this regard will also be present.
