Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 22/12/2011
The OIC spokesperson characterized the UNGA resolution as a reiteration of the OIC sponsored UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 entitled, “ Combating intolerance , negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons based on religion and belief”, adopted by consensus in Geneva in March 2011. He added that the UNGA Resolution was a step forward with regard to the international community’s commitment to combat intolerance and hatred based on religion and belief and the whole set of interrelated issues. He recalled that the resolution was inspired by the eight points made by the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to combat intolerance and incitement to hatred and violence based on religion and faith at the 15th Session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The spokesperson contended that consensual adoption of resolution 16/18 had strengthened the “Istanbul Process” launched by the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and EU Foreign policy Chief Baroness Ashton at the historical High Level Ministerial Meeting in Istanbul in July 2011.The Process was essentially geared towards ensuring consensual implementation of the resolution in a manner that addressed the interests and concerns of all parties, the spokesperson remarked. The spokesperson added that the recently held meeting in Washington and the announcement by the EU to host the next meeting constituted an indication for a result-oriented continuation of the Process. The spokesperson emphasized that the Process must clearly address the grey areas in the interest of pursuing consensus building by evolving a normative approach that would provide a comprehensive solution with regard to the set of interrelated issues that formed the context and content of the two resolutions by HRC and UNGA. The OIC spokesperson expressed confidence that the unanimous adoption of the UNGA Resolution 66/167 will lend impetus to the alternative approach signified by HRC Resolution 16/18 and inspire the Member States of the United Nations to reinvigorate their determination and collective efforts to implement the Resolution in letter and spirit in their bid to combat intolerance and incitement to hatred based on religious grounds.
