Islamic or universal human rights

In June 2011 the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation established its own human rights commission, with the objective to “advance human rights” in general, and, more specifically, to “support the Member States' efforts to consolidate civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.”

The present DIIS Report, 'Islamic or Universal Human Rights? The OIC's Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission', written by Marie Juul Petersen, provides the first analysis of this new actor on the international human rights scene. Based on unique organizational material and interviews with OIC staff members, the report presents the history, objectives, activities and experts of the new human rights commission, discussing its relation to the international human rights community and its conception of human rights and outlining some of the commission’s strengths and weaknesses.