Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

This chapter examines the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC's) institutional structure and objectives to determine its commitment and capacity to promote and implement R2P. This is followed by an in-depth analysis of the organization's response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Three broad areas covered in the OIC's Ten Year Program directly relate to Rights to protect (R2P): human rights/good governance, humanitarian assistance and conflict resolution. The Role of Regional and Sub-regional Arrangements in Implementing the Responsibility to Protect underscored the critical prevention and protection roles that could be played by neighbours and regional and sub-regional organizations. The OIC has not historically emphasized international human rights. In 1991, it adopted the Cairo Declaration of Rights, an abbreviated version of the United Nation Declaration of Human Rights that has been criticized for circumscribing universal rights. To date, however, the OIC has not received authorization from the Syrian government to conduct humanitarian activities and does not have a presence in the country.