The OIC and Women’s Rights: Exploring the Dichotomy of Representation
The OIC and Women’s Rights: Exploring the Dichotomy of Representation
Richa Chaudhary

Abstract: This article explores the role of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is the largest international body representing Muslim states, in the promotion of women’s rights and the representation of such rights at the international level. The OIC is the second largest international organisation with a membership of 57 states. Established in 1969, it is the first intergovernmental organisation of Muslim states. The OIC has spoken and deliberated on critical issues such as terrorism, environment, and human rights. Women’s rights are one of the subjects about which the OIC has been vocal. From holding conferences focusing on women to placing women’s rights as one of the central tenets of its Charter, the OIC’s role has been instrumental in raising concerns over the rights of women. However, this article argues that the OIC has not been at par with the United Nations (UN) in representing these concerns globally. While the UN and the West advocate for absolute or universal rights, the OIC emphasises on rights from the cultural relativist point of view keeping religion and culture above the international instruments on human rights and limiting the scope of rights under the purview of social factors such as traditions and customs.


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