SESRIC actively participated in the 24^th Regular Session of the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC), held from November 24–28, 2024, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The first day of the Session covered a formal Opening Ceremony and a thematic debate on the ‘Right to Health: An Islamic and Human Rights Perspective’, organised by the IPHRC in collaboration with SESRIC. Alongside the participants from the OIC-IPHRC Member States, the event welcomed specialised and subject matter experts from relevant international organisations and representatives of the OIC Member States, the Observer States, and their National Human Rights Institutions.

H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK along with H.E. Prof. Noura Zaid Mubarak AL RSHOUD, OIC-IPHRC Executive Director, H.E. Amb. Talal Khalid Saad AL MUTAIRI, OIC-IPHRC Chairperson and H.E. Hissein Brahim TAHA, OIC Secretary General, delivered their remarks at the Opening Ceremony.

H.E. SELÇUK began her statement by drawing attention to the prolonged inhumane attacks on Palestine and Lebanon and their devastating impacts. Commending IPHRC’s initiative in dedicating this Session’s theme to ‘right to health’, she underscored the profound alignment between Islamic values and international human rights frameworks in upholding the right to health. She also highlighted SESRIC’s dedication to promoting equitable healthcare access across OIC Member States and the shared commitment of SESRIC and IPHRC to address health inequities exacerbated by ongoing global challenges.

During the panel discussions on the theme of the Session, Dr. Esat Bakımlı, Senior Researcher at SESRIC, delivered an insightful and data-driven presentation on the state of health in OIC Member States. He provided an overview of health trends, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges in several key areas, such as health expenditure, health workforce, and maternal and child health. Noting the large disparities in healthcare access and health outcomes across OIC Member States, Dr. Bakımlı emphasised the role of universal health coverage and SESRIC’s ongoing contributions through statistics, research, and capacity-building programmes to address these gaps.

SESRIC’s active participation in the 24^th IPHRC Regular Session underscores its commitment to promoting the right to health as a cornerstone of sustainable development and social justice. This collaboration with IPHRC marks a significant step forward in fostering dialogue and actionable outcomes for the benefit of the OIC community.

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