JEDDAH: The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) is revising the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) covenant on the rights of children in Islam to reinforce their rights in member states.
Dr. Raja Naji Al-Makkawi, who was representing Morocco at the session, told Arab News that the Islamic child rights convention has not sufficiently highlighted some rights children should have. She added there is currently no clear definition of who is a child. “However, this can be taken from the international convention that defines a child as the human being under the age of 18,” she said.
As there are variations between countries, she added, it is preferable to agree on a maximum age where childhood ends.
She noted that legal concepts in different Muslim countries need to be revised so that views can converge, citing the example of marriage.
“We should not allow underage marriages, except in very a limited range (of circumstances),” she said.
Dr. Wafa Al-Saleh, a member of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, said that the Kingdom strongly supports giving children the care they need to help them flourish.
She added that the Kingdom is witnessing rapid reforms, and children — who make up 39 percent of the population in the KSA — would benefit in particular.
Al-Saleh pointed out that Saudi Arabia has signed many international child protection conventions and treaties.
The Commission has also had detailed discussions on issues such as civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in OIC member states. Human rights violations in Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir were also highlighted.
