UNITED NATIONS, Jul 24 (APP): A senior United Nations official has underscored the role of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in promoting durable peace, inclusive governance and respect for international and human rights law, saying that the 57-member body represents a vital political, economic, cultural and religious constituency.
“Its (OIC’s) voice carries considerable weight in some of the world’s conflict-affected situations,” Mohamed Khaled Khiari, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, told the UN Security Council at a meeting convened by Pakistan.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, presided over the meeting in Pakistan’s capacity as president of the Security Council for the month of July. The meeting to strengthen cooperation between UN and OIC is one of Pakistan’s signature events under its presidency.
The United Nations values this partnership, not only as a matter of institutional cooperation, but as an essential component of efforts to promote durable peace, inclusive governance and respect for international and human rights law, the UN official said.
Briefing the Security Council on Thursday, Khiari said the OIC remains an “indispensable” partner in efforts to promote peace, uphold international law and deliver durable political solutions in a range of crisis contexts.
He emphasized that the cooperation aligns with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, which encourages partnerships with regional organizations in maintaining peace and security, and with the Pact for the Future – adopted by Member States last September to revitalize multilateralism and tackle global challenges through collective action.
Khiari outlined joint UN-OIC work in Gaza, including the recent endorsement by the bloc and the League of Arab States of a recovery and reconstruction plan, as well as collaboration on the question of Jerusalem through an annual conference held in Dakar, Senegal.
In Sudan, where over two years of war have brought devastating humanitarian consequences, he welcomed the OIC’s backing for international mediation, including support for the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra.
Turning to Afghanistan, Khiari praised the OIC’s role in the UN-led “Doha Process,” noting its continued engagement with the Taliban de facto authorities and advocacy for the rights of Afghan women and girls – an area where the OIC’s moral and religious standing carries particular influence.
On Myanmar, the OIC remains an essential voice in global efforts to ensure a safe, dignified and voluntary return of the Rohingya to Rakhine state. He noted sustained coordination between the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy and the OIC in pushing for accountability and citizenship rights.
Assistant Secretary-General Khiari also highlighted the growing collaboration between the two organizations on elections, including training on observation and women’s political participation. A new staff exchange programme is also helping to strengthen institutional ties.
He acknowledged the OIC’s leadership in countering Islamophobia and all forms of religious intolerance, an area where the UN has stepped up efforts, including through the appointment of a Special Envoy.
Counter-terrorism cooperation has also advanced, following a March 2024 memorandum of understanding. Joint initiatives include technical support, parliamentary engagement, and rights-based prevention strategies.
“As we move forward with the implementation of the Pact for the Future,” Khiari concluded, “the UN-OIC partnership will remain critical to defusing tensions, advancing sustainable peace, and reinforcing multilateral norms and principles.”
The OIC’s Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Dubaie, said that “the Palestinian cause remains a fundamental pillar of fruitful cooperation” between the UN and OIC.
Common priorities include a ceasefire, humanitarian access to mitigate human suffering in Gaza, the provision of international protection to the Palestinian people, and the mobilization of the international community to implement the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)’s mandate.
In his remarks, DPM/FM Ishaq Dar said that cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations such as the OIC is not a diplomatic accessory — it is an indispensable imperative.”
He stated that the focus of today’s meeting “resonates profoundly with our multilateral vision and with the collective aspirations of the over 1.9 billion people” whom the Organization of Islamic Cooperation represents.
As the second largest intergovernmental organization after the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has consistently served as a bridge — connecting the global with regional efforts and aligning political with the humanitarian priorities.
Whether in championing the right of the Palestinian people for freedom and statehood, in advocating for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for self-determination, or in supporting peace efforts across Libya, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and the Sahel and beyond — the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has been an indispensable interlocutor for the UN.
