KL Declaration Proposes OIC To Establish Special Mechanism On Refugee Welfare

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia), Oct 7 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Rights and Access to Education for Refugees has proposed the establishment of a special institution, mechanism, or fund within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) system to systematically improve the welfare of refugee communities in member countries. When reading out the outcomes of the 8th OIC-Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) International Seminar, here Thursday, its Chairperson Dr Haci Ali Acikgul said the proposal is in line with Islamic principles, humanitarian considerations, and burden-sharing approach among OIC member states. “The mechanism can coordinate and oversee various functions, including funding primary and secondary education for refugee students, providing infrastructure and facilities for refugee students, granting places or scholarships for tertiary education, facilitating accreditation and international recognition, training teachers, organising trainings for skills and livelihood, as well as providing funding for their healthcare and special needs,” he said. The declaration underlined that the responsibility to fulfil the right to education for refugee children does not rest upon individual states alone. The declaration proposed that the OIC General Secretariat and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) should team up to prepare specific assistance programmes for countries facing emergencies and armed conflicts in accordance with the human rights needs of affected population, in particular, women, children and persons with disabilities. “To this end, a Scholarship Scheme 'may be launched to train young refugees, especially women and girls, to help young refugees overcome financial barriers to accessing education and obtain gainful skills. Also, digital platforms could be introduced to bridge the accessibility and availability aspect of refugees’ higher education needs,” he said. Acikgul said the declaration stressed that a combination of political will, advocacy and legislative reforms with emphasis on applicability are needed to secure rights of refugees to education. Transformation of domestic laws and legal frameworks, where necessary, are the most effective ways of bringing long lasting change, he said, adding that host countries are encouraged to consider establishing institutional linkages with relevant human rights bodies for promoting refugee friendly policies. According to Acikgul, the declaration also called upon all OIC member states, international community and other stakeholders to equip respective national education systems to meet standards in terms of 4As when dealing with refugees which are availability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability. “Grant refugees the right of access to public educational institutions and programmes on a non-discriminatory basis; provide at least primary education for all, including refugees; and adopt and implement a national educational strategy that includes provision for refugees,” he said. Acikgul expressed his confidence that this declaration will serve as the stepping stone for harmonisation of national policies of OIC member states with the prevailing regional and global strategies to strengthen protection for the rights of refugees in line with the Islamic principles and international human rights law. Meanwhile, OIC-IPHRC Commissioner Ahmad Azam Ab Rahman said the special mechanism for refugees is important to deal with the education issue that is currently escalating since most Muslim countries do not have a consistent policy on the issue. "There are countries that provide education and some that don't. Most of these refugees are Muslims, so it would be a shame if they fled to western countries that have clearer policies on refugees. "We also have to have funding from rich Muslim countries to help the poor by establishing a foundation as suggested by the Foreign Minister (Saifuddin Abdullah). Usually these funds are only for humanitarian aid, but nothing specifically for education," he told Bernama. Ahmad Azam said the proposal will be discussed at the level of senior officials of OIC member countries before being brought to the level of foreign ministers and then to the OIC conference. Saifuddin, when opening the seminar on Wednesday, proposed the establishment of an OIC Refugee Education Foundation to design, facilitate and develop interventions in all relevant areas for refugees’ education. The 8th OIC-IPHRC International Seminar themed "Islamic Perspectives on the Protection of Refugees - Rights and Access to Education" was attended by approximately 200 participants including delegates and observers from over 40 countries. -- BERNAMA