The rapid advancement of emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, big data, biotechnology, and cyberspace—has given rise to a new dimension of human rights demands, conceptualized as the “Fourth Generation of Human Rights.” Encompassing rights such as digital privacy, information security, and equitable access to technology, bioethical justice, and intergenerational rights, this new generation has become a central concern in the evolving architecture of international human rights law. Nonetheless, the existing legal frameworks remain largely inadequate in terms of recognizing, safeguarding, and effectively implementing these novel rights.
Adopting an analytical and institutional approach, this article explores the necessity of identifying and ensuring fourth-generation human rights in the contemporary era. It particularly examines the institutional capacities and normative functions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as a regional body with distinct legal and value-based foundations. The study focuses on the structures, instruments, and activities of the OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) in addressing the emerging challenges and demands generated by technological transformation. The findings indicate that, despite the OIC’s active engagement with traditional human rights discourse, it has yet to develop a coherent and systematic approach toward the fourth generation of human rights. Accordingly, the article offers strategic recommendations to enhance the OIC’s role in the identification, norm-setting, and protection of these rights at both regional and international levels.