Maintaining a constant commitment to human rights the foundation of real security, say speakers at OSCE conference in Warsaw

WARSAW, 19 September 2016 - OSCE participating States must focus on their commitments to defend human rights to effectively retain real security, speakers said at the opening of the 20th OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) in Warsaw today.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened the conference by stressing his commitment to the human dimension in a time of great challenges to our common security.

“It is a great achievement that all 57 OSCE participating States have gathered here in Warsaw for more than 20 years in order to have their performance in honouring human rights commitments scrutinized. The active participation of civil society representatives from the whole OSCE area in this meeting makes it a unique and strong asset of the OSCE’s work,” said Foreign Minister Steinmeier. “Unfortunately, however, in many countries human rights and their defenders are under pressure. But lasting stability cannot be achieved without respect for human rights! The German OSCE Chairmanship is a staunch supporter of the OSCE institutions in this field, advocating for sufficient funds and campaigning against restrictions on their work.”

Witold Waszczykowski, Foreign Minister of Poland, said: “We have to remember that prolonged conflicts pose a permanent risk to the security of the whole OSCE area, including as a constant threat to the human rights situation.. We need to fully embrace a miscellany of human concerns in order to achieve lasting peace and be able to build more secure, equitable and inclusive societies in our countries, across the OSCE region and worldwide.”

Some 1,700 government representatives, human rights activists and experts are gathering in Warsaw for the two-week conference, during which they will review the progress made by governments in implementing their commitments in the fields of human rights and democracy.

Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), emphasized the importance of reviewing real-life implementation of human rights commitments.

“Since Moscow in 1991, when OSCE participating States declared that the human dimension commitments are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all, ODIHR has held this meeting to review their implementation,” Director Link said. “HDIM is a unique platform to address the implementation gaps in relation to those commitments.”

"Human rights have been de-emphasized. We must place them back at the very top of the international agenda," said Christine Muttonen, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. “The Parliamentary Assembly is always looking forward to working with our partners within the OSCE, the broader international community and civil society, to promote accountability and advance the cause of human security for all.”

In addition to regular working sessions, over 90 side events will be held, focusing on specific human rights concerns and country situations. Topics for special sessions at the meeting will be international covenants on human rights and their importance for the OSCE human dimension, freedom of assembly and association and the rights of the child.