Participants at OSCE meeting stress need for increased commitment to protecting human rights in times of economic crisis

VIENNA, 30 October 2014 – While times of economic crisis can impose severe budgetary conditions on States, addressing these constraints cannot come at the cost of ignoring the responsibilities States have for the protection and promotion of human rights, participants said today at the opening of a two-day OSCE meeting in Vienna.

The meeting, organized by the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), brought together representatives of governments and civil society organizations focusing on human rights issues from the Organization’s 57 participating States and its Partners for Co-operation.

Swiss Ambassador Thomas Greminger, the Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, said that it was even more inherent upon States to promote and protect human rights in difficult times.

“The implementation of humans rights norms, first and foremost, requires political will; political will to live up to the promises made,” Greminger said. “And this is even more essential in times of economic crisis.”

Michael Georg Link, the Director of ODIHR, stressed that investing in social protection itself serves to improve security, both at the national and regional levels.

“Increased security and stability have a positive impact on the prospects of economic recovery and growth,” Link said. “This, therefore, is also about breaking the vicious circle and turning it into a positive one.”

Over the meeting’s three sessions, participants were to discuss how the economic crisis has impacted on the enjoyment of human rights in the OSCE area, and make recommendations on how challenges in this area can be better addressed. The topics will include economic, social and cultural rights the protection of already vulnerable groups and rights and responsibilities in times of economic crisis. The discussions will focus on the role of the OSCE and other actors in safeguarding and promoting relevant OSCE commitments in the face of decreasing resources and competing demands.