Dialogue, open exchange of ideas vital to democracy and promotion of human rights, say speakers at opening of OSCE conference in Warsaw

WARSAW, 11 September 2017 – Dialogue and the open exchange of ideas among countries and with civil society are vital to democracy and the promotion of human rights, speakers said today at the opening of the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw.

“This conference is the largest and most ambitious platform for dialogue on human rights issues across the OSCE region, allowing governments and civil society to take stock of the situation in the OSCE area and to discuss openly potential ways of advancing the implementation of our commitments,” said Witold Waszczykowski, Foreign Minister of Poland. “It can help us not only return to the full respect of the OSCE’s commitments through constructive dialogue and trust, but also supersede the attitude of aggressive confrontation which we have witnessed on several occasions.”

Some 1,600 government representatives, human rights activists and experts are gathering in Warsaw for the two-week meeting, where they will review the progress made by governments in implementing their commitments in the fields of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic institutions and governance, and tolerance and non-discrimination.

The speakers stressed the value of such a discussion across a broad range of issues.

“We need to harmonize our joint efforts to tackle the negative impact of security measures on human rights and fundamental freedoms,” said Michael Linhart, Deputy Foreign Minister of Austria, which holds the OSCE Chairmanship in 2017. “For this, we need a consistent human rights ‘mainstreaming’ within the OSCE, across all of the activities and dimensions of our organization.”

“This meeting was founded on the premise that openness and freedom make societies more resilient and more stable in the long run, and that societies, by ensuring an open exchange of ideas, enjoy greater legitimacy and prosperity,” said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which is responsible for the annual organization of the event.

Marietta Tidei, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, told participants in the opening session that dialogue was also important to ensuring measures to support integration are consistent with promoting democratic ideals.

"We must recognize that one of the most challenging issues that our democracies will face in the coming years will be on the front of integration, on our ability not only to recognize and protect those running away from wars and poverty, but also to make these people feel like an integral part of our communities, with full rights and duties,” said Marietta Tidei, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. “Democracy in all countries represents a path that must first take place in people's consciousness, including strengthened respect for the convictions and identities of all. To this end, the importance of active dialogue with civil society by the OSCE, both in its governmental and parliamentary dimensions, must be underlined."

In addition to regular working sessions, almost 90 independent side events will be held, focusing on specific human rights concerns and country situations. Topics for special sessions at the meeting will be: ensuring equal enjoyment of rights and equal participation in political and public life, tolerance and non-discrimination, and economic, social and cultural rights as an answer to rising inequalities.