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Annual OSCE human rights conference opens on Monday
WARSAW 5 September 2002
WARSAW, 5 September 2002 - The annual OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting will kick off on Monday, 9 September, in Warsaw with a speech by the former President of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari. More than 500 participants are expected at what is the largest pan-European human rights and democratization conference.
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Martins da Cruz, and the Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz will also address the opening session.
Top OSCE officials to be present at the opening include Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Rolf Ekeus, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, and Freimut Duve, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.
The two-week meeting will review the progress made by the 55 participating States of the OSCE in implementing their international commitments in the field of human rights and democratization.
On the first anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks, the fight against terrorism and its repercussions on the human rights situation in the OSCE region will be a major focus of the conference.
Other key issues this year include trafficking in human beings (Special Session on 17 September), and the development of new international standards for democratic elections (Special Session on 18 September).
A major report on the use of the death penalty in the OSCE area will be presented at the meeting by the OSCE/ODIHR on 10 September.
Press arrangements
Journalists are invited to attend the opening session which will begin on 9 September at 10 a.m. in Hotel Victoria, ul. Krolewska, Warsaw, Poland. All regular working sessions, special sessions and side events are also open to the media. Interviews with key participants can be arranged upon request. Media representatives are requested to bring their press passes for registration at the conference venue.
Press conferences scheduled by participating non-governmental organizations so far:
For continuously updated media information, a detailed agenda, background information, key documents and a list of side events, please visit the conference website.
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Martins da Cruz, and the Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz will also address the opening session.
Top OSCE officials to be present at the opening include Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Rolf Ekeus, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, and Freimut Duve, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.
The two-week meeting will review the progress made by the 55 participating States of the OSCE in implementing their international commitments in the field of human rights and democratization.
On the first anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks, the fight against terrorism and its repercussions on the human rights situation in the OSCE region will be a major focus of the conference.
Other key issues this year include trafficking in human beings (Special Session on 17 September), and the development of new international standards for democratic elections (Special Session on 18 September).
A major report on the use of the death penalty in the OSCE area will be presented at the meeting by the OSCE/ODIHR on 10 September.
Press arrangements
Journalists are invited to attend the opening session which will begin on 9 September at 10 a.m. in Hotel Victoria, ul. Krolewska, Warsaw, Poland. All regular working sessions, special sessions and side events are also open to the media. Interviews with key participants can be arranged upon request. Media representatives are requested to bring their press passes for registration at the conference venue.
Press conferences scheduled by participating non-governmental organizations so far:
- Launch of Report "The Limits of Solidarity: Roma in Poland after 1989", European Roma Rights Centre, Thursday, 12 September, 10:30
- Launch of the 2002 Landmine Report, International Coalition to Ban Landmines, Friday, 13 September, 10:30
For continuously updated media information, a detailed agenda, background information, key documents and a list of side events, please visit the conference website.