Brussels event, co-organized by OSCE/ODIHR, focuses on protection of human rights defenders, including role of international organizations

More than 70 human rights defenders gathered in Brussels from 20 to 22 March 2017 to discuss how to strengthen regional networks of human rights defenders in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and Turkey, at an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in partnership with the European Parliament.

Participants exchanged experiences on effective ways to overcome challenges faced by human rights defenders, in a dialogue between defenders and representatives of regional and international institutions, including the European Union, the Council of Europe and the OSCE.

“Respect for human rights constitutes the foundation of every prosperous, democratic country; this foundation cannot be built without genuine defenders of human rights,” said David McAllister, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament.  “I am glad that the first time the Parliament and ODIHR joined forces and organized such a large-scale event, it was hosted on our premises.”

Highlighting the changing political landscape and its impact on their work, participants called on international organizations to reassess the tools and mechanisms designed to protect and support defenders.

“As the situation of defenders deteriorates in the OSCE space, we need increasingly creative approaches to protection. These must include comprehensive security-management capacity-building, as well as political, legal and financial support,” said Mauricio Angel, Head of Policy, Research, and Training at the NGO Protection International.

Throughout the event, the representatives of international institutions reaffirmed their role in responding to human rights violations and restrictions imposed on them.

Katarzyna Gardapkhadze, ODIHR’s First Deputy Director said: “In the current political context, to be more effective in protecting human rights defenders, international and regional organizations need to synchronize and amplify national and international efforts. The mechanisms set up by NGOs are equally important and we are willing to support them.”

Feray Salman, General Co-ordinator at the Turkish NGO Human Rights Joint Platform, said: “Besides presenting new tools and mechanisms, this event enhanced solidarity among human rights defenders in the region and has increased my feeling of being protected.”