Results of the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
PRESS RELEASE
On the 23 September – 4 October, another OSCE Review meeting to take stock of the implementation by member states of their obligations in the area of human dimension was held in Warsaw.
There was a wide exchange of opinions on topical issues related to the OSCE'shumanitarian area of activity. They include fundamental human rights and liberties, the rule of law, the fight against different forms of intolerance and discrimination, ensuring the rights of national minorities, the problems of counteracting the trade of human organs and tissues, etc.
The Russian Federation expressed its concerns about the continuing discrimination of national minorities in the OSCE space, the non-resolution of the problem of mass statelessness in the Baltic countries, the policy of glorification of Nazism and ex Nazis and collaborationists, the preservation of practices of trial-free detention of detainees, the extraterritorial application of law, and gross violations of the immunity of private life.
The voice of representatives of the civil community was clearly heard;they expressed concerns about the spread of radical ideologies and views in society and appealed to the OSCE and its member states to activate efforts to counteract extremely dangerous trends in the growth of racism, aggressive nationalism and neo-Nazism in the OSCE space.
Issues concerning the implementation of obligations in the area of freedom of movement and easing of visa regimes, the exchange of examples of best practices in elections observation, the defence of children'srights were discussed at the initiative of the Russian Federation. We emphasised how important it is to enforce social and economic rights, which are of special importance in the context of the negative consequences of the global financial and economic crisis.
During the event, the activity of OSCE institutes, for the purposes of increasing efficiency of their functioning and determining optimal ways of reforming the Organisation, was analysed. The Russian party noted the inadmissibility of the use of double standards, thematic and geographical distortions in the activity of relevant institutions and structures of the OSCE, including ODIHR and the Representative on the Freedom of the Media.
Member states confirmed their commitment to the principles of fundamental documents in the area of enforcement of fundamental human rights and liberties and other OSCE obligations.
57 countries of Europe, Central Asia and North America are members of the OSCE. Representatives of several international organisations and partner countries also attended the meeting.
4 October 2013
