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OSCE human rights conference kicks off in Warsaw

PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp 24.09.2013 11:28
The annual Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe human rights conference got off to a start in Warsaw, Monday, with the participation of over 1000 government representatives and civil society activists from the OSCE’s participating states and partner countries.
Photo: PAP/Jakub KaminskiPhoto: PAP/Jakub Kaminski

Inauguration
Inauguration of the OSCE meeting in Warsaw, 23.09.2013 Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaminski

During the next two weeks the meeting will be review the implementation of the commitments adopted by the governments in the field of human rights and democracy.

According to the OSCE website, the conference, organised by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) based in Warsaw, will scrutinise the performance by participating states in honouring their human rights commitments, including freedom of expression, free media and information, freedom of movement and other fundamental freedoms.

Przemyslaw Grudzinski, Poland’s ambassador to the OSCE, told Polish Radio that “this is the biggest conference on democracy and human rights in Warsaw and in Poland.”

“It brings together representatives of 57 countries as well as many NGOs. Warsaw is a kind of Mecca for them, a forum for discussions between representatives of civic society and governments,” Grudzinski said, adding that “it is a form of verification of the state of affairs especially in countries whose human rights records leave much to be desired.”

This year’s meeting features special sessions on freedom of religion or belief, freedom of assembly and association, democratic elections, and election observations with the participation of, among others, Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU’s special representative for human rights. (di/jb)

tags: OSCE
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