Human Dimension Implementation Meeting

Civil society has an essential role to play in the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM). The HDIM gives NGOs an opportunity to present recommendations directly to OSCE states. In the 1992 Helsinki Document, the OSCE participating States called for increasing the openness of OSCE activities and expanding the role of NGOs. NGOs are therefore encouraged to attend and participate in the working sessions, as well as to organize side events on related topics.

Speaking in working sessions

Any participant can make an oral intervention during a working session by adding their name to the Speakers List. The Speakers List is open one hour prior to the start of each session in order to ensure equal access. To provide for maximum participation and debate, interventions are limited to five minutes or less. This time limit will be strictly enforced by the moderators, hence participants are asked to prepare interventions accordingly.

Distributing documents

Prepared statements, background documents, and other written materials may be submitted for distribution via the Document Distribution System (DDS). Documents can be submitted in advance via email to hdim@odihr.pl, or in hard copy (maximum three pages) to staff at the Document Distribution Centre during the conference. Please refer to the guidelines for details on how to submit the documents.

All documents submitted to DDS can be viewed on computers outside the plenary hall, and will also be uploaded to the conference website, where they will remain accessible after the end of the conference. 

Display tables will also be provided for NGOs wishing to distribute hard copies of documents about their activities.

Side events

NGOs organize side events during the lunch breaks or evenings. The Overview of side events is available here.