OSCE-Mediterranean Partner Countries’ Civil Society Conference

Sherif Abdel Azim from the Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement presents the final recommendations of the OSCE-Mediterranean Partner Countries’ Conference for Civil Society to Audronius Ažubalis, Lithuanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Vilnius, Lithuania, 5 December 2011. (OSCE/Shiv Sharma)
Sherif Abdel Azim from the Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement presents the final recommendations of the OSCE-Mediterranean Partner Countries’ Conference for Civil Society to Audronius Ažubalis, Lithuanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Vilnius, Lithuania, 5 December 2011. (OSCE/Shiv Sharma)

When: 4 December 2011, 09:30 - 5 December 2011

Where: Vilnius

Organized by: Lithuanian Chairmanship-in-Office, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

The Lithuanian Chairmanship-in-Office and the OSCE/ODIHR organized a joint OSCE-Mediterranean Partner Countries’ Conference for Civil Society in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 4-5 December, entitled Transparency and Pluralism in Electoral Good Practice, Political Participation, Justice and Legal Reform.

The Conference brought together civil society from OSCE participating States and the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation.

The event builds on the OSCE’s mandate and experience of encouraging international co-operation among civil society, to encourage new links and partnerships between civil society in OSCE states and in the Mediterranean partner States, at a time of rapid change and transition in this region.

The conference aims to promote the exchange of good practices and experiences through three parallel working sessions on the topics of:

  • Electoral Good Practice
  • Political Participation (including Gender)
  • Justice and Legal Reform.

Throughout the conference, civil society participants from both the OSCE participating States and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation explored the OSCE’s approach to the human dimension: its commitments, institutions, programmes and tools. Building on this, the participants were able to establish contacts, build up networks of expertise and develop recommendations for the Ministerial Council to consider.

In addition, a Special Side Event on Tolerance and non-discrimination in democratic transitions, explored the challenge of countering increased intolerance and discrimination during moments of political and social transformation.