Organization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeHigh Commissioner on National Minorities
Press information
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek (r) delivers a statement to the press on the adoption of a strategy on integrated education by the Government in Skopje, 7 October 2010. (OSCE/Mirvete Mustafa Islam)
The High Commissioner's function is to identify and seek early resolution of ethnic tensions that might endanger peace, stability or friendly relations between OSCE participating States. His mandate describes him as "an instrument of conflict prevention at the earliest possible stage".
Explicitly excluded from the High Commissioner's mandate are individual cases concerning persons belonging to national minorities.
The work of the OSCE High Commissioner involves:
- early warning and early action
- a long-term perspective
- independence
- impartiality
- confidentiality
Links
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Message by the High Commissioner to the Russian community and NGOs in Ukraine and the Ukrainian community and NGOs in Russia, 11 November 2009
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Interview with the High Commissioner on Deutsche Welle, 28 May 2008 (in Russian)
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Interview with the High Commissioner by The Latvijas Avize, 2 May 2008 (in Latvian)
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Interview with the High Commissioner on Russia Today: How can ethnic minority rights be protected? 5 February 2008 (video)
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Interview with the High Commissioner by The Kommersant, 26 January 2008 (in Russian)
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Interview with the High Commissioner by RIA Novosti, 18 January 2008 (in Russian)
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Interview with the High Commissioner by the BBC Albanian Service, 15 January 2008 (in Albanian)
Contacts
- Lars R. Aa. Hansen
- Personal Adviser
- OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
- Prinsessegracht 22
- 2514 AP The Hague
- Netherlands
- Mobile: +31 6 418 50 315Office: +31 70 312 55 00
- hcnm@hcnm.org