Human Dimension Implementation Meeting 2013

The term "human dimension" describes the set of norms and activities related to human rights, the rule of law, and democracy that are regarded within the OSCE as one of the three pillars of its comprehensive security concept, along with the politico-military and the economic and environmental dimensions.

Every year in Warsaw, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) organizes a two-week conference, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM). The HDIM is a forum where OSCE participating States together with Partners for Co-operation, civil society, OSCE institutions and field operations and other international organizations discuss the implementation of human dimension commitments that were adopted by consensus at prior OSCE Summits or Ministerial Meetings.

These commitments are not legally binding norms; instead, they are politically binding - a political promise to comply with the standards elaborated in OSCE documents. Follow-up meetings to review the implementation of the commitments are based on the principle that the commitments undertaken in the field of the human dimension are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the state concerned.

OSCE human dimension commitments

The third edition of a comprehensive, two-volume compilation of the OSCE human dimension commitments was published in 2011 and now includes all OSCE documents pertaining to the human rights and democracy, including the Astana Declaration adopted in 2010. The compilation is available in English and Russian and can be ordered free of charge by submission of a request to publications@odihr.pl. Online versions of the commitments are available at ODIHR website:

Volume 1: Thematic Compilation

Volume 2: Chronological Compilation

Working sessions

Working sessions will be held on each day of the meeting, on subjects relevant to particular OSCE commitments, as indicated in the agenda.

The OSCE Permanent Council sets the agenda for the HDIM, choosing three topics to be treated in depth on the three "special days" of the meeting. This year, the topics for the special days are:

  • Freedom of religion or belief
  • Freedom of assembly and association
  • Democratic elections and election observation – sharing best practices.

In order to allow participants to prepare most effectively for the discussions, an annotated agenda provides a list of suggested issues for each working session; discussions are not, however, limited to these topics. To permit a broad and open discussion, statements in the working sessions will be limited to five minutes or less each. Please see the section on Information for NGOs for more information on how to participate.

Registration of participants

All participants wishing to take part in the meeting are asked to register on-line at http://meetings.odihr.pl before Wednesday, 11 September 2013.  

HDIM venue

The meeting will take place at Sofitel Warsaw Victoria hotel located at:

Ul. Królewska 11
00-065 Warsaw
Poland

Side events

Side events can be organized by participants during lunch breaks or evenings. Side event organizers are asked to fill out a special checklist and send it to Mr. Ireneusz Stepinski by e-mail: Ireneusz.Stepinski@odihr.pl before Wednesday, 11 September 2013.

Internet/Computers

There will be one room for NGOs and one room for OSCE delegations; both rooms will be equipped with several computers and Internet access for the use by participants.

Document Distribution

The Documentation Desk will be open for documents submitted by participants for public distribution. Legal and informational databases Legislationline.org and Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System (TANDIS) will also be available on separate computers. Please refer to the guidelines for details on how to submit the documents.    

Display tables will be provided to present materials for participants.

Interpretation

Simultaneous interpretation is provided in all six OSCE official working languages (English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish) during the plenary and working sessions.

Prayer room

A prayer room located at the meeting venue will be available for the use of participants of all faiths and beliefs.