OSCE participating States decide the 2020 Human Dimension Implementation Meeting will not take place due to COVID-19

VIENNA/WARSAW, 11 September 2020 – OSCE participating States today unanimously decided that the OSCE’s annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) will exceptionally not take place in 2020, due to the unique, unprecedented and unpredictable circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The consensus decision, taken by the OSCE Permanent Council, does not establish any precedent for the organization of the HDIM in the future.

The Albanian OSCE Chair and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) confirmed that they are subsequently preparing a series of new online events to be held in the coming months. The events will aim to maintain focus on topical issues related to human rights, democracy and the rule of law, which are critical for strengthening security throughout the OSCE region.

“We are committed to continue bringing together and promoting a frank dialogue between states and civil society, and these events will be open to both,” the Chair and ODIHR said.

The Human Dimension Implementation Meeting is Europe’s largest annual human rights conference, and a unique international platform for dialogue at the core of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security, bringing together national authorities, civil society, international organizations, and academia on equal footing.