Special Representatives of OSCE Chairman-in-Office conclude visit to Council of Europe

On 11 and 12 April 2022, the Personal Representatives of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for tolerance issues held meetings with representatives of the Council of Europe, the Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, and the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

The meetings took place in Strasbourg and were attended by Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism, and Professor Regina Polak, Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions. Ambassador Mehmet Pacaci, Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims, participated by video link. Sabrina Saoudi, ODIHR Adviser on Intolerance against Muslims, accompanied the Personal Representatives on their visit.

The meetings provided an opportunity to share approaches and experiences in addressing common problems with the goal of increasing collaboration between the various European institutions. They also included a discussion with the Ambassadors of Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the United Kingdom, hosted by Daniel Holtgen, the Council of Europe Special Representative on Antisemitic, anti-Muslim and other forms of religious intolerance and hate crimes.

At the conclusion of their visit, the OSCE Personal Representatives and the Council of Europe Special Representative issued a joint statement, “Russia must stop aggression and destruction of religious sites and places of worship,” which can be found here.