Human rights are non-negotiable, OSCE Chairman tells UN human rights body

GENEVA, 15 March 2005 - Addressing the UN Commission on Human Rights today, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, outlined the role of the human dimension within the OSCE and Slovenia's priorities for the OSCE in this field and said that reform of the OSCE could not be an excuse to roll back existing human rights standards.

Minister Rupel said the OSCE devoted a lot of attention to the implementation and promotion of human rights standards, as reflected in the work performed - and the results achieved - by its three specialized institutions active in the field of human rights: the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Representative on Freedom of the Media.

"There is currently a lively debate in the OSCE about reforming the Organization. One of the issues that triggered this debate is the perception among some States that the OSCE uses double-standards, particularly in relation to the human dimension. This situation is especially pronounced when it comes to election monitoring", he said.

"It is clear that we have to address - and either take into account or rebut - the points made by some OSCE States. OSCE reform and the balance between the three dimensions - human, political-military, and economic and environmental - is something to which Slovenia, as the chairing country, has paid due attention.

"At the same time, reform should not be an excuse to roll back existing standards. This is a point on which we must be very clear. Human rights are non-negotiable. Basic standards cannot be adjusted on the [grounds] of improving the security situation in the world", the Chairman-in-Office stressed.

In his speech, delivered to the 61st Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, the UN body most comprehensively involved with human rights issues, Minister Rupel underlined the significance of co-operation in promoting human rights standards between international organizations such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union, and regional bodies such as the OSCE.

He also emphasized the significance of the work carried out by the OSCE Chairman's three Personal Representatives for the promotion of tolerance and the fight against racism, xenophobia and discrimination. He noted that - as emphasized by the OSCE participating States in the so-called Moscow Document of 1991 - human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law were of international concern.

Pointing to the significance of raising human rights awareness among young people, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said: "It is for this reason that Slovenia's Chairmanship of the OSCE will devote special attention to human rights education."