OSCE/ODIHR hosts Europe's largest human rights event for the tenth time in Warsaw
WARSAW, 15 September 2005 - Europe's largest human rights and democracy review conference will be opened for the tenth time next week. Up to 1,000 international experts, government representatives and human rights activists will gather in Warsaw, Poland, from 19 to 30 September for the conference, which is organized by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
Speakers at the opening session include: Ambassador Boris Frlec, on behalf of the OSCE Chairmanship; Dr. Piotr Switalski, Polish Undersecretary of State; Ambassador Rolf Ekeus, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities; Miklos Haraszti, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media; Alcee L. Hastings, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly; Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, OSCE Secretary General; Liudmila Alexeeva, Chairperson of the Moscow Helsinki Group; and Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director OSCE/ODIHR.
The two-week meeting will review the progress made by the 55 participating States of the OSCE in implementing their international commitments in the field of human rights and democratization, including commitments to respect fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression and religion, to conduct democratic elections and to protect human rights of its citizens.
The annual OSCE human rights conference is a unique forum for open discussion and dialogue on topical human rights issues among governments and civil society representatives. This year, day-long special sessions will be devoted to the situation of the media in the OSCE region (on 21 September), methods to prevent and combat torture (22 September), and implementation of OSCE commitments related to tolerance and non-discrimination (29 September).
Other topics to be discussed include: the right to a fair trial; the role of women in conflict prevention and crisis management; prevention of ethnic cleansing; capital punishment; protecting the rights of victims of human trafficking; and national human rights institutions.
Journalists are invited to attend the opening session beginning at 10.00 on Monday, 19 September in Hotel Victoria, ul. Krolewska, Warsaw, as well as all regular working sessions and side events.
Interviews with key participants can be arranged upon request. Media representatives are requested to bring their press credentials for registration at the conference venue.