In Warsaw, OSCE PA human rights committee vice-chair stresses education in combating intolerance

COPENHAGEN, 24 September 2013 – Mehmet Şevki Kulkuloglu, Vice-Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, addressed the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) in Warsaw yesterday.

Speaking in the opening plenary, Kulkuloglu, a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, stressed the importance of the education system in challenging all forms of intolerance and discrimination. Highlighting the OSCE PA resolution on intolerance passed at the Istanbul Annual Session in July, Kulkuloglu called on OSCE participating States to strengthen the role of education in putting an end to racism and xenophobia.

Kulkuloglu reminded participants that throughout history, national minorities have occupied a delicate position in our societies due to insecurity and a disregard for their fundamental rights. "Contemporary society is ever more complex and there are many different groups in our region, not just national minorities, who are denied their basic freedoms. Some of the starkest examples are the LGBT community, labor migrants and refugees," he said.

This year's HDIM marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the High Commissioner on National Minorities. It is also the first HDIM to be attended by recently appointed High Commissioner Astrid Thors. On behalf of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Kulkuloglu welcomed the High Commissioner to her new role in protecting minority rights and managing interstate relations on the issue.

"I know she will further strengthen the HCNM's important work in protecting minority communities and managing inter-state co-operation on this issue," Kulkuloglu said.

On the subject of refugee rights, the Turkish parliamentarian highlighted the significant role Turkey is playing in supporting Syrian refugees and the importance of upholding refugees' dignity as human beings.

A noteworthy theme running through the speech was the importance of dialogue and co-operation between OSCE institutions. Particular reference was made to mutual support between ODIHR and the OSCE PA, in light of the recently reinstated Copenhagen 1997 Agreement. Specifically, attention was drawn to the fact that by working together "ODIHR and the PA can be standard-bearers for democratic values."

As the OSCE as a whole looks to the future and the Helsinki +40 process, Kulkuloglu referred to the need for a parliamentary perspective within the process, in order to maintain the OSCE's commitment to representative democracy.

The Human Dimension Implementation Meeting is hosted annually by ODIHR in Warsaw. It is one of the largest human rights events in Europe and draws together representatives from the OSCE, civil society, governments and parliaments.

This is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE participating States.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 323 parliamentarians from 57 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international cooperation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.