OSCE Warsaw Conference opens with focus on human rights

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski took part in the opening session of the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.

The Polish foreign minister highlighted Poland’s role in supporting the human rights and democracy agenda. He also stressed the key importance of accountability for war crimes and human rights violations, CE Report informs via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland's official website.

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stressed that the erosion of the international rules-based order and the growing democratic deficit in many countries of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) require effective mechanisms to hold those responsible for violating human rights and democratic standards accountable.

In the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, he recalled that there can be no lasting peace between states and societies if crimes are silenced, victims are muted, and perpetrators escape accountability.

"A just and lasting peace in Europe requires Russia to end its neo-imperial policy, stop its aggression against Ukraine, and refrain from aggressive and destabilizing actions in the region," the foreign minister stressed.

In addition to representatives of the Swiss OSCE Chairpersonship, the opening session was attended by senior representatives of the OSCE Secretariat and its autonomous institutions: OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu; Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Maria Telalian; OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Christophe Kamp; and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Jan Braathu.

The conference will run from 5 to 15 October. Participants will take part in sessions devoted to human rights, international humanitarian law, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and democratic institutions.

The OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference is a 10-day event organized by the country holding the OSCE Chairpersonship — currently Switzerland — together with the Warsaw-based Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). It is one of the major events dedicated to human rights. This year, around 1,900 people have registered to participate, including representatives of governments and civil society organizations.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland