OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Zbigniew Rau, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, opened the meeting with introductory remarks delivered by way of videoconferencing. “Human rights are indispensable, and it is one of mankind’s greatest achievements to be able to articulate and defend them. To deny human rights to anyone, and in particular to weaker and vulnerable people, amounts to depriving them of dignity and a sense of liberty and safety. Such intentional disrespect for individual freedom and choice is an underlying principle of the totalitarian regime. Today, that totalitarian ideology is called Russkiy mir,” Minister Rau said.

Matteo Mecacci, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid also addressed the Conference during the opening session. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former president of Estonia, was a special guest at the event.

“We are facing a number of global crises today that are making it even more demanding to uphold democratic principles and human rights – not only in the newer or more fragile democracies, but in all our countries. The OSCE remains in a unique position to offer solutions to these complex challenges, and ODIHR will continue to fulfil its mandate to promote the rights and freedoms of each individual across our region, placing civil society voices at the centre of our collective responses,” ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci observed.

“Balanced security cannot be achieved without human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. This is why the OSCE has been incorporating human dimension issues into everything we do,” OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid said. “In doing so, we have been working closely with civil society, a key partner in facing unprecedented challenges across the OSCE region. If we – the OSCE, our participating states, civil society and other partners – join forces, we will be able to improve security, rights, freedoms and opportunities for now and for the future generations,” OSCE Secretary General added.

In the coming days, more than 1500 participants will attend plenary sessions devoted to fundamental freedoms, democratic institutions, tolerance and non-discrimination, the rule of law, and humanitarian issues. Also, nearly 100 side events will take place, organised by OSCE participating states, civil society organisations and OSCE institutions and having as their aim a discussion of broadly conceived commitments related to the human dimension.

Łukasz Jasina
MFA Press Spokesperson