DUSHANBE, September 23, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The OSCE Human Dimension Meeting opened in Warsaw yesterday.

According to press release issued by OSCE, the meeting participants note that OSCE participating States have to focus on the most vulnerable in particular if their efforts to defend human rights are to effectively promote security. 

More than 1,200 government representatives, human rights activists and experts have reportedly gathered in Warsaw for the two-week conference, during which they will review the progress made by governments in implementing their commitments in the fields of human rights and democracy.

Elisa Massimino, President and CEO of Human Rights First, noted in her keynote speech that the solution to security challenges lies not in postponing action on human rights, but in doubling down on rights protection.   “The demonization or neglect of minorities, the failure to ensure the safety and political participation of women, the crackdown on civil society that works to protect the rights of the vulnerable – these factors are both symptoms of and lead to broader insecurity,” she said.

Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Swiss Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, stressed the importance of civil society as a partner in this area.  “This meeting illustrates the crucial role of civil society to support participating States in the full protection and promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” Greminger said.

Michael Georg Link, addressing his first Human Dimension Implementation Meeting as Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), emphasized the responsibility of those in power to actively defend and promote human rights.

In additional to regular working sessions, more than 80 side events will be held, focusing on specific human rights concerns and country situations.  Topics for special sessions at the meeting will be violence against women and children, the rights of persons belonging to national minorities and the rights of migrants.