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Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting

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Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting SUPPLEMENTARY M E E T I N G SUPPLEMENTARY HUMAN DIMENSION MEETING “HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS: LEGISLATIVE, STATE AND NON-STATE ASPECTS” FINAL REPORT Vienna, 30-31 March 2006 CONTENTS: I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..........................................................................................................................2 II. RECOMMENDATIONS...........................................................................................................................9 III. SUMMARIES OF THE SESSIONS ......................................................................................................15 SESSION 1: Human rights defenders in the OSCE region: challenges, obstacles and opportunities15 SESSION 2: Synergies and co-operation between state organs, national human rights institutions and human rights defenders...............................................................................................................19 SESSION 3: Human rights defenders: pertinent legislation and implementation of OSCE commitments ....................................................................................................................................25 III. ANNEXES .............................................................................................................................................29 ANNEX I. AGENDA........................................................................................................................... 29 ANNEX II. ANNOTATED AGENDA ................................................................................................ 31 ANNEX III. KEYNOTE SPEECH.......................................................................................................37 Ms. Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on the situation of human rights defenders......................................................................................................................37 ANNEX IV. INTRODUCTORY SPEECHES TO WORKING SESSIONS ...................................... 42 SESSION 1: Human Rights Defenders in the OSCE region: challenges, obstacles and opportunities ...........................................................................................................................................................41 Ms. Natasha Kandic, Director of the International Humanitarian Law Centre, Belgrade .................41 Mr. Sergei Kovalev, Chairperson of the International Human Rights and Humanitarian Society “Memorial”, Moscow ........................................................................................................................45 SESSION 2: Synergies and co-operation between state organs, national human rights institutions and human rights defenders...............................................................................................................46 Ms. Albina Radzevičiūtė, Seimas Ombudsman, Lithuania ...............................................................46 Ms. Mary Lawlor, Director, Front Line - the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders ...............................................................................................................................49 Mr. Michel Forst, Acting Chairperson of the Coordinating Committee of European National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights .......................................................55 SESSION 3: Human rights defenders: pertinent legislation and implementation of OSCE commitments .....................................................................................................................................62 Introductory speech by Mr. Antoine Bernard, Executive Director of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Paris ...........................................................................................................62 Mr. Maxim Anmeghichean, Programmes Director of the European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association ............................................................................................................63 ANNEX V. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON KEYNOTE SPEAKERS, INTRODUCERS AND MODERATOR ....................................................................................................................... 66 ANNEX VI. OPENING AND CLOSING REMARKS by Ambassador Strohal, ODIHR Director .... 70 OPENING REMARKS .....................................................................................................................70 CLOSING REMARKS......................................................................................................................73 ANNEX VII. OPENING AND CLOSING REMARKS by the OSCE Chairmanship ........................ 76 OPENING REMARKS by Frank Geerkens, Head of the OSCE Chairmanship Task Force.............76 CLOSING REMARKS by Ambassador Bernard de Crombrugghe, Chairman of the Permanent Council ..............................................................................................................................................78 ANNEX VIII. SIDE EVENTS ............................................................................................................ 81 ANNEX IX. STATISTICS ON PARTICIPATION ............................................................................ 84 ANNEX X. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS.............................................................................................. 85 I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The first OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM) in 2006 on Human Rights Defenders and National Human Rights Institutions: Legislative, State and Non- State Aspects took place on 30-31 March in Vienna.1 This meeting brought together 252 participants, including 101 representatives of 86 non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Forty governmental delegations were present.2 A distinguished group of Introducers and a Keynote Speaker participated in the Meeting.3 In October 2001 a SHDM devoted to the topic of Human Rights: Advocacy and Defenders was held for the first time under the OSCE auspices. The 30-31 March Meeting was organized five years later after the aforementioned SHDM and presented one more opportunity to reaffirm the OSCE’s continuing commitments to the issues relating to human rights defenders and national human rights institutions. During the Meeting participants, with valuable contributions from representatives of the civil society, examined concrete ways for making OSCE commitments and decisions more effective and better implemented in practice. In addition to the Opening and Closing Sessions, the SHDM was comprised of three Working Sessions: - Human rights defenders in the OSCE region: challenges, obstacles and opportunities; - Synergies and co-operation between state organs, national human rights institutions and human rights defenders; - Human rights defenders: pertinent legislation and implementation of OSCE commitments. A number of side events took place on the margins of the SHDM.4 Introductory remarks at the Opening Session were delivered by Ambassador Frank Geerkens, Head of the OSCE Chairmanship Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, and Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Representing the Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Frank Geerkens noted that the Belgian OSCE Chairmanship planned an ambitious human dimension agenda for 2006.5 He stressed the importance that the OSCE attached to intensive exchanges between international organisations, state institutions and civil society and emphasized that the Belgian Chairmanship viewed such close cooperation as vital to the promotion of the 1 Please see Annex I for the Agenda and Annex II for the Annotated Agenda of the Meeting. 2 Please see Annex IX for Statistics on participation and Annex X for List of participants. 3 Please see Annex IV for texts of introductory speeches and Annex V for biographical information on the speakers. 4 Please see Annex VIII for the list and description of the side events. 5 Please see Annex VII for Opening remarks by Ambassador Geerkens. 2 OSCE values and the achievement of its objectives. Ambassador Geerkens noted with regret that the difficulties that human rights defenders faced appeared to be on the rise. Security concerns, notably related to terrorism, were increasingly used to legitimise a crackdown on human rights and their defenders. Human rights defenders were accused of propagating so called “Western” values. Ambassador Geerkens underlined the importance that international organizations, including the OSCE, played in promoting exchanges and partnership between governmental and non-governmental human rights defenders and supporting their work. He noted that the European Union’s Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and the Council’s of Europe Fundamental Principles on the Status of NGOs in Europe could provide valuable additions to the body of the OSCE commitments. Ambassador Geerkens encouraged participants of the SHDM to promote positive practices and explore the ways for concrete improvements of the human rights situation on the ground. The Director of the ODIHR, Ambassador Christian Strohal, noted that national human rights institutions and human rights defenders contributed to the stability and overall security in the OSCE region6. He said that it was an important commitment of each OSCE participating State to respect the right of the individual to assist others
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