FM opens Warsaw OSCE conference
Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz on Monday in Warsaw opened the OSCE's (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe ) annual human rights conference.
The meeting, to focus on media freedom, migrant rights, racism, xenophobia, intolerance and discrimination, is hosted by the Warsaw-seated Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Opening the meeting, Czaputowicz stressed that it was of prime importance for the OSCE countries to implement their obligations in the sphere of human rights. He added that free elections, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law prevented racism, xenophobia, intolerance and discrimination, and ensured equal gender rights.
Czaputowicz announced this as the conference's main theme, adding that Poland's own example showed that efficient democratic institutions and basic freedoms like free media, freedom of gatherings and strong social structures had a strong influence on economic growth and political stability.
He also reminded about Poland's independence centenary falling this year, and in this context observed that "freedom demanded responsible effort by the entire society, and the full cooperation of its members in the democratic process."
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, promotion of human rights, freedom of the press, and fair elections. It employs around 3,460 people, mostly in its field operations but also in its secretariat in Vienna, Austria and its institutions. It has its origins in the 1975 Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) held in Helsinki, Finland.
The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights is the OSCE's principal arm dealing with human and civil rights. ODIHR among others helps the governments of the OSCE members in meeting commitments in areas like the transparency of elections, democratic practices, the execution of human rights, non-discrimination, tolerance and rule of law.(PAP)
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