OSCE/ODIHR Director Strohal says NGOs crucial in promoting tolerance

ALMATY, 11 June 2006 - NGOs play a key role in fostering a dialogue between different cultural, religious and ethnic communities, and offer support for the OSCE's efforts to combat discrimination and promote tolerance, the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Christian Strohal, said on Sunday.

Addressing an NGO preparatory event for the Tolerance Implementation Meeting dedicated to inter-cultural, inter-religious and inter-ethnic understanding, taking place on 12 and 13 June in Almaty, he said:

"NGOs are a key factor to help governments implement OSCE commitments, and involving them in the Organization's activities is a true enrichment. The OSCE forums have given civil society a face and voice to serve as an early warning role over the years. I encourage you to keep doing so in the years ahead, and to work with us in our shared mission to eliminate all forms of intolerance and discrimination."

Political and social tensions often evolve directly from violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief and manifestations of hate. The OSCE participating States consider these violations a direct threat to stability and security in the OSCE region and a challenge to the worldwide effort to place universal human rights on a solid ground.

Ambassador Strohal said NGOs help foster democratic and pluralistic societies where ethnic, cultural and religious diversity is not only tolerated but is truly and honestly respected and valued. He added: "We put strong emphasis on the need to strengthen dialogue between communities, but I also want to underline the need for dialogue within cultural and faith communities."

Pointing to the need to strengthen dialogue between different cultural and faith communities on the one hand and government authorities on the other, he said ODIHR had a broad range of capacity building activities, including training for community and NGO leaders and coalition-building opportunities through meetings and conferences.

Ambassador Strohal also said ODIHR plans to launch a public database at the end of the year to help spread good practices and documents from civil society.