Largest pan-European human rights conference convenes in Warsaw
The OSCE/ODIHR human rights conference from 9 to 19 September 2002 is the largest such event in Europe. (OSCE) Photo details
WARSAW, 28 August 2002 - More than 500 government representatives, international experts and human rights activists will gather in Warsaw from 9 to 19 September to attend Europe's largest human rights and democratization conference.
The two-week meeting will review the progress made by the 55 participating States of the OSCE in implementing their international commitments in the field of human rights and democratization. These include commitments to respect fundamental freedoms, conduct democratic elections, combat trafficking in human beings, and ban the use of torture.
One year after the 11 September terrorist attacks, the fight against terrorism and its repercussions on the human rights situation in the OSCE region are expected to be a major focus of the conference.
The yearly OSCE human rights conference is a unique forum for free discussion and dialogue on topical human rights issues among governments and civil society representatives.
This year, day-long special sessions will be devoted to improving protection for victims of trafficking in human beings (on 17 September), and developing new international standards for democratic elections (on 18 September).
A major report on the use of the death penalty in the OSCE area will be presented at the meeting by the conference's main organizer, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Press arrangements
The opening session will begin on Monday, 9 September, at 10:00 in Hotel Victoria, ul. Krolewska, Warsaw, Poland. Among the opening speakers will be the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz, Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, and top OSCE officials.
Journalists are invited to attend the opening session, as well as the regular working sessions and side events. Interviews with key participants can be arranged upon request. Media representatives are requested to bring their press passes for registration at the conference venue.
The two-week meeting will review the progress made by the 55 participating States of the OSCE in implementing their international commitments in the field of human rights and democratization. These include commitments to respect fundamental freedoms, conduct democratic elections, combat trafficking in human beings, and ban the use of torture.
One year after the 11 September terrorist attacks, the fight against terrorism and its repercussions on the human rights situation in the OSCE region are expected to be a major focus of the conference.
The yearly OSCE human rights conference is a unique forum for free discussion and dialogue on topical human rights issues among governments and civil society representatives.
This year, day-long special sessions will be devoted to improving protection for victims of trafficking in human beings (on 17 September), and developing new international standards for democratic elections (on 18 September).
A major report on the use of the death penalty in the OSCE area will be presented at the meeting by the conference's main organizer, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Press arrangements
The opening session will begin on Monday, 9 September, at 10:00 in Hotel Victoria, ul. Krolewska, Warsaw, Poland. Among the opening speakers will be the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz, Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, and top OSCE officials.
Journalists are invited to attend the opening session, as well as the regular working sessions and side events. Interviews with key participants can be arranged upon request. Media representatives are requested to bring their press passes for registration at the conference venue.