SHDM II: Freedom of Religion or Belief, Fostering Mutual Respect and Understanding

The second Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM) on the topic of Freedom of Religion of Belief, Fostering Mutual Respect and Understanding will take place in Vienna from 2 to 3 of July 2015. The meeting is organized by the Serbian OSCE Chairmanship and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

The meeting will address the topic of Freedom of Religion or Belief, Fostering Mutual Respect and Understanding.  The meeting will provide a forum for discussion on the progress made in the implementation of relevant OSCE commitments, and will explore the opportunities and means that now exist to further strengthen the right to freedom of religion or belief and intensify the work on fostering mutual respect and understanding within the OSCE area.

The SHDM will address the topic through the following three sessions:

• Freedom of Religion or Belief and fostering mutual respect and understanding in the OSCE area-opportunities and challenges
• Creating the conditions for meaningful and sustained interreligious dialogue in order to ensure stability and security in the OSCE region
• Advancing Freedom of Religion or Belief and fostering mutual respect and understanding through dialogue and cooperation among and between authorities, religious and belief communities and civil society.

The meeting will be attended by the participating States as well as other relevant actors including civil society and international organisations. Recommendations may be addressed to participating States, the OSCE at large, OSCE executive structures, other inter-governmental as well as civil society actors in OSCE participating States.

Registration

On-line registration for all participants is available at http://meetings.odihr.pl. Participants are advised to register by Wednesday, 1 July 2015. The registration will also be available online after the deadline and during the Meeting on the spot, however, to facilitate the preparation for the meeting the earliest possible registration would be highly appreciated.

Modalities

The meeting will take place in the Hofburg Congress Centre. It will start on Thursday, 2 July, at 15.00 by the opening session, will be followed by three working sessions and the closing session will finish on Friday, 3 July at 17.30.

The modalities of the meeting are set out in accordance with the decision of the Permanent Council (PC.DEC/476, 23 May 2002).

The interpretation will be provided into the six official OSCE languages: English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish.

Side events

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE A NEW ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEM FOR SIDE EVENTS.

Side events may be held over the course of the Seminar. Institutions and organizations wishing to organize a side event are requested to register and book the slot  at their earliest convenience as the system is based on ‘first come, first served’ basis’. To book a side event, please register in the ODIHR Registration System (http://meetings.odihr.pl.) and then proceed with an on-line booking the Side Event Registration/Booking. The booking system will be open on Friday, 12 June at 12.00 (CET) and will be closed on Tuesday, 23 June, at 23:59 (CET). No bookings will be accepted after this date. Additional information on the content and objectives of planned side events, as well as on timing and duration, are available in the document “Side Event Information”.

More information about the meeting is available in the attachments.

In case of any questions, you may contact:

Substantive content matters: Mr. Kishan Manocha at [email protected] or tel. +48 22 52 00 757

Organizational matters: Ms. Kamila Czerwinska at [email protected] or +48 22 5200 657

Coordination of side events: Mr. Ireneusz Stepinski at [email protected]  or +48 22 5200 658

Registration of participants: Ms. Anna Sierant at [email protected] +48 22 5200 627