WARSAW, 26 September 2006 - Some 900 international experts, government representatives and human rights activists will gather in Warsaw from 2 to 13 October for this year's session of Europe's largest human rights and democratization conference, the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

The conference's main organizer is the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) together with the OSCE Chairmanship, held in 2006 by Belgium.

Among the opening speakers will be the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg, Poland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Anna Fotyga, as well as OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and ODIHR Director Ambassador Christian Strohal.

The two-week meeting will review the progress made by the OSCE's 56 participating States in implementing their commitments in the field of human rights and democratization, including respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression and religion, conduct of democratic elections and prevention of torture.

Special topics for discussion will include trafficking in human beings, access to justice and promotion of tolerance, non-discrimination and mutual respect and understanding.

In addition to the working sessions, some 60 side-events will be held. Most are organized by non-governmental organizations and will address issues such as the human rights situation in certain countries and regions or problems faced by specific groups and national minorities.

The ODIHR will use the opportunity to present its Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System, which will give access to information on legislation, statistics, reports, specialized institutions and initiatives regarding this issue. A photo exhibition will highlight the situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE region.

Journalists are invited to attend the opening session, which will begin on Monday, 2 October, at 10:00 in Hotel Victoria, ul. Krolewska, Warsaw. They are also invited to attend the regular working sessions and side events. Interviews with key participants can be arranged upon request.

Contacts
Urdur Gunnarsdottir
ODIHR Spokesperson
Public Affairs Unit
Aleje Ujazdowskie 19
00-557 Warsaw
Poland
Tel: +48 22 520 06 00 ext. 4162
+48 603 683 122 (mobile)
Fax: +48 22 520 06 05
Urdur.Gunnarsdottir@odihr.pl

Published in: Anti-trafficking and non-discrimination to top agenda of Europe's largest human rights meeting, www.osce.org, 26 September 2006