MINELRES: UNITED: OSCE Human Dimension Meeting, Warsaw, 2-13 October 2006
[email protected]
[email protected]
Fri Aug 18 09:17:15 2006
Original sender: UNITED <[email protected]>
UNITED E-NEWS 18/08/06: OSCE Human Dimension Meeting
OSCE Human Dimension Meeting including Special Day dedicated to
Tolerance and Non-Discrimination.
Warsaw, 2-13 October 2006
NGOs and community based organizations are strongly encouraged to
participate in the HDIM as it provides an opportunity to review how OSCE
states are implemeting their commitments on Tolerance related issues.
NGOs have the possibility to organise side events during this HDM - see
for technical information below or contact [email protected].
Meeting rooms are available free of charge.
The ODIHR is unfortunately not in a position to finance the
participation of NGOs in the Meeting
More information: http://www.osce.org/conferences/hdim_2006.html
and in the forwarded message below
Best wishes
Geert Ates
UNITED
***forwarded message from <[email protected]>***
Dear All,
Please note that the 2006 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
will take place in Warsaw, Poland, from 2 to 13 October 2006. This is
the annual OSCE meeting where representatives of governments and civil
society from the 56 participating States will review both the
implementation of the OSCE�s Human Dimension commitments and the
mechanisms for monitoring and enhancing compliance with these
commitments.
Please find attached the schedule of the meeting and the technical
information, also available on the ODIHR website at
http://www.osce.org/conferences/hdim_2006.html
The Annotated Agenda will be posted on the website when finalised.
This year's HDIM will again have a Special Day dedicated to Tolerance
and Non-Discrimination.
I strongly encourage NGOs and community based organizations to
participate in the HDIM as it provides an opportunity to review how OSCE
states are implemeting their commitments on Tolerance related issues.
Please find below for your reference:
1. An overview of the HDIM, and why NGOs should particpate;
2. A package which provides more detail on this year's HDIM along with
agenda and modalities.
[From MINELRES moderator: omitted to reduce the size of the message, pls
refer to the link above - Boris]
Further details of Tolerance related commitments are outlined on the
ODIHR website http://osce.org/odihr/16219.html
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Nav Purewall
Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Officer
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - ODIHR
Aleje Ujazdowskie 19, 00-557 Warsaw
Office: +48 (22) 520 0600 (x1186)
Mobile: +48 691 897 689
[email protected]
[email protected]
http://www.osce.org/odihr
*************************************************
2006 HUMAN DIMENSION IMPLEMENTATION MEETING
WARSAW, 2 � 13 OCTOBER 2006
INFORMATION FOR NGOs
The 2006 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting will take place in
Warsaw, Poland, from 2 to 13 October 2006. This is the annual OSCE
meeting where representatives of governments and civil society from the
56 participating States will review both the implementation of the
OSCE�s Human Dimension commitments and the procedures and mechanisms for
monitoring and enhancing compliance with these commitments. Please find
attached the schedule of the meeting and the technical information, also
available on the ODIHR website at
http://www.osce.org/conferences/hdim_2006.html The Annotated Agenda
will be posted on the website when finalised.
All non-governmental organizations interested in participating in the
HDIM are kindly requested to complete the on-line Registration Form in
full by 6 September 2006 at http://meetings.odihr.pl
Participants may also organize their own side events during the Meeting.
For further information please visit ODIHR website at
http://www.osce.org/conferences/hdim_2006.html
All formal sessions of the Meeting will be open for participation by NGO
representatives, and NGOs will have equal access to the list of
speakers.
The Meeting shall feature three special topic days as follows:
1. Addressing factors contributing to the cycle of trafficking in
persons: The Special day will provide an opportunity to review the
implementation of OSCE commitments on the identification and protection
of trafficked persons. Victims� rights protection is a key component of
the OSCE Action Plan to Combat trafficking in Human Beings and is
central to the ODIHR�s anti-trafficking work. The session will allow
for a stock-taking of developments on these issues since the 2004 ODIHR
conference entitled �Ensuring Human Rights Protection in Countries of
Destination: Breaking the Cycle of Trafficking�, held in Helsinki. The
session will also review the commitments and issues relevant to
addressing the demand side of trafficking for both labour and sexual
exploitation, Consideration will also be given to measures needed in the
build-up to large sporting and other events.
2. Access to justice: This topic will be discussed in two sessions. The
first session will address access to affordable legal assistance in the
participating States, including legal aid in civil and administrative
matters. The second session will examine improvement of court
administration to avoid delays in obtaining court judgments, as well as
steps taken by the participating States to strengthen enforcement of
court decisions.
3. Promotion of tolerance and non-discrimination and mutual respect and
understanding: The implementation of OSCE commitments and the role of
youth in relation to hate-motivated incidents. The session will review
the commitments undertaken by participating States through the
Maastricht, Sofia and Ljubljana Ministerial Council Decisions on
tolerance and non-discrimination and will also allow discussion of the
�Berlin Declaration�, the �Brussels Declaration� and the �Cordoba
Declaration�. The discussions during the session will also focus on
youth in relation to hate crimes and hate-motivated violent
manifestations of racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and other forms of
intolerance and discrimination, including against Muslims, Christians
and members of other religions.
The ODIHR document distribution system will allow for written statements
and recommendations to be distributed electronically during the meeting;
texts should be forwarded, preferably in advance, to [email protected] or
submitted during the Meeting to the Documents Distribution counter.
These documents will also be made accessible on our website during the
Meeting.
The ODIHR is unfortunately not in a position to finance the
participation of NGOs in the Meeting, but please find also enclosed a
list of moderately priced hotels in Warsaw. NGOs are kindly requested to
make their own booking arrangements.
Should you have any queries concerning the Meeting please contact us at
e-mail: [email protected]
***
HUMAN DIMENSION IMPLEMENTATION MEETING
GENERAL INFORMATION
The ODIHR organizes an annual meeting in Warsaw to review the
implementation of a broad range of OSCE human dimension commitments,
including in the areas of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
elections, the promotion of tolerance, use of the death penalty, and the
rights of national minorities.
The Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) - Europe's largest
human rights conference - lasts 10 working days and is attended by
representatives of OSCE participating States, NGOs, and international
organizations and institutions. All participants are encouraged to make
recommendations during the Working Sessions.
Just what is a Human Dimension Implementation Meeting?
For the uninitiated, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM)
can sound like a daunting event - deciphering its meaning requires
insider knowledge of the workings of the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe, the world's largest regional security
organization.
In OSCE parlance, the term "human dimension" describes the set of norms
and activities related to human rights and democracy that are regarded
within the OSCE as one of the three pillars of its comprehensive
security concept, along with the politico-military and the economic and
environmental dimensions.
The annual HDIM is a forum where participating States discuss the
implementation of human dimension commitments that were reached by
consensus at prior OSCE Summits or Ministerial Meetings. These
commitments are not legally binding norms and principles; instead, they
are politically binding - a political promise to comply with the
standards elaborated in OSCE documents.
Giving NGOs a seat at the table
An important feature of Human Dimension Implementation Meetings is that
they are open to the participation of NGOs. The HDIM is the only such
conference in Europe where representatives of civil society can sit with
governments on an equal footing. During the 2005 HDIM, more than 400
NGOs were represented.
Stressing the importance of bringing governmental and non-governmental
actors together, Ambassador Strohal, Director of the ODIHR said that
civil society has an important function both in combating human rights
violations and as a voice in the debate on such issues. "The decision to
have NGOs contribute at this conference on an equal footing with
government representatives turned out to enrich the debate and make the
exchanges even more relevant and constructive. One should not overlook
the energy with which civil society in our region pursues the cancerous
weaknesses of our societies, reminding governmental bodies and
institutions of their duties to ensure equality and do everything to
stem new tides of chauvinism and xenophobia and eventually to eradicate
these forms of discrimination."
Added Value of cooperation with NGOs
The ODIHR is dedicated to co-operating with non-governmental
organizations. The relationships formed are valuable for both sides:
The ODIHR needs the expertise, monitoring reports, and information that
only NGOs on the ground can compile in order to provide a more complete
picture of how OSCE participating States are complying with their
commitments; at the same time, the ODIHR provides NGOs with a highly
visible international political platform to lobby for their respective
issues. During the previous year, the ODIHR facilitated the
participation of approximately 450 NGOs in OSCE human dimension events,
where non-governmental actors were able to have dialogue with government
delegations.
*****
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
1. The Meeting will be held in the hotel Sofitel Victoria Warsaw. The
hotel is located in the center of Warsaw and has the following address:
Sofitel Victoria Warsaw
Kr�lewska St. 11
00-065 Warsaw, Poland
The participants will have at their disposal a Conference Room for
Plenary and Working session meetings, as well as several smaller rooms
for informal consultations.
2. The Meeting will be interpreted into the six official OSCE
languages: English, Russian, Spanish, Italian, French, and German.
3. The number of seats and order in which the delegations of the
participating States will be seated at the Plenary and Working sessions
will be similar to that of the previous Implementation Meetings.
4. The delegations will be provided with necessary facilities for the
display and distribution of relevant publications, documents, and
information materials. Technical equipment for presentation of
audio-visual materials will be also available. The delegations are
invited to inform the ODIHR in advance of the need for technical
equipment.
5. Appropriate facilities for non-governmental organizations, as well as
representatives of the media will also be arranged.
6. Any participant wishing to distribute documents during the HDIM will
have this possibility only through the Documents Distribution System
(DDS). All documents submitted for distribution during the Meeting will
be scanned, uploaded to the system and available electronically at the
venue through a number of computer terminals. The ODIHR will appreciate
receiving electronic versions of documents. Participants will have the
possibility to request for printed copies or send documents by e-mail.
Additionally please note that documents distributed through the DDS will
be sent to the OSCE Website and become public. Limited reproduction
facilities at the site of the Meeting will also be available.
7. Side events may be held in the course of the Meeting. Additional
information on the content and objectives of any side event, as well as
timing and duration will be made available on the Meeting�s website.
8. The participants are kindly requested to contact the Meeting's
Registration at the hotel Sofitel Victoria Warsaw before the Opening
Plenary session. The Registration will be working during the Meeting
days from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Advanced registration is recommended in order
to avoid delays in issuing the Meeting badges and materials before the
Opening Plenary session.
9. In order to assist the participants with accommodation in Warsaw a
special Hotel Booking Forms are available from [email protected].
10. There will be morning transfer to the hotel Sofitel Victoria Warsaw
(venue of the Meeting) organized for participants accommodated in the
Novotel Warszawa Centrum. The buses will leave during the Meeting days
at 9.15 a.m.
The ODIHR will be at the disposal of all participants in any other
matters related to the Meeting.
****
INFORMATION FOR ORGANIZERS OF SIDE EVENTS
NGOs, governments, and other participants are encouraged to organize
side meetings on relevant Human Dimension issues. Side meetings/events
provide an opportunity for the participants to discuss issues that have
not been fully covered during the working sessions since only limited
time is assigned to each of the topics. Side meetings/events are meant
to facilitate informal discussions between representatives of
governments, NGOs and International Organizations. HDIM participants
actively used this opportunity in the past.
The ODIHR will co-ordinate side events organization and make necessary
logistical arrangements. The organization convening a side event will be
responsible for its content, which will not necessarily reflect the
views of the OSCE.
Practical information for side events organizers
When? Lunchtime 02 � 13 October 13.00-15.00), and in the evening 03 �
12 October (18.00-20.00).
No HDIM activities on 07 (Saturday) and 08 (Sunday) October.
Where? Up to four meeting rooms are available free of charge:
Meeting room 1: Layout: �Round table� arrangement. Capacity: 80
people. (13.00 � 15.00 not available on the 02 & 13 October)
Meeting room 2: Layout: �Round table� arrangement. Capacity: 30
people.
Meeting room 3: Layout: �Theatre style� arrangement. Capacity: 50
people.
Plenary Hall: Layout: �Round table� arrangement. Capacity: 100 people
around the table and 150 at the back rows. This room is not available on
the 02 & 13 October). Please also note, that the side event, can be
organized in the Plenary Hall only between 13:15 and 14:45, while
evening arrangements are not possible.
How will people learn about the event? The ODIHR will inform the
participants of the HDIM about your side event by posting information on
our web-page few days before the Meeting starts. In addition, we will
also include the schedule and annotated agenda of side events into
participants� packs and put an announcement on the notice board at the
HDIM premises. If you wish, you can also make �flyers� with information
and leave them on display tables.
Technical equipment? You might wish to use some technical equipment for
your event (for example, overhead projector, power point, video + TV,
microphones + speakers, etc.) Please let us know in advance what kind of
equipment you need so that we could rent it at your expenses.
Translation? Translation services can be provided upon request at your
expenses. ODIHR will put you in touch with the Translation Agency in
this regard.
Refreshments? Some organizers of side events wish to offer refreshments
(sandwiches, soft drinks, water, coffee, tea, etc.) to their audience.
If you wish to do so, we can organize it at your expenses. Approximate
cost is the equivalent of 10 EUR (40 Polish Zloty) per person to be
paid on the spot to the Hotel �Sofitel Victoria�
ODIHR requirements
For timely inclusion of the side events schedule into participants�
pack, please complete the Check-List for Side Events Form below and
submit it before 22 September 2006 to [email protected]
****
CHECK-LIST FOR ORGANIZERS OF SIDE EVENTS
Your name and organization.
Your preferences on date and time of the event
Number of participants.
Room layout (pls. see the setting: roundtable, theatre).
Title of your event.
Name of conveying organization(s).
One, two paragraph description of your event � no more than half A4 page
(Please note, this text will be included into the Annotated Agenda of
Side Events to be distributed among the participants of the HDS).
Do you need technical equipment. If yes, please specify your needs.
Working languages.
Do you need interpretation and related equipment.
Do you wish to offer refreshments. For how many people. Special
catering.
Who will make necessary payments (if applicable).
Name of contact person (incl. tel/fax/e-mail)
Any other information that might be useful for ODIHR
Please be advised that late cancellation of ordered services may result
in cancellation fees.
Contact person: Ireneusz Stepinski (+4822 520 06 00 ext. 21 36), e-mail
: [email protected]
.........................
***********************************************************
We depend on YOUR help in 2006!
UNITED is not rich and has no stable income!
Though far most of the work at the UNITED secretariat is done voluntary
- still money is needed to keep the network functioning in 2006 and to
secure the cooperation and information flow throughout Europe.
Your donation is most welcome:
- in cash to UNITED Postbus 413 NL-1000 AK Amsterdam
- by bank (preferable) to:
UNITED, Postbus 413 NL-1000 AK Amsterdam
Account: IBAN NL77PSTB0002343715, BIC: PSTB NL2A - Bank: Postbank,
Postbus 1800, NL-1000 BV Amsterdam
(From NL: postbank 2343715)
***********************************************************
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