Joint side event: How to improve the protection of human rights defenders in the OSCE region?

29/09/2011

Press release

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Over the last year, human rights defenders in the Russian Federation, South Caucasus and Central Asia have faced increased and more sophisticated pressure from the authorities. In this panel, representatives from human rights organizations in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kirghizstan and the Russian Federation will give examples about the challenges they and their colleagues are facing in their daily work for the defense of human rights.

When: Thursday, 29 September 2011, 13.15-14.45

Where: Warsaw, Plenary Hall, OSCE

Host: Human Rights House Foundation, Front Line, Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH - OMCT)

Joint side event: How to improve the protection of human rights defenders in the OSCE region?Image: Joint side event: How to improve the protection of human rights defenders in the OSCE region? Image: Joint side event: How to improve the protection of human rights defenders in the OSCE region?

Concrete examples concerning what has been done or could have been done to protect human rights defenders at risk in the countries will be given. The human rights defenders will - through examples - give recommendations to the present and future Chairmanship of the OSCE concerning how the organization can strengthen the protection mechanism of human rights defenders in the OSCE region.

Panelists:

Russian Federation: Olga Sadovskaya, Committee Against Torture,

Azerbaijan: Rasul Jafarov, Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety

Georgia: Nazi Janezashvili Article 42 of Constitution

Kirghizstan: Valerian Vakhitov, Citizen Against Corruption

Belarus: Valentsin Stefanovich, Human Rights Centre Viasna

Presentation of recommendations:

Maria Chichtchenkova, Front Line

Hugo Gabbero, Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH - OMCT)

Moderators:

Ane Tusvik Bonde, Human Rights House Foundation and Dmitri Makarov, Youth Human Rights Movement