Human Rights Day 2013

As we mark Human Rights Day and celebrate the UK’s re-election to the UN Human Rights Council, it is worth reflecting upon how regional organisations can reinforce and complement the UN’s role in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Last week I attended the annual Ministerial Council of the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Kyiv. Primarily a security organisation, the OSCE covers a significant portion of the northern hemisphere and takes a broad and comprehensive approach. It does not deal exclusively with hard security but also human rights through its human dimension.

OSCE states have over the years adopted some of the most far-reaching human rights commitments of any international organisation. To support and advise states in their implementation of these commitments, the OSCE has created outstanding professional institutions, namely the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM) and the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM).

I was pleased to highlight the UK Government’s support for all three of these valuable offices during my intervention at the Ministerial Council last week.

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, as the OSCE’s principal human rights institution, is probably best known for its internationally respected election observation work which sets high standards of independence, impartiality and professionalism.  But it does a lot more than just elections.

Whether it be promoting freedom of religion or belief, combating racism and xenophobia, torture prevention, taking measures to tackle hate crimes, drafting guidelines on the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, trial monitoring, promoting women’s participation in public life, promoting the full integration of Roma and Sinti issues or providing human rights training and education, ODIHR consistently makes a real difference to people’s lives and the strengthening of democracy and human rights.

The adoption last week of an OSCE ministerial decision on the Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion or Belief, which is a UK human rights priority, was a particularly welcome addition to the OSCE’s body of commitments.

The Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM) is an impressive institution staffed by committed professionals and provides early-warnings on violations of freedom of expression (such as attacks on journalists, social media activists or bloggers, and the blocking of the internet) and encourages media pluralism.

It was disappointing that OSCE participating States were unable to agree a new ministerial commitment on the protection of journalists in Kyiv. There are far too many attacks and acts of discrimination and harassment against those exercising their freedom of expression both online and offline. The RFOM will continue to have our full support as she shines a light on these disturbing developments.

The High Commissioner on National Minorities was set up to identify and seek early resolution of ethnic tensions, functioning essentially as a conflict prevention instrument.  Much of its work is low-profile and confidential, and addresses issues such as education, language rights, media access, policing and integration.

The HCNM role requires skilful diplomacy and tact and the recently elected office-holder Astrid Thors has the UK government’s full support in her important work.

The OSCE is not perfect; no international organisation is. The need for consensus makes the agreement of new commitments a challenge. But as this piece demonstrates, it can and does make a valuable contribution to protecting and promoting our human rights. Indeed last week’s Ministerial Council meeting took place in Kyiv, where people in their hundreds of thousands are expressing their right to free expression and peaceful protest.

This starkly highlighted the importance of the fundamental freedoms and human rights promoted by the organisation which Ukraine currently chairs.