Skopje, 2 October 2023 (MIA) - OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani opened via video-address the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference on Monday, saying the event aims to assess the implementation of the OSCE pledges by participating states in the domain of human rights, democracy and rule of law, offering concrete solutions for the future.

"The Russian military aggression in Ukraine is our biggest test for realization of our joint pledges. We are witnessing continual violence, discrimination and inequality across the globe. We are seeing threats to the freedom of expression, peaceful gathering and association. We are seeing attacks on the rule of law and erosion of democratic institutions. These challenges are exacerbating with the new threats such as the impact of new technologies on privacy and the effect of climate change on social equality," said FM Osmani.

These challenges, he added, can be overcome by giving civil society a key role in these efforts, and this is one of the priorities of North Macedonia's OSCE Chairmanship.

"Civil society organizations are on the frontline regarding advocacy for human rights, democracy and rule of law. They ensure perspectives and independent assessments and reports on issues related to media freedom, electoral processes and minority rights, urging governments to demonstrate responsibility. They help OSCE and are a key partner in identifying and creating specific measures on the ground," said Osmani.

According to him, one of the key results of the conference will be to identify the areas where OSCE states can improve the implementation of pledges, leading to a better life of citizens without the fear of war, oppression or silencing.

"The belief that every individual, regardless of his/her background and circumstances, has innate rights and dignity lies in the heart of every human rights movement. These rights are universal, inseparable and mutually dependent. They are not abstract but the foundation of peaceful, functional, inclusive societies," noted Osmani.

The 10-day conference is dedicated to discussions on the condition of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the OSCE area. The conference provides a platform to evaluate the implementation of the OSCE Human Dimension commitments, and offers a forum for participants to present their current work and raise issues that they believe merit the urgent attention of the international community.