President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter opens OSCE conference on the protection of human rights defenders
Bern, 10.06.2014 - Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), today opened the OSCE conference on the protection of human rights defenders in Bern. The conference is jointly organised by the Swiss Chairmanship and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). During the two-day event, over 100 participants from Switzerland and abroad will discuss measures to protect human rights defenders worldwide.
Protecting and promoting human rights and strengthening the rule of law are among Switzerland's foreign policy objectives. They are also a central task of the ODIHR. These objectives can only be achieved if internationally recognised human rights norms and standards are effectively implemented. Human rights defenders play a key role in this. “These men and women working to increase awareness and respect for human rights often take high risks in dangerous situations to help their fellow citizens live their lives in dignity”, remarked Didier Burkhalter, President of the Swiss Confederation, in his opening address at the Hotel Schweizerhof in Bern, and emphasised: “They need and deserve our respect and support.”
These people and their relatives are often impeded, intimidated and threatened in their work to defend human rights in their native countries as lawyers, trade unionists, NGO representatives, farmers or journalists.
There is no long-term security and stability without respect for human rights, the rule of law and democracy, declared Didier Burkhalter as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, before an audience of around 100 experts from the participating States of the OSCE, who included human rights defenders, human rights experts, other government delegates and representatives of civil society and human rights institutions. He made a clear appeal to the decision-makers: “The implementation of human rights norms first and foremost needs one thing: political will. The political will to live up to the promises made.”
Didier Burkhalter’s remarks were endorsed by Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights.
The conference provided the opportunity for an in-depth discussion on the role of the OSCE in respecting and implementing fundamental freedoms and human rights. The composition of the participants highlighted the significance of the voice of civil society in democratic processes.
During the two-day conference, the Swiss Chairmanship of the OSCE, together with the ODIHR, is launching guidelines designed to assist participating States of the OSCE in providing effective protection and support for human rights defenders.
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