Thank you, Chair,
Norway has aligned itself with the statement made by the European Union. However, allow me to make a few remarks in my national capacity.
Excellencies, dear participants, colleagues,
I would first like to thank ODIHR and the Chair-in-Office, as well as our hosts, Poland, for the excellent organisation of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. While we regret that consensus on the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting has once again been blocked by Belarus and Russia, this remains a unique platform for dialogue with civil society representatives.
Mr Chair,
The backdrop of this conference remains Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, which continues to erode security in our region and globally. It undermines respect for international law, the OSCE principles, and the foundations of our democracies, in particular civil society. The continued detention of our OSCE colleagues Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov, and Dmytry Shabano is unacceptable, and we demand their immediate release.
Russia’s violations of international human rights and humanitarian law are evident both on the battlefield in Ukraine and in the temporarily occupied territories, where civilians, POWs and political prisoners are reportedly subjected to human rights violations such as torture, sexual abuse and inhumane treatment.
Norway’s broad support to Ukraine, politically, militarily, and financially, is not just support for Ukraine’s right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russia’s illegal aggression, but also about preserving the democratic foundations of Ukrainian society, in which a vibrant civil society plays an integral role.
Mr Chair,
It is clear today that we are witnessing democratic backsliding in many places around the world and in our own region. Press freedom is at a 25 year low according to Reporters Without Borders, not least in established democracies. ODIHR’s election observers receive invitations from participating states too late or not at all. Human rights and fundamental freedoms are sometimes seen as optional. This is a sad moment in the history of this organization, and a trend we must urgently turn around.
The OSCE’s comprehensive security concept provides unique opportunities for Participating states, in cooperation with civil society, to collectively ensure that we uphold OSCE principles. Faced with serious democratic backsliding in many places in our region, Norway encourages more proactive use of OSCE’s foras and tools. In this regard I recall that 24 Participating states invoked the Moscow Mechanism in January this year to document the democratic backsliding and human rights violations in Georgia.
Another key instrument is ODIHR’s election observation, which should provide useful assessments of electoral conduct in all Participating States. It is regrettable that some Participating states are no longer issuing timely invitations to ODIHR.
Mr Chair,
Civil society’s contributions are crucial for shaping our understanding of the developments in the OSCE region. You are the watchdogs, the whistleblowers, the support we need and count on to hold us accountable and to uphold the principles of the Helsinki Final Act.
We recognize the sacrifice you make and the risk you take, just by coming here. Norway remains committed to supporting and cooperating with civil society.
Thank you.