PRESS RELEASE : Warsaw Human Dimension Conference 2024 – UK opening statement [October 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 October 2024.

Ambassador Neil Holland says that the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference symbolises our shared commitment to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and thanks civil society organisations for their ongoing work.

Thank you Madam Chair and may I first thank the former and acting Directors of ODIHR for ODIHR’s support, assistance and expertise to participating States. ODIHR’s role is a manifestation of the principle that lasting security can only be achieved through respect for human rights and strong democratic institutions.

I would also like to thank the former Representative on Freedom of the Media and her team for their invaluable work, delivering on comprehensive security through media freedom.

And finally, I thank the Chair in Office and you Madam Chair, as well as Poland, our hosts, for their efforts and perseverance in arranging this Conference. These Conferences are the beating heart of the OSCE’s human dimension work in holding States to account.

The Warsaw Human Dimension Conference symbolises our shared commitment to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. Those values, agreed in the Helsinki Accords nearly 50 years ago, are as relevant as ever today, as one participating State – Russia – unleashes an all-out attack on the OSCE’s founding principles through its all-out attack on another participating State Ukraine.

At the forefront of our minds during this conference are the ongoing atrocities being committed by Russia in Ukraine where the human rights situation continues to deteriorate. Russia’s aggression shows no respect for the rights and dignity of the Ukrainian people, nor for the OSCE commitments which it contravenes. ODIHR’s recent Fifth Interim Report showed stark evidence of the grave violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law being committed by Russia. This is also demonstrated in the reports resulting from our invocations of the Moscow Mechanism, supported by Ukraine.

As we look forward to next year’s 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, it is shocking to see all of the founding principles in the Helsinki Decalogue being blatantly violated by Russia, including respect for human rights and the fundamental freedoms. A key Helsinki commitment was that the security of the state is inseparable from the safety of the citizens. I have yet to hear any explanation from Russia as to why their actions in Ukraine can be interpreted in any other way than blatant disregard and violation of those founding principles. They did not provide any explanation when I asked them directly at the Permanent Council and they have chosen to block the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting which was designed for States to hold each other to account for their actions.

We pay tribute to the brave human rights defenders and other members of civil society, many of whom operate in increasingly oppressive environments. The perspective of civil society is vital in building an understanding of the human rights situation at grassroots level. So we are pleased to see so many civil society representatives at this conference. You represent the spirit of Helsinki and we will continue to support you and amplify your voices.

Thank you.