6-8 June: OSCE High Level Conference on Combating Discrimination and Promoting Mutual Respect and Understanding and Civil Society Preparatory Meeting

On 7-8 June 2007 the Spanish Chairmanship of the OSCE will hold a High Level Conference on Combating Discrimination and Promoting Mutual Respect and Understanding in Bucharest, Hungary.

As a follow-up to the 2005 Cordoba Conference on Anti-Semitism and other forms of Intolerance, the Conference will highlight areas where implementation of existing OSCE commitments in the field of tolerance and non-discrimination has taken place and identify areas where further implementation is needed.

The conference will also highlight best practices of participating States and areas where OSCE Institutions have supported participating States and civil society in their efforts to combat intolerance and discrimination.

This conference will be preceded by a civil society preparatory meeting on 6 June, aimed at providing civil society with the opportunity to prepare recommendations to be presented at the opening session of the Conference, and also:

 To discuss current issues and priorities related to discrimination and the promotion of mutual respect and understanding. Topics will include trends regarding hate-motivated crimes and related forms of intolerance as well as the responses provided by States and civil society;
 To exchange information on best practices;
 To discuss civil society¹s engagement with OSCE institutions including the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights;
 To facilitate and enhance coalition-building across diverse cultural and religious communities and civil society groups throughout the OSCE region;

The participation and contribution of civil society is highly welcomed in both meetings!

Please note that during the two meetings interpretation will be provided in English-Russian and Russian-English

Where can you find more information?

 For general information of the conference please go the OSCE website

 With a view to enhance the participation of civil society representatives a specific section has been opened on the ODIHR’s Tolerance and non Discrimination Information System

This section provides additional information and highlights including:
 The agendas, timetable and organizational modalities of the events
 How to participate?
 How to submit recommendations beforehand for the civil society preparatory meeting? = How to request financial support to participate?

This sections also links to:
 Background OSCE documents
 Recommendations adopted in previous OSCE/ODIHR civil society preparatory meetings

Should you need additional information on the participation of civil society in the Bucharest High Level Conference as well as the Civil Society Preparatory Meeting, please contact: civilsociety@odihr.pl