OSCE conference on the protection of human rights defenders

The Swiss Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is organising an international conference on human rights defenders in conjunction with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and with the support of the Serbian Chairmanship 2015. Some 100 national human rights experts of the OSCE participating States, human rights defenders and representatives of civil society and human rights organisations from Switzerland and abroad are attending the conference.

The protection and promotion of human rights and the strengthening of the rule of law are objectives of Swiss foreign policy. These objectives can only be achieved if internationally recognised human rights norms and standards are actually implemented. Human rights defenders play a key role in this respect but are often intimidated and prevented from carrying out their work. Given this situation, the protection of human rights defenders is crucially important.