Response to the Report by the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

ODIHR’s quick reaction to Russia’s brutal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine through your human rights monitoring work is an important contribution to international accountability efforts. 

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Joint statement on the anniversaries of the Moscow Mechanism Report on Belarus and the invocation of the Vienna Mechanism

The Belarusian authorities have further increased harassment and intimidation efforts by widening of the scope of the death penalty to vaguely defined “attempted terrorist activities”.

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Response to the Report of the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Michael Davenport

We continue to urge the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to fully implement their past commitments, refrain from actions and rhetoric that increase tensions, and to engage urgently, constructively, and in good faith in the EU-facilitated Dialogue. 

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Ensuring Accountability for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence resulting from Russia’s War against Ukraine 

Early on after Russia intensified its unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, we began hearing reports how Russian soldiers raped Ukrainian women in front of their children in places like Bucha after breaking down the doors where they had sought shelter.  

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Moscow Mechanism Report On Russia’s Legal and Administrative Practice in Light of its OSCE Human Dimension Commitments

This report effectively summarizes the terrible cost of a decade of legislative attacks on human rights in Russia under what can only be described as a police state.

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Joint Statement on invoking the Moscow Mechanism: Human Rights Violations and Abuses in the Russian Federation

According to a statement made by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media on 16 March 2022, “the Russian Federation is rapidly moving towards a situation of complete censorship and isolation of its citizens from any form of independent information”

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Response to the Report of the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Michael Davenport

The United States strongly supports the work of the Mission and appreciates our close collaboration to support Kosovo’s development as a secure, democratic, and inclusive member of the European community of nations.  

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Response to Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Benedetto Della Vedova on the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

Response to Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Benedetto Della Vedova on the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe As delivered by Ambassador Michael Carpenter to the Permanent Council, Vienna February 3, 2022 Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Deputy Minister Della Vedova, the United States warmly welcomes you to the …

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On the Summit for Democracy

On the Summit for Democracy As delivered by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Elisabeth Rosenstock-Siller to the Permanent Council, Vienna December 10, 2021 Thank you, Madam Chair.  Yesterday and today, coinciding with International Human Rights Day, President Biden is hosting a Summit for Democracy.  As the OSCE has long recognized, democracy, the rule of law, …

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Welcome Remarks to the Group of Friends of Youth and Security as Group Co-Chair

Welcome Remarks to the Group of Friends of Youth and Security as Group Co-Chair As prepared for delivery by Chargé d’Affaires Courtney Austrian to the Group of Friends of Youth and Security October 29, 2021 Thank you, Ambassador Makeyev. Dear Special Representative Marbinah, Special Representative Karimi, Ambassador Valdés, invited guests, colleagues: The last year and a half has been extraordinarily challenging …

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Right of Reply to Russia on “Mass and Systemic Violations of Human Rights in the United States”

My esteemed colleagues raised quite a litany of issues pertaining to the United States, all of which were clearly learned about from U.S. media sources, so it is at least hard to imagine that there are legitimate complaints about media freedom in the United States.

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Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in Russia

In recent months, the Kremlin intensified its efforts to suppress independent voices and viewpoints, including those of members of civil society organizations, human rights defenders, independent journalists, political opposition members, and believers belonging to religious minority communities.

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Joint Statement on Belarus

Joint Statement on Belarus Statement Delivered by H.E. Päivi Laivola de Rosière, Ambassador of Finland, to the OSCE Ministerial Council Tirana, Albania (remotely, via Zoom) December 4, 2020 I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the following 36 participating  States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,  Estonia, France, …

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OSCE Ministerial – Belarus Side Event Closing Remarks

OSCE Ministerial – Belarus Side Event Closing Remarks As prepared for delivery by DAS George Kent to the OSCE Side Event on Belarus Tirana, Albania (remotely, via Zoom) December 3, 2020 As we conclude today’s event, I want to express my government’s thanks to our UK colleagues, the other co-sponsors, and Minister Kofod of Denmark …

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On Human Rights Violations in Belarus

On Human Rights Violations in Belarus As delivered by Ambassador James S. Gilmore III to the Permanent Council, Vienna November 19, 2020   Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.   The European Union is right.  And we follow on behind their statement.  The right to peaceful assembly is one that Americans jealously defend.  But it’s more than that, Mr. Chairperson.  …

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Right of Reply to the Russian Federation on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

Right of Reply to the Russian Federation on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists As delivered  by Deputy Chief of Mission Courtney Austrian to the Permanent Council, Vienna November 6, 2020   Thank you, Madam Chair.   In respect for my colleagues time on a beautiful Friday, I will be brief but …

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Statement of the informal OSCE Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists

Statement of the informal OSCE Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists delivered by H.E. Christine Fages, Permanent Representative of France to the OSCE to the Permanent Council, Vienna November 6, 2020 Madam Chair, I make this statement on behalf of the informal OSCE Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists, namely Austria, …

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Statement at the Human Dimension Webinar on Access to Information and Freedom of the Media

Statement at the Human Dimension Webinar on Access to Information and Freedom of the Media   The United States appreciates the opportunity to address the issues of access to information and freedom of the media at today’s webinar.  Freedom of information is essential for the implementation of Principle VII of the Helsinki Final Act, which recognizes …

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On Developments in the Human Dimension in the OSCE Region

On Developments in the Human Dimension in the OSCE Region As delivered by Political Counselor Elisabeth Rosenstock-Siller to the Permanent Council, Vienna October 1, 2020 Mr. Chair, the United States deeply regrets that the ongoing CoViD-19 pandemic prevented us from convening in Warsaw for the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.  We look forward to doing …

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Reply to the Opening Session of the RFOM Conference “Media Freedom in Volatile Environments”

We agree that we can all do more to strengthen journalist protections.  We agree that there is a need for more fact-based reporting.  And we agree that these issues need to be addressed democratically and in a manner consistent with OSCE principles and commitments.

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Response to Altai Efendiev, Secretary General of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development

We share the concerns of Organization for Democracy and Economic Development member states about the active and protracted conflicts in this region, and are deeply concerned by continuing violations of member states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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Response to Russia’s Criticism of ODIHR Election Observation

Response to Russia’s Criticism of ODIHR Election Observation As delivered by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Kate M. Byrnes to the Permanent Council, Vienna April 27, 2017 Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Russian Federation’s claim that ODIHR’s determination regarding how to observe the French elections is another example of an “unbalanced” approach by ODIHR is unjustified and …

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Reply to Russia on the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina

Reply to Russia on the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina As delivered by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Kate M. Byrnes to the Permanent Council, Vienna April 27, 201 Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Russian Federation referred to the Office of the High Representative (OHR) as an obsolete international guardian that should be …

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Russia’s Continued Misuse of Terrorism and Extremism Laws to Restrict the Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion or Belief

We urge Russia to respect the human right of all to exercise the fundamental freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief– including the right to profess and practice one’s religion alone or in community with others — in accordance with its OSCE commitments and international obligations.

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Russia’s Misuse of Terrorism and Extremism Laws to Restrict the Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion or Belief

Mr. Chair, colleagues, let me be clear – the threat to our region from violent extremism and terrorism is real. However, the prosecution of members of peaceful religious minority groups for “extremism” serves only to distract from and undermine our mutual efforts to combat true violent threats.

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Ongoing Violations of Freedom of Expression in Russia | Statement to the PC

Ongoing Violations of Freedom of Expression in Russia  |  Statement to the PC As delivered by Deputy Chief of Mission Kate M. Byrnes to the Permanent Council, Vienna January 19, 2017 The United States is concerned about the December 28 decision by Chechnya’s Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of Zhalaudi Geriev, a local independent …

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Secretary of State John Kerry at the Opening Session of the OSCE Ministerial | Statement to the 2016 Ministerial Council

Friends and colleagues, we meet in Hamburg today to reaffirm the same idea that tied us together in Helsinki 41 years ago: that our collective security is directly linked to the growth of our economies and the protection of basic human rights.

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Reply to Russian Federation on Response to Report by RFoM Dunja Mijatović | Statement to the PC

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Allow me to make a response to the comments just made by our distinguished Russian colleague. First, our distinguished Russian colleague said that not a word was said about concerns about journalists in the United States. That is simply false. In fact, my statement started today in recounting an exchange that …

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On International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists | Statement to the PC

My delegation strongly supports the statement of our European Union colleagues marking the United Nations-declared International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. To do its job, a free press needs protection from violence and intimidation. In too many places around the world, those who threaten, kidnap, beat, and kill journalists do so with …

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Government Pressure on Freedom of Expression and the Media in Turkey | Statement to the PC

As an ally and friend, we urge the Government of Turkey to respond to the failed coup in ways that reinforce Turkey’s traditions of freedom of expression and pluralism, the very principles and institutions that the Turkish people so courageously defended from a violent attempted coup.

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