*EPF410 12/20/2001
Transcript: U.S. Statement to OSCE on Human Rights Defenders
(Amb. Minikes to Permanent Council Dec. 20) (750)

Safeguarding the rights of people engaged in all parts of civil society, "no matter their ethnicity, religious faith, or belief," must remain a core element to a concept of comprehensive security," U.S. diplomat Stephan M. Minikes told the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Permanent Council in Vienna December 20.

He said the United States is aware that many OSCE states are concerned about this issue in light of the current anti-terrorism campaign and recognizes that "we cannot abandon defense of these rights at a time when we are fighting a war."

The OSCE stands ready to assist participating states develop effective human rights legislation and training programs, Ambassador Minikes said, but ultimately, the states themselves "need to make the institutional reforms necessary to fully implement their OSCE commitments in this regard."

Following is a transcript of his statement:

(begin transcript)

United States Mission to the OSCE

STATEMENT ON "HUMAN RIGHTS: ADVOCACY AND DEFENDERS"

Delivered by Ambassador Stephan M. Minikes to the Permanent Council, Vienna December 20, 2001

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

OSCE focus on the protection of human rights defenders is an important part of our work, confirmed by our commitments in Vienna, Copenhagen, and Budapest. Human rights defenders are an integral part of any functioning democracy, helping to ensure that governments observe the human rights of their citizens The United States would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to compliment the Chairmanship and ODIHR for organizing the Supplementary Human Dimension Implementation Meeting on Human Rights Advocacy and Defenders. The meeting was specifically useful in examining the challenges, obstacles and problems for human rights defenders, including onerous restrictions and registrations, harassment and even worse violations of human rights.

Since the supplementary meeting we have continued to see both good and bad examples of government interaction with civil society. We warmly welcome Moscow's support of the gathering of some 5,000 participants in the Civil Forum, including human rights and other independent NGOs.

But we have seen also the continued harassment of human rights defenders, advocates, and civil society in other countries, including the detention of Uzbek poet and Birlik activist Yusup Jumaev and the deaths of the Haitov brothers as well as Uzbek human rights activist and opposition figure Shovruk Ruzimuradov. We also remain concerned about the continued imprisonment in Turkmenistan of Shageldi Atakov for being a member of the Baptist religion, and opposition figure Mukhametkuli Aymuradov. We call on Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to remain engaged in these cases to ensure that the human rights of these persons are respected and their cases are handled transparently and within the rule of law.

Safeguarding the rights of people engaged in all parts of civil society, no matter their ethnicity, religious faith, or belief must remain a core element to a concept of comprehensive security. The United States recognizes this is a concern of many participating States in our ongoing counter-terrorism campaign and that we cannot abandon defense of these rights at a time when we are fighting a war. As Secretary Powell said at the Bucharest Ministerial, "Protecting freedoms while defending against security risks has never been an easy task....terrorism must be confronted, but respect for human rights, democracy and fundamental freedoms must be preserved."

This preservation of human rights, of the right of citizens to join and participate effectively in non-governmental organizations, which seek to promote and protect human rights, is ultimately the responsibility of the OSCE participating States. However, the OSCE, its institutions and its field missions stand ready to help states with legislation to protect human rights defenders and to train government employees, police and legislatures on human rights issues. But, ultimately, OSCE participating States need to make the institutional reforms necessary to fully implement their OSCE commitments in this regard.

The United States, therefore, reiterates its recommendation made at the Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting that any decrees existing to deliberately restrict the support given by other participating States and OSCE institutions should be lifted and any harassment of NGOs for cooperating with OSCE field missions must cease. Human rights training for NGOs and government officials, especially police, should be increased and dialogue between governments and NGOs, such as roundtable discussions, should be supported. Finally, Mr. Chairman, we call on all OSCE participating States to ensure independent, impartial investigations and prosecutions of persons threatening and harassing human rights defenders.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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