Second week of the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting: FUEN was well represented in Warsaw

With several of its member organisations, FUEN was well represented this year at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw, the largest annual human rights conference in Europe. The meeting ends today.

In many sessions over the course of two weeks the member organisations of FUEN have been raising attention for the deficiencies in minority protection and human rights that still exist in several countries in Europe.

FUEN member organisations ABTTF and BTAYTD, representing the Turkish minority in Western Thrace (Greece), raised attention for the fact that Greece refuses to recognise the minority as Turkish and reported problems with the freedom of association, hate speech and problems with the religious freedom and in the education system. Also the Turkish minority from Rhodes and Kos (Greece) reported about problems with the freedom of religion.

The Lezghin minority, represented by FUEN member organisation FLNCA, asked attention for the discrimination of their minority in Azerbaijan and the problems they have in maintaining relations across the Azerbaijan-Russian border. The International Society of Meshketian Turks VATAN, asked for a solution to the issue of the repatriation of their minority to their homeland in Georgia. 

The programme in Warsaw had a dedicated session on Roma and Sinti issues and the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, also a member of FUEN, had organised a special event in the plenary hall in Warsaw.

“Antigypsyism is just as anti-Semitism rooted in European history for centuries. Today this particular form of racism is a targeted and systematic policy of exclusion and racism, as practiced by right-wing extremist parties in particular in the election campaign, but also by nationalist governments of various countries in Eastern and Western Europe,” said Romani Rose, Chairman of the Council of German Sinti and Roma.

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors summarised the importance of minority rights for peace and security: “Integration policies based on good governance and respect for minority rights, including equal access to justice, are a prerequisite to lasting peace and security in multi-ethnic states.” 

Photo below:

FUEN represented at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting: representatives of the Turkish minority in Greece (Western Thrace and Rhodes, Kos), Meshketian Turks and Judith Walde of the Minority Secretariat, representing the autochthonous, national minorities in Germany.

Written statements submitted by the FUEN Member Organisations:

Central Council of German Sinti and Roma
1 October: Antigypsyism in elections campaigns and by governments, hate speech in the internet (English)
1 October: Antigypsyism in elections campaigns and by governments, hate speech in the internet (German)

Federal Lezghin National and Cultural Autonomy (FLNCA)
1 October: Discrimination, division and the rights of the Lezghin minority in Azerbaijan (English)
1 October: Discrimination, division and the rights of the Lezghin minority in Azerbaijan (Russian)

Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF)
30 September: Recognition of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, Greece; intolerance and distrust towards the minority, hate crimes; need for dialogue
30 September: Freedom of religion for the Turkish minority of Western Thrace, Greece
1 October: Schools of the Turkish minority of Western Thrace, Greece

International Society of Meshketian Turks “VATAN”
1 October: Problems with the restoration of citizenship and repatriation to Georgia, the homeland of the Meshketian Turks (Russian)

Rhodes, Kos and the Dodecanese Turks Culture and Solidarity Association
30 September: Recognition and minority status for the Turks living in Rhodes and Kos, Freedom of religion

Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association (BTAYTD):
21 September: Freedom of expression, free media and hate speech against minorities in Greece
23 September: Freedom of assembly and association; non-implementation of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on this issue by Greece
29 September: Discrimination and hate crimes against the Turkish minority
30 September: Freedom of religion for the Turkish minority of Western Thrace, Greece (I)
30 September: Freedom of religion for the Turkish minority of Western Thrace, Greece (II)
1 October: Violation of the rights to education of the Turkish minority of Western Thrace, Greece