OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference: outcome documents

On 1-2 December OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference took place in Belgrade, organised by the Civic Solidarity Platform and hosted by the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia.

Based on a tradition of the last 6 years, the Parallel Conference took place on the eve of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting. More than 70 civil society representatives from over 25 countries of the OSCE region and many speakers and observers from OSCE political bodies, institutions and participating States took part in the conference.

The conference included sessions on shrinking space for civil society; situations in countries with human dimension crises; human rights as an inter-dimensional issue; self-evaluation of Serbia as the OSCE Chairmanship country; migration; torture and enforced disappearances; and freedom of expression. Participants reflected on the situation in these areas of OSCE work and discussed recommendations to OSCE political bodies, instituions and participating States.

Outcome documents of the conference, including Recommendations to Participants of the Ministerial Council Meeting and the "Belgrade Declaration: Freedom of Expression under Threat: A Strong Response from the OSCE and Its Participating States Is Vital", were handed over by the Civic Solidarity Platform representatives to the leadership of the OSCE Troika and OSCE/ODIHR at a closing session. A number of the conference participants stayed over to observe the Ministerial Council Meeting and held bilateral meetings with ministers of foreign affairs, ambassadors and delegations.

Please find the Outcome Documents of the Parallel Civil Society Conference attached: