The meeting on OSCE Contribution to the Protection of National Minorities: HCNM recommendations and guidelines will take place in Vienna from 29 to 30 October 2015. The meeting is organized by the Serbian OSCE Chairmanship, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM).
The meeting will address the topic of OSCE Contribution to the Protection of National Minorities. It will aim to, in particular, assess the achievements as well as explore challenges and identify ways to address remaining gaps in the implementation of commitments.
The meeting will address the topic through the following three sessions:
The meeting will be attended by the participating States as well as other relevant actors including civil society and international organisations. Recommendations may be addressed to participating States, OSCE institutions, OSCE executive structures, the OSCE at large, other inter-governmental as well as civil society actors in OSCE participating States.
Registration
On-line registration for all participants is available at http://meetings.odihr.pl. Participants are advised to register by 14 October 2015. The registration will also be available online after the deadline and during the Meeting on the spot, however, to facilitate the preparation for the meeting the earliest possible registration would be highly appreciated.
Modalities
The meeting will take place in the Hofburg Congress Centre. It will start on Thursday, 29 October, at 15.00 by the opening session, will be followed by three working sessions and the closing session will finish on Friday, 30 October at 17.30.
The modalities of the meeting are set out in accordance with the decision of the Permanent Council (PC.DEC/476, 23 May 2002).
The interpretation will be provided into the six official OSCE languages: English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish.
Side events
Side events (SE) may be held over the course of two days during the SHDM. Civil society organizations are invited to organize side events. As we have introduced a new on-line SE Booking System, please register first in the ODIHR Registration System (http://meetings.odihr.pl.) and then proceed with the side event booking. Organizations wishing to organize a side event are requested to register and book the slot at their earliest convenience as the system is based on ‘first come, first served ‘ basis. The system will be open on Wednesday, 23 September 2015, at 12.00 (CET) and will be closed by Friday, 9th October, 23:59 (CET). No bookings will be accepted after this date. Additional information on the content and objectives of planned side events, timing and duration as well as instructions is available on SHDM website.
More information about the meeting is available in the attachments.
In case of any questions, you may contact:
Substantive content matters: Ms. Anna Koikkalainen at anna.koikkalainen@hcnm.org or +31 70 312 5503
Organizational matters: Ms. Kamila Czerwinska at Kamila.Czerwinska@odihr.pl or +48 22 5200 657
Coordination of side events: Mr. Ireneusz Stepinski at Ireneusz.Stepinski@odihr.pl or +48 22 5200 658
Registration of participants: Ms. Anna Sierant at Anna.Sierant@odihr.pl or +48 22 5200 627
