Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski takes part in OSCE's Warsaw Human Dimension Conference

The OSCE's Warsaw Human Dimension Conference is a ten-day event organised by the incumbent OSCE Chairpersonship holder-currently Finland-and the Warsaw-based OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). It is one of the most important platforms of dialogue on human rights. About 1.9 thousand participants registered to attend this year's Conference. They represent governments and civil society organisations.

In his address, Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski stressed that Russia and its allies are waging a hybrid war to polarise societies and erode trust in public institutions in the democratic states. The electoral process is particularly vulnerable in this regard. "We could see it in Moldova just a few days ago. Russia and its local proxies attempted to influence the outcome through vote-buying, disinformation activities, and cyberattacks," Poland's chief diplomat said. He called on the OSCE participating states to stand ready to oppose such threats.

Other participants in the opening session included Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in her capacity as the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and high-ranking representatives of the OSCE Secretariat and autonomous institutions: OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu, ODIHR Director Maria Telalian, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Christophe Kamp, and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Jan Braathu.

The Conference will last until 17 October. Its participants will take part in sessions on human rights, international humanitarian law, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, and democratic institutions.

Photo: Sebastian Indra/MFA