Statement by the Danish Delegation at the opening of the OSCE Warszaw Human Dimension Conference

Statement by Denmark at the opening session of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference 2 October 2023 by Permanent Representative, Christian Grønbech-Jensen

Thank you, Mr. Chair,

Denmark fully aligns with the statement made by the European Union, but please allow me to add the following in my national capacity.

As we gather this year for the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, we do so on the continued backdrop of Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. And while consensus for the traditional Human Dimension Implementation Meeting was blocked by Russia for the third year in a row, we want to thank the CiO of North Macedonia and ODIHR for organising this conference - thereby insisting on maintaining the OSCE as a unique platform for dialogue with civil society.

Russia’s war and the internal repression of human rights in participating states such as Belarus tragically demonstrate why we need the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security and its autonomous institutions to help hold us all accountable to our commitments on human rights and democracy. As stated in the Moscow document, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law constitutes one of the foundations of the international order, which is why the work carried out in the human dimension is perhaps more important than ever before.

Civil Society and the indispensable work of Human Rights Defenders is an essential part of this and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue over the coming weeks.

Thank you.