Meanwhile, in Warsaw . . .

The UN isn’t the only place where national representatives are coming together to discuss human rights this week.  In Warsaw, Poland, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)’s annual “Human Dimension Implementation Meeting” is underway.  Billed as “Europe’s largest annual human rights conference,” the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) brings together hundreds of government officials, international experts, civil society representatives and human rights activists to take stock of how states are implementing their commitments to “the core values that promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”  The meetings are organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. 

The United States is a member of the OSCE and takes an active part in these meetings.  The US delegation to the conference is headed by Ambassador James Gilmore, who this year has participated in sessions on anti-semitism, women’s rights, journalists’ safety, and judicial independence, among others.  Links to live stream, twitter, and an agenda for this year’s conference are here.

Side events at this year’s conference include several sponsored by the US delegation, including one on human rights monitoring in Crimea.  A few more were sponsored by US-based organizations, such as the American Bar Association’s event on lawyers and human rights defenders.  A complete list of side events is here.

Given the US pull-back from the UN, and President Trump’s anti-globalist speech at the UN meeting this week, it’s refreshing to see an active US delegation at the HDIM apparently fully participating in the proceedings.  At the same time, there seem to be very few US-focused advocacy groups in attendance.  Human Rights Watch is there, and HRW reps have tweeted a couple of pointed critiques of US participation.  Amnesty USA is in attendance, too.  Anyone else?  

Dozens of domestic advocates travel to Geneva virtually every time the US is reviewed by a human rights body. Meanwhile, in Warsaw, is the US getting a pass at the HDIM?  At this year’s HDIM, the US delegation has been hosting a coffee hour for NGO reps in attendance who want to talk to the delegation.  By skipping Warsaw, are US-based groups missing an opportunity to bring human rights home?