Mr./Madame Chair,

This statement is on behalf of a group of European Human Rights Ambassadors, from Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

We European Human Rights Ambassadors would like to wholeheartedly thank ODIHR and the Finnish Chairpersonship for organizing this conference. It provides a much-needed space for representatives of OSCE participating States and civil society to meet, discuss and assess States’ implementation of international obligations and OSCE commitments related to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

In times of democratic backsliding, shrinking space for civil society, and funding scarcity, this platform is crucially important. The record number of registered participants and the many high-quality side events is a testament to this, and to the continued relevance of this conference. We have deeply appreciated the opportunity to meet with civil society and human rights defenders from across our region over these two weeks. We have listened carefully to your concerns, needs, and recommendations.

We have heard testimonies about the human rights situation in Ukraine following Russia’s war of aggression; about the repression in Russia and in Belarus; about the continuing extensive crackdown on dissent in Georgia; and about shrinking civic space, reprisals and threats to human rights defenders in many other places in the OSCE area.

We would like to sincerely thank civil society representatives and human rights defenders who took the time to participate in this meeting, acknowledging the risks that many of you face for merely speaking out. Rest assured that your messages serve as important input in our work ahead.

Thank you.