OSCE Civil Society Forum 2.–3.12.2008

in view of the OSCE Ministerial Council hosted by the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship 4.–5.12.2008

in Helsinki, Finland

 

Tuesday 2 December 2008, Paasitorni (Paasivuorenkatu 5 A)

14.00–16.00 Opening plenary: Human dimension in the OSCE region

Moderator: Elisabeth Rehn (Minister)

Panelists:

Teija Tiilikainen (State Secretary (Political), Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Representative of the OSCE Chairmanship)

Eva Biaudet (OSCE Special Representative on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings)

Oleg Kozlovsky (Human Rights Award 2008 Winner, Coordinator of Oborona)

16.00–16.15 Coffee break

16.15–18.00 Introductions to working group topics

Moderator: Heidi Hautala (Member of the Finnish Parliament)

Oksana Chelyseva (The Russian-Chechen Friendship Society)

Olof Kleberg (OSCE NGO-Network Sweden)

Dzmitry Markusheuski (Belarusian Helsinki Committee)

Muatar Khaydarova (Director, ICNL/LLC Affiliate office in Tajikistan. Board Chairwoman, NGO "Society and Law")

18.00 Reception

                         

                                        

Wednesday 3 December 2008, Marina Congress Center (Katajannokanlaituri 6)

8.30–9.00 Breakfast

9.00–12.00 Parallel working groups

I Human trafficking

-          Victims’ rights

-          Identification, compensation and assistance to trafficked persons

-          International cooperation

 

Moderator and rapporteur: Johanna Suurpää (Ombudsman for minorities)

Venla Roth (Researcher, Faculty of Law, University of Helsinki)

Irine Machurishvili (PR Manager, Human Rights Center HRIDC)

Olga Sadovskaya (The vice-chairman of Interregional Non-governmental Organization "committee Against Torture")

II Human rights

-          Minority rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, fight against hate crimes

-          Human rights defenders (activists, critical journalists, opposition politicians)

 

Moderator: Kari Kahiluoto (Ambassador for Human Rights and Democracy, MFA of Finland)

Pekka Haavisto (MP, Chair of the Advisory Board on Romani Affairs in Finland)

Alexey Kozlov (Director of Foundation "For social and environmental justice" and spokesperson of GROZA (Green Alternative)) – Rapporteur of the working group

Isra Lehtinen (Chair of Islam Information and Dialogue)

III Civil society & conflict resolution

-          Caucasus and Central Asia in perspective

-          Potential, role and responsibilities of civil society actors in conflict prevention and resolution

-          Women’s role in conflict prevention and resolution

 

Moderator and rapporteur: Meeri-Maria Jaarva (Reporting Officer, EUMM Georgia)

Rachel Bernu (Deputy Director of Kurdish Human Rights Project)

Margarita Akhvlediani (Journalist, Georgia)

12.00–13.00 Lunch

13.00–14.15 Conclusions of the working group discussions, finalizing of the recommendations

14.15–16.00 Closing panel discussion: Future of the OSCE

Moderator: Krista Kiuru (MP, Chair of STETE)

Knut Vollebaek (OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities)

Kari Kahiluoto (Ambassador for Human Rights and Democracy, MFA of Finland)

Kimmo Kiljunen (OSCE Special Envoy on election-related issues)

 

16.00 Coffee