Inclusion as a way to promote tolerance and non-discrimination

Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting III

Organized by Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

Inclusion as a way to promote tolerance and non-discrimination: Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting III, June 2-3, 2025, Hofburg, Vienna

Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) organized a conference on 2 and 3 June 2025 in Vienna on Inclusion as a way to promote tolerance and non-discrimination within the Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting III.

At this conference, OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions, international organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders discussed the fulfilment of specific OSCE commitments in the human dimension, especially the importance of inclusion to promote tolerance and combat discrimination.

The first session at the conference, titled “Respect”, addressed intolerance and discrimination in the OSCE region comprehensively and inclusively. The speakers in this session were as follows: Amb. Evren Dağdelen Akgün, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims, Mr. Gurchaten Sandhu, Director of Programmes, International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, Ms. Simona Torotcoi, Advocacy Officer, Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent, and they all had incredible presentations. The second session concerned responding mechanisms and promoting inclusion in and through interfaith, interreligious and intercultural dialogue and cooperation. The third session focused on preparedness and inclusive approaches in policymaking to advance tolerance, non-discrimination, and equality.

“Roots of Atrocity: Azerbaijan’s State-sponsored Systematic Discrimination and Ethnic Cleansing of Armenians,” convened by the Union of Informed Citizens, June 3, 2025.

Conference included also important side events about “LGBTQ+ Rights in the OSCE Region” organized by Human Rights House Foundation; “Roots of Atrocity: Azerbaijan’s State-sponsored Systematic Discrimination and Ethnic Cleansing of Armenians,” convened by the Union of Informed Citizens; “The Council of Europe’s Intercultural Inclusion Approach: Unlocking the Diversity Power for Cohesive Societies,” organized by Council of Europe and lastly about “Faith and the Future” prepared by KAICIID International Dialogue Centre.

Minority Issues Research Institute (MIRI), with our delegate Dr. Svetluša Surová, participated in the conference and submitted an intervention concerning discrimination and violation of fundamental rights and freedoms of members of Roma communities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia.

Learn more about this conference here.