OSCE Establishes Three Special Representatives to Combat Antisemitism and Discrimination in Europe

In a ground-breaking decision, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will establish three Special Representatives to coordinate the OSCE’s actions combating discrimination and hate crimes. A Special Representative on Antisemitism will oversee the fulfillment of commitments made at conferences in Vienna and Berlin to respond to a dramatic rise in anti-Jewish violence in Europe; a second senior official will oversee the OSCE response to growing anti-Muslim violence and discrimination. The third high level position will focus more broadly on discrimination and xenophobia throughout the 55 OSCE member countries. The decision came at the OSCE's Twelfth Annual Meeting of the Ministerial Council, which was held this week in Sofia, Bulgaria.

"The establishment of these new positions sends a very important signal that European governments are beginning to acknowledge the escalation of hate crimes and other forms of discrimination throughout Europe," said Michael Posner, Executive Director of Human Rights First. "But this decision is only a first step. Now we must ensure that highly qualified, committed people are appointed to these positions, and that they have sufficient funds and authority to get the job done.”

Human Rights First is actively involved in pressing the OSCE to address hate crimes and other forms of discrimination. Program Director Michael McClintock authored two seminal Human Rights First reports on European antisemitism in the last two years. A third report examining discrimination issues in Europe more broadly is forthcoming. In September we published highlights from this report, entitled “Everyday Fears: Hate Crimes and the Information Deficit.”

Human Rights First participated in the first OSCE meeting on antisemitism in Vienna in 2003 and in the follow-up meeting on the same subject in Berlin in April 2004. At the Berlin meeting, Human Rights First was part of a larger delegation organized by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. In September 2004, Human Rights First also participated in the OSCE’s meeting on the Fight Against Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination in Brussels, again as part of the delegation organized by the Leadership Conference. At the Berlin and Brussels meetings, Human Rights First and the Leadership Conference played a leading role in calling for the appointment of the Special Representatives.

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