The High Level Conference hosted by the Government of Romania was organized by the Spanish Chairmanship of the OSCE and was held in accordance with Ministerial Council Decision 13/06 of 5 December 2006 in a follow up to the 2005 Cordoba Conference on Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Intolerance.

The conference highlighted areas where implementation of existing OSCE commitments in the field of tolerance and non-discrimination has taken place and identified areas where further implementation is needed. It also highlighted best practices of States and civil society in selected areas, as well as areas where OSCE institutions have supported States and civil society in implementing their commitments.

Civil society participation during the conference

Civil society representatives were welcome to participate in the meeting and to take the floor during sessions and to organize side events.

The Helsinki Document of 1992 (Chapter IV) called for increasing the openness of OSCE activities and expanding the role of NGOs. In particular, in paragraph (15) of Chapter IV the participating States decided during CSCE meetings to facilitate informal discussion meetings between representatives of participating States and of NGOs, and to provide encouragement to NGOs organizing seminars on CSCE-related issues. In line with this decision, NGOs, governments, and other participants are encouraged to organize side meetings on relevant issues of their choice.

A preparatory meeting for civil-society representatives was held on 6 June 2007 to enable them to prepare recommendations to present at the conference. Additional information about the preparatory meeting is available on this website.

More information about the conference as well as access to delivered speeches and statements are available on the OSCE event/conference webpage.