From 5-15 October, the OSCE held its annual Human Dimension Conference, an international forum dedicated to protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, upholding the rule of law, and implementing international human rights obligations.
Representatives of states, international organisations, the human rights community, civil society, and national movements attended the conference.
A delegation from the Government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, including the Human Rights Commissioner of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Roza Dunaeva, took part in the conference.
During the conference, Roza Dunaeva made statements about human rights violations in Chechnya, the situation of people subjected to persecution, and the need to ensure international protection for those whose rights and safety are under threat.
Reports and materials containing information about people in need of protection and support in European countries were submitted to the OSCE. The documents reflect reports of unlawful deprivation of liberty, unlawful detention, torture, the death of innocent people, persecution, and forced conscription.
Particular attention was paid to the fates of specific individuals whose names were included in the transferred materials and whose circumstances require the attention of competent international bodies and human rights institutions.
Roza Dunaeva also participated in thematic panel discussions, where she raised issues of human rights violations in Chechnya, forced mobilisation, persecution, and reports of deportations of Chechens from European countries.
The need to comply with international obligations in the area of protecting refugees and persons in need of international protection was separately highlighted, including the principle of non-expulsion in cases where return may expose a person to the risk of persecution, torture, or other serious violations of his or her rights.
The OSCE conference also included thematic side events dedicated to the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war, war crimes, human rights violations, and the protection of persons deprived of liberty in armed conflict.
One such event was a discussion on “War Crimes against Persons Detained in Ukraine.” Ukrainian human rights activists and experts participated in the discussion:
— Oleksandr Pavlichenko, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Union on Human Rights;
— Artem Volodin, Representative on Human Rights Protection in Places of Detention;
— Vladislav Negorov, Representative of the NGO “Ukraine Without Torture”;
— Irina Mykhailychenko, Representative of the Coordination Centre for Support of Victims and Witnesses.
The discussion addressed issues of documenting alleged war crimes in places of detention, protecting persons deprived of liberty in armed conflict, providing assistance to victims and witnesses, and drawing the attention of the international community to violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.
An important part of the conference was the participation of representatives of Ukraine, the Crimean Tatar people, Tatars, Buryats, Kazakhs, Turkmens, and other peoples, raising issues of protecting national rights, political freedoms, cultural identity, decolonisation, and the right to self-determination.
During the meetings and discussions, participants presented the positions of their peoples, shared their experiences in human rights work, and drew the attention of the international community to issues requiring further consideration and legal assessment.
The participation of the Government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria delegation in the OSCE conference was an important opportunity to present reports on human rights violations, draw the attention of the international community to the situation of the Chechen people, and strengthen cooperation with international human rights organisations.
