OSCE PA human rights committee Chair Lucie Potuckova meets with OSCE Representative for Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro in Vienna, 12 December 2023VIENNA, 12 December 2023 – At today’s OSCE Human Dimension Committee Meeting in Vienna, Lucie Potuckova (Czech Republic) – the Chair of the OSCE PA’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions – emphasized the role of parliamentarians in upholding international humanitarian and human rights law in the OSCE region.

“At the OSCE PA, we are aware that we belong to a deeply connected world and that everything that is happening can easily pass countries' borders,” said Potuckova. “That is why it is crucial that we, as legislators, are aware of relevant developments in our region and can act accordingly. It is simple – if the decision-makers are not informed, the legislative framework will suffer too.”

The human rights committee Chair described the relevant OSCE PA tools and efforts, such as parliamentary oversight, noting that the Assembly serves as a platform for exchange on national legislative approaches to reflect global changes and ensure that human rights are protected at all times.

She urged the OSCE participating States to ensure that international human rights principles are maintained at all times and to be diligent in holding one another accountable in this regard.

“International human rights standards are created for when times are difficult,” she emphasized. “It is precisely during such crises that we must maintain them.”

As part of her visit to Vienna, Potuckova met with Permanent Representative of Ireland at the OSCE and Chair of the OSCE Human Dimension Committee Ambassador Anne-Marie Callan, Director of ODIHR Matteo Mecacci, OSCE Special Representative of the Chairman-in-Office on Civil Society Andreja Stojkovski and the OSCE Representative for Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro. The Chair also visited the Vienna Office of the OSCE PA International Secretariat.

For more information about the OSCE PA's General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, please click here.