OSCE offers continued support to work of NGOs

Record ID: 76141

  • Title: OSCE offers continued support to work of NGOs
  • Date: 7th December 2016
  • Summary: HAMBURG, GERMANY (DECEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER ARRIVING AT MEETING WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOs) VIDEO SCREEN SHOWING LOGO OF CONFERENCE 'CIVIC SOLIDARITY' STEINMEIER WALKING UP STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, SAYING: "Maintaining close contact with civil society on all areas on the OSCE agenda has been a high priority of the German chairmanship. You, ladies and gentleman, are the eyes and ears of civil society. Through your networks you are able to provide grassroots inside and information that we as state actors wouldn't get and you are the voice of civil society. It is you reminding us of the obligations that we as OSCE participating states all voluntarily agreed to." AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, SAYING: "Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly is being curtailed, in some places human rights defenders and their right to a fair trial interfered with. Civil society actors are prevented from doing their work actively. We as participating states have to acknowledge these challenges and we have to find solutions together with civil society. A thank you for your analysis and for your recommendations as laid out in the Hamburg declaration." AUDIENCE APPLAUDING CAMERAS STEINMEIER AND NGO OFFICIALS POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS WIDE OF MEETING/ STEINMEIER LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 22nd December 2016 17:58
  • Keywords: Steinmeier NGOs OSCE Germany
  • Location: HAMBURG, GERMANY
  • City: HAMBURG, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015BVZ4G7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: German Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday (December 7) praised the work of NGOs and said the OSCE was actively working to achieve better human rights within their mandate territories.
    "Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly is being curtailed, in some places human rights defenders and their right to a fair trial interfered with. Civil society actors are prevented from doing their work actively. We as participating states have to acknowledge these challenges and we have to find solutions together with civil society," Steinmeier said.
    Steinmeier addressed the Civic Solidarity Platform ahead of an OSCE meeting in Hamburg where leaders will discuss the situation in Syria and Ukraine among other crisis spots.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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