ZMINA will hold two side events at the OSCE SHDM in Vienna
ZMINA with its partners will hold two side events at the OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting I “Media Freedom as a Central Pillar of Comprehensive Security” which will take place in Vienna on 13-14 March, 2023.
The first event “Russia’s War in Ukraine: Accountability for War Crimes and Serious Human Rights Violation” will take place in Haus der Musik, Vienna on 13 March 2023.
In the twelve months since the start of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, numerous international crimes and severe human rights violations by Russian forces have been documented in Ukraine.
In 2022, OSCE participating States launched the Moscow Mechanism on two occasions to investigate and report on human rights violations stemming from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and to report on the human rights situation within Russia. At the same time, observers have questioned what next steps the OSCE and participating States can take in the absence of consensus to respond meaningfully to the human rights violations linked with Russia’s invasion and hold perpetrators accountable.
This event, held prior to the start of the first SHDM in 2023, will focus on these key issues with panelists drawn from Ukrainian civil society as well as keen observers of the OSCE.
Program:
- 9:00 – 10:00 Coffee & Networking
- 10:00 – 11:30 Panel Discussion & Q&A
Panellists:
- Tetiana Pechonchyk, Human Rights Centre ZMINA / Human Rights House Crimea
- Mariia Sulialina, Almenda Centre for Civic Education / Human Rights House Crimea
- Antanina Maslyka, Netherlands Helsinki Committee
- Dr. Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham
- Dr. Andreas Sauermoser, University of Vienna
Moderator: Dave Elseroad, Human Rights House Foundation
The second event “Media Freedom in Ukraine: Uncovering the Truth in a Time of War” will take place in Bibliotheksaal, Vienna on 13 March 2023.
The side event seeks to share knowledge on the obstacles Ukrainian media currently face in the context of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression: threats from Russian military forces, forced disappearances, politically motivated imprisonment, and other measures designed to silence them. We will share stories from across Ukraine, including Crimea, of the work done by journalists throughout the war and under occupation, persecution of the media and journalists, including war crimes, and the use by Russian forces of disinformation.
This side event will bring together Ukrainian journalists and civil society representatives and address the following questions:
- What are the most pressing issues facing independent media and journalists in Ukraine, including occupied Crimea?
- Why is the work of journalists in Ukraine vital?
- How can participating States support independent Ukrainian media and journalists?
Program:
16:30 – 17:30 Panel Discussion & Q&A
Panellists:
- Tetiana Pechonchyk, Human Rights Centre ZMINA / Human Rights House Crimea
- Pavlo Kolotvin, Ukrainian journalist, Representative of Institute of Mass Information in Odesa
- Elmaz Akimova, Citizen journalist from Crimea
Moderator: Dave Elseroad, Human Rights House Foundation
Contact: Tetiana Zhukova, Human Rights Centre ZMINA, tz@humanrights.org.ua
Background: Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings provide a platform for an exchange of views among OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions and other executive structures and international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss implementation of OSCE human dimension commitments within selected topics, in particular principles of media freedom as a central pillar of comprehensive security.
