From the U.S. Mission to the OSCE
As the OSCE Review Conference drew to a close, Head of the U.S. Delegation, Ambassador Michael Guest, talks about the role of the OSCE, the value of such conferences, and the importance of Non-Governmental Organization access.
Ambassador Michael Guest Interview at the 2010 OSCE Review Conference Warsaw, Poland (video)
Published November 4, 2010 Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe , OSCE 1 CommentTags: Bisexual, Gay, Gender Identity, Hate Crimes, Human Rights, Lesbian, LGBT, OSCE, Transgender
VILNUS, Lithuania: National, non-governmental organization Lithuanian Gay League (LGL) has been barred from participation in the round table discussion held by Lithuanian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the Belarusian democratic opposition and human rights issues. After answering the invitation for NGOs to take part in the discussion to be held on Wednesday, February 23, LGL was informed that there was no space for an LGBT organization to participate.
This action from Ramūnas Misulis, the Head of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs Committee of Lithuanian Parliament, directly contradicts the mission of the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) and their official positions of inclusion and welcoming “constructive, focused and consolidated civil society recommendations on all issues concerning the OSCE human dimension.” OSCE, which has declared support for the Belarusian democratic opposition, is led by Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis. On January 20, 2011, Ažubalis issued a statement saying,