OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister Valtonen, to Visit Poland

Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit Warsaw on 6 October. During her visit, Minister Valtonen will meet Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski and attend the annual Warsaw Human Dimension Conference of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski will discuss topical foreign and security policy issues, Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, cooperation in the Baltic Sea region and bilateral issues.

“Maintaining a regular and constructive dialogue with our close partners is at the heart of Finland’s foreign and security policy. The meeting with Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs will be an important opportunity to discuss topical security policy challenges and the increasingly close relations between Finland and Poland,” Minister Valtonen says.

Promotion of human rights at the core of OSCE Human Dimension Conference

Foreign Minister Valtonen will open the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference to be held in Warsaw on 6–17 October.

The event brings together a large group of official representatives of OSCE participating States, civil society, international organisations as well as experts from the media and academia.

The conference will provide a platform for dialogue between governments and civil society, with the aim to promote the realisation of human rights, strengthen democracy and support the rule of law throughout the OSCE region. The programme focuses on themes such as fundamental freedoms, non-discrimination, democratic institutions and humanitarian issues.

“A well-functioning civil society is the foundation for social stability. Human rights defenders, journalists, youth activists and community leaders are the lifeblood of democratic resilience. Their voices must not only be heard—they must be protected,” Minister Valtonen says.

At the conference, participants will assess the realisation of human rights obligations in the participating States, share good practices and raise topical concerns related to human rights.

The conference will be organised by Finland in its role as OSCE Chair, with the support of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

As OSCE Chair, Finland calls attention to the Helsinki Final Act’s principles, one of which specifically concerns respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act.