Written by our Delegate, Atabo David
As a delegate of UNITED for Intercultural Action, I had the privilege of participating in this year’s OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference in Malta, organized as a key platform for dialogue among civil society representatives addressing pressing human rights challenges. The conference brought together voices from across the OSCE region to critically examine the threats to universal human rights and democratic values.
Representing UNITED, I contributed to the panel discussion organized by the Minority Rights Group, titled “Discrimination of and hate crime against vulnerable groups: A blow to the universality of human rights and the democratic fabric of our societies.” My intervention focused on the rise of anti-migrant rhetoric in the OSCE region, shedding light on its devastating impact on individuals and societies alike.
Highlights of My Intervention
Migration remains a critical issue in the OSCE region, particularly in light of ongoing humanitarian crises such as the war in Ukraine, which has displaced over 10.8 million people (UNHCR, 2024). Yet, the response to these challenges has increasingly shifted toward restrictive and exclusionary policies.
I highlighted the following key trends:
- Criminalization of Humanitarian Efforts:
Humanitarian organizations like Sea-Watch and KISA in Cyprus face growing repression, with legal and administrative barriers limiting their ability to operate. The January 2024 bomb attack on KISA’s premises exemplifies the hostile environment in which these organizations work. - Restrictive Border Policies:
The EU’s approach to irregular migration, exemplified by pushbacks at borders and the outsourcing of asylum processing to countries like Rwanda, violates international standards. Frontex reported over 330,000 irregular border crossings in 2022, yet deterrence has taken precedence over protection. - Drivers of Anti-Migrant Rhetoric:
Populist far-right parties such as Austria’s FPÖ and Germany’s AfD have embedded xenophobia into mainstream discourse, with damaging effects on public perception and policy. Media narratives also play a significant role, with over 52% of migration-related coverage in Europe framed negatively (Migration Policy Institute, 2022). - Implications:
These policies and narratives have dire consequences: preventable deaths at borders, erosion of human rights, and missed opportunities to harness the contributions of migrants, who account for 9% of the EU workforce (OECD, 2023).
My Recommendations
UNITED’s longstanding commitment to combatting racism, xenophobia, and exclusion informed the recommendations I shared:
- Protect Humanitarian Efforts:
Search-and-rescue operations and human rights defenders must be safeguarded from criminalization and harassment. - Promote Ethical Migration Policies:
Member states should establish safe and legal pathways for migration and end pushbacks at borders in line with international law. - Counter Xenophobia and Misinformation:
Public awareness campaigns and ethical media practices are essential to challenge anti-migrant rhetoric and showcase the positive contributions of migrants. - Strengthen Civil Society:
Governments must provide legal and financial support to organizations advocating for migrants’ rights and encourage inclusive integration policies.
To finalize the conference, an outcome document was addressed and presented to governments of OSCE participating States as well as OSCE political bodies and institutions including the following diginitaries who where present at the event;
● Hon, lan Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism and 2024 OSCE Chairpersonship
● H.E. Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland and 2025 OSCE Chairpersonship
● H.E. Zoran Dimitrovski, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia and 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship
● H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, CiO Special Representative on Civil Society
● H.E. Dr. Kate Fearon, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, Officer-in-Charge/ Deputy Head of the OSCE Secretariat
● H.E. Dr. Tea Jaliashvili, Officer-in-Charge/First Deputy Director of the Office forDemocratic Institutions and Human Rights
● H.E. Philippe Tremblay, Officer-in-Charge/ Director of the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.
● H.E. Ambassador Marek Szczygiel, Officer-in-Charge/ Director of the Office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
● H.E. Pia Kauma, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
As a delegate, I was proud to bring UNITED’s values and expertise to this critical forum and to call for policies and practices that reflect the principles of dignity, equality, and solidarity.
