Washington, DC | March 2, 2007 | Kareem Shora, National Executive Director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), will participate in the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) conference on the role of civil society in preventing terrorism and violent extremism in Barcelona, Spain, on March 14 — 16. This will be the fifth OSCE event, in the past two years, at which ADC gives a presentation on the role of the Arab and Muslim American communities in the United States.
This conference is designed to identify challenges to the participation of civil society and the implications of governmental counter-terrorism laws and policy on freedom of association and assembly and on civil society in general. Additionally, the conference will explore ways by which civil society, including the human rights community, can work practically in the prevention of terrorism and violent extremism. ADC will provide a detailed analysis of the situation in the United States, aiming to give an accurate portrayal of both the challenges that continue to hinder civil rights and liberties in addition to examples of best practices established through constructive coordination efforts between the Arab and Muslim American community and some US government agencies. This will include how these communities address challenges relating to intolerance and communication with government authorities in light of recent high-profile challenges, and especially in the post-9/11 environment.
The OSCE is the world‘s largest regional security organization whose 55 participating states span the geographical area from Vancouver to Vladivostok. The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the specialized institution of the OSCE dealing with elections, human rights, and democratization The ODIHR was founded in 1995 and is based in Warsaw, Poland. It is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and rule of law. To learn more about the OSCE, visit: http://www.osce.org.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is a civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage. ADC, which is non-sectarian and non-partisan, is the largest Arab-American grassroots civil rights organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980 by former United States Senator James Abourezk; has 38 chapters nationwide, and members in all 50 States. ADC is at the forefront in addressing discrimination and bias against Arab Americans wherever it is practiced. ADC also serves as a reliable source for information and education about the Arab and Muslim American community. ADC is an active organizational member of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR).