Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken expressed his appreciation for civil society representatives from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Russia during a meeting at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Blinken emphasized the inseparability of military, physical, and economic security from fundamental freedoms. He stated that civil society plays a crucial role in preserving these freedoms by allowing individuals to speak, associate, practice religion freely, and vote.
He highlighted the importance of civil society in holding democracies accountable. "Civil society is essential to holding us, holding governments accountable," he said. Blinken acknowledged the challenging circumstances faced by those working on the front lines to protect human rights and expressed eagerness to support their efforts.
"So thank you all for being here," Blinken concluded. "I'm really eager to hear from you and, again, hear how the United States can help support your work."
