The conference was organised by the Maltese OSCE Chairmanship and provided an important platform for the exchange and critical examination of the implementation of OSCE commitments. The conference was opened by the President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono (via video message) for the OSCE Chair-in-Office, the Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, as representative of the host country, and the Finnish Deputy Foreign Minister Outi Holopainen, on behalf of the 2025 OSCE Chairmanship. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Tim Enderlin, head of the FDFA's Directorate of Political Affairs, emphasised the importance of accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, and expressed concern about the decline of democracy and the restriction of fundamental freedoms in the OSCE region. Switzerland also addressed the topics of freedom of expression, torture prevention and democratic institutions, and organised a side event together with the Danish delegation on the prevention of torture in detention centres.

As in previous years, delegations and civil society representatives expressed their concerns in the plenary sessions about the human rights situations in Russia and Belarus, as well as the impact of the war against Ukraine. In addition, the spread of restrictive laws that limit the work of NGOs and media professionals, as well as the restriction of minority rights (especially LGBTIQ+ rights), was increasingly focussed on as an early warning sign of anti-democratic steps.