Central Europe

560367 Chyngyz Zhanybekov Aida Almazbekova

From 20 to 24 November, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and INTERPOL in co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and the Ministry of Interior of the Kyrgyz Republic, conducted a training course on criminal intelligence analysis for Kyrgyzstan’s Police officers.

The training course introduced nineteen participants to available channels for international police co-operation, trained them on the full criminal intelligence cycle and provided them with expertise to conduct criminal intelligence analysis as part of application of intelligence-led policing (ILP). The course built on the knowledge gained in two previous OSCE introductory courses on ILP and its effective implementation.

“The Ministry of Interior of the Kyrgyz Republic appreciates the deep-rooted co-operation between the OSCE and Kyrgyzstan’s law enforcement authorities and the expansion of co-operation with INTERPOL, which will bring real added value to our national authorities,” noted Deputy Minister of Interior Abdiev Nurbek Takabaevich.

“The event was a unique opportunity for our two organisations to join forces to pilot an activity that can pave the way for future collaboration, and a great personal experience for me to work with such engaged participants,” said Ash Smith, Coordinator, Operational Analysis, Criminal Analysis Sub-directorate, INTERPOL.

“I am very honoured that we were able to support this event and watching the participants present was a great opportunity to see the steep learning curve of the participants and also to learn something myself,” stressed Constantin Zelenty, Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kyrgyzstan.

The series of capacity-building events is part of an ongoing effort to assist Kyrgyzstan in its police reform process including implementation of ILP, following an in-depth needs assessment conducted jointly by the OSCE and the Kyrgyz authorities.

The training course, funded by Germany, was delivered as part of the extra-budgetary OSCE project “Building intelligence-led policing capacities on regional and national levels in the OSCE area”.

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The war against Ukraine is having a devastating impact on civilians and civilian infrastructures, with widespread destruction of housing, schools, medical facilities, and health care centers. In a series of three training courses, the OSCE, through the WIN Project, trained 76 employees of the State Emergency Services on gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive humanitarian response and women's leadership in humanitarian action.

Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, said: "I strongly believe that these trainings will contribute to making a difference in the lives of those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, as the work of State Emergency Services is making a difference every day."

Forty-six gender focal points (36 women, 10 men) from the State Emergency Services of Ukraine were trained as trainers on gender-responsive and disability-inclusive humanitarian action. In the practical training course, they honed their facilitation skills, practiced different scenarios, and learned from international and national experts on approaches for enhancing the inclusion of the gender perspective and addressing the demand-driven needs of people with disabilities.

Furthermore, 30 women in managerial positions in the SESU were trained on leadership. This was the first ever such training course conducted for this target group. They had a chance to re-think women's role in the security sector and learn innovative techniques and strategies for modern leadership. They also had the opportunity to learn practical exercises for resilience-building and stress management.

Yulia Maligonova, head of the Gender Unit of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, stressed that "Women leaders in the SESU can do anything, but after the workshop organized by the WIN Project, they know how to do it smarter, not harder.”

The training courses for the State Emergency Services of Ukraine were part of the WIN Project efforts to support Ukraine in implementing its gender commitments, including the National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The training courses  were organized by the OSCE Gender Issues Programme WIN Project and enabled through the funding of the government of Japan.

High level OSCE meeting on prevention of gender based violence Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 12 December 2023 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) hosted a meeting to assess progress made in the implementation of six overarching commitments established to combat gender-based violence (GBV) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

In August 20203, following several highly publicized cases of domestic violence (DV), including femicide, the Mission intensified its support to institutions mandated to combat GBV. As an initial step, the Mission convened relevant stakeholders to identify and dissect systematic shortcomings, develop potential remedial mechanisms, and ensure effective co-ordination. These measures were captured in the commitments, which were reviewed today.

In light of their efforts to move this process forward and for their attendance today, the Mission would like to thank the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH; the Agency for Gender Equality of BiH; the Federation of BiH (FBiH) Minister of Interior (MoI), the Republika Srpska (RS) Ministry of Interior, the Cantonal Ministers of Interior and Ministers of Justice (MoJ); the Police and Judicial Commission of Brcko District (BD) of BiH; and senior police and governmental representatives from all levels of government.

The Mission commends the chairs of relevant FBiH parliamentary committees for their attendance and their readiness to hold the FBiH Government accountable for improving institutional responses to GBV. Legislative bodies have responsibility to ensure that institutions coordinate and standardize their responses to GBV. The Mission stands ready to co-operate with them and all other elected bodies in BiH similarly dedicating themselves to combatting GBV. 

The Mission will convene the next review meeting in spring 2024.

Commitment 1 – Legislative amendments:

Commitment 1 focuses on ensuring adequate legislative frameworks, an essential precondition for effective responses to GBV, across all jurisdictions.

To that end, the Mission commends the FBiH MoJ for establishing a Working Group(s) tasked to review and prepare amendments to the FBiH Law on Protection against DV and the FBiH Criminal Code (CC) that align with international standards, including the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention. The Mission calls upon the FBiH MoJ finalize the draft in an inclusive and transparent manner to allow for the adoption of relevant amendments by the FBiH Parliament as soon as possible. The Mission will further support the FBiH Government and Parliament in adopting the FBiH Strategy for the Prevention and Protection against DV (2023-2027) and securing the budgetary resources necessary for implementation.

The Mission commends the RS National Assembly for passing the draft RS Law on Protection from DV and Violence against Women in the first reading in November 2023 and encourages its swift and final adoption. The Mission appreciates the effective cooperation that informed the process of drafting of this law.

The Mission stands ready to support the BD of BiH Government in aligning the Law for Protection against DV and harmonizing the BD CC with international standards.

Commitment 2 – Sustainable solutions to capacity building of relevant institutions:

To respond to GBV and DV and as a necessary preventative mechanism, institutions, including law enforcement, must take effective action, as reflected in commitments 2, 3 and 4.

The Mission commends the FBiH MoI for revising, in co-operation with the Mission and other international partners, the curricula of the FBiH Police Academy, which should introduce new modules on DV, juvenile justice and GBV by the end of 2023. To ensure their implementation, as well as the highest standards of teaching, the Mission will co-operate with the FBiH MoI in developing the capacities of expert FBiH Police Academy trainers. 

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina calls on the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and relevant ministries to undertake activities within their jurisdiction as soon as possible and no later than the end of 2023 and enable the entry into force of the new Curriculum.

Commitment 3 – Continuous trainings for police:

The Mission thanks the FBiH and Cantonal MoIs for excellent co-operation in developing a model for the institutionalization of mandatory and specialised trainings on GBV for in-service police officers. The Mission calls upon the FBiH and Cantonal MoIs as well as relevant authorities in the BD of BiH to finalize and adopt policies and mechanisms; the Mission remains ready to support these processes.  

Commitment 4 – Development of guidelines for action for police officers:

The Mission commends the FBiH and Cantonal MoIs for efforts, together with the Mission, to develop flowcharts for police actions in response to reports of DV and GBV. The Mission will continously support to the FBiH and Cantonal MoIs to institutionalize and begin utilizing them.

Commitment 5 – Control of firearms in DV cases:

Reducing the potential threat of DV, including to life, requires reducing access to firearms, as reflected in Commitment 5.

The Mission commends the BiH Council of Ministers for establishing a Working Group comprised of representatives from all administrative levels in BiH for the harmonization of regulations on firearms and ammunition in BiH. The Mission reminds the FBiH and Cantonal MoIs of similar commitments made to harmonize and strengthen Cantonal legislation and regulations on issuing, possessing and controlling firearms in relation to reported DV cases. The Mission calls on the FBiH and Cantonal authorities to initiate procedures for the mandatory temporary seizure of firearms from potential perpetrators/households following a report of DV. Where already in place, such procedures to should implemented effectively and consistently.

Commitment 6 – Improvement of the justice sector response:

Per commitment 6, combatting impunity for DV and GBV requires effective and prompt responses by the judiciary.

The Mission commends the HJPC of BiH for providing, in close co-ordination with the Mission, training to improve the justice sector response to DV and GBV, including the proper application of the relevant legal provisions and enhancing police-prosecutorial cooperation. Analysis of existing practices carried out by the HJPC of BiH should enable the identification of additional training needs. Moving forward, the HJPC BiH and judicial institutions across BiH must prioritize the swift and effective processing of DV and GBV cases.

473475 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Following the 2023 presidential and early parliamentary elections in Montenegro, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published final reports with recommendations to assist the country in bringing the electoral process closer in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards.

The 19 March presidential election was competitive, with fundamental freedoms respected in the campaign, but the legal framework has numerous gaps and ambiguities that undermine its effectiveness, ODIHR said in its report. The election administration worked transparently, but extreme politicisation and the lack of an inclusive candidate registration process reduced public trust. The second round of the election was competitive, and candidates enjoyed equal opportunities to reach out to the voters. While there is no explicit regulation on almost all aspects of the second round, the election administration developed provisional solutions that proved effective.

The 11 June early parliamentary elections were well-run, despite the fact they took place during a protracted institutional and constitutional crisis, ODIHR said. The public broadcaster provided balanced coverage, but the media environment was polarized, with private media reporting along party lines. The inclusion of women in political life remains low, and is undermined by insufficient state and political-party efforts.

Key recommendations from both reports include:

• Conducting an inclusive, transparent and comprehensive review of the legal framework to eliminate gaps and inconsistencies before the next elections;
• Amending the law to regulate all aspects of the second round of presidential elections;
• Reviewing the mechanism for nominating and appointing election commissions;
• Reviewing procedures and deadlines for candidate registration to ensure its integrity;
• Undertaking effective measures to identify and overcome gender-related barriers for women candidates and reviewing the impact of gender quotas at all levels;
• Reviewing the funding system of local public broadcasters to guarantee their independence and editorial freedom;
• Introducing regulations for requesting recounts in case of discrepancies in results protocols and allowing for results to be invalidated only in case of significant irregularities;
• Requiring the State Election Commission to publish results disaggregated by polling stations in a consistent format as soon as the results are available.

ODIHR deployed an Election Observation Mission on 8 February 2023 to observe the presidential election, and a mission of the same format was deployed on 5 May 2023 to follow the conduct of the early parliamentary elections. All 57 participating States across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

560223 Željka Šulc

From 14 November to 7 December 2023, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina organized more than a dozen activities across BiH aiming to address and combat hate-motivated incidents while emphasizing the importance of social cohesion. These events included workshops, roundtables, presentations, and radio shows aimed at addressing and combatting hate-motivated incidents while emphasizing the significance of social cohesion.

These events, which drew over 100 representatives from local authorities, law enforcement agencies and civil society organizations, were designed to familiarize participants with the various aspects of hate-motivated incidents, their implications for community relations, monitoring and reporting, and the critical importance of condemning and responding to such acts.

“The Mission works with authorities, police and civil society at all levels to address all forms of hate related incidents. However, the primary responsibility to react lies with the authorities. We call upon authorities on all levels to take necessary steps in institutionalizing this issue and strategically commit to primarily prevention of such occurrences by engaging of all three pillars of governance,” said Namik Hadžalić, National Programme Officer at the OSCE Mission to BiH.

Hadžalić also emphasized the pivotal role of community members in standing against hate incidents. He emphasized the significance of public condemnation and support for victims. “In this way, communities at large send message to victims that they are not left behind, and at the same time send message to perpetrators that their actions are not welcomed in our society. Fact-based condemnations have positive impact on the community ultimately contribute to building cohesion among different groups. This is why we need to raise awareness and knowledge of BiH citizens about the legal framework that ensures protection of each individual or group characteristic.”

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina's commitment to addressing hate incidents and reinforcing social cohesion extends beyond the Week of Tolerance, constituting a broader initiative across the country.

560136 Željka Šulc Today, on 10 December,  the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina marks Human Rights Day by re-affirming our steadfast commitment to equality, dignity and justice for everyone living in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Standing together, we must promote solidarity, embrace diversity, protect media and other fundamental freedoms, secure the safe and sustainable return of displaced persons, improve the quality of and access to education, guarantee equality before the law and prevent all forms of gender-based violence. There must be full and meaningful respect for the inalienable rights of every individual, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, national origin or any other protected characteristic. Every person in BiH and beyond deserves to live freely, without discrimination or oppression. Let's continue to advocate, educate and strive for a society in which human rights are universally recognized, upheld and enjoyed. Happy Human Rights Day!

560109 Communication and Media Relations Section David Dadge

From 6 to 8 December, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek supported the State Committee of National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic in delivering an introductory course on cybercrime and digital evidence to 20 representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Kyrgyz Republic.

While this was the fourth national training activity in Kyrgyzstan under the project, it was the first time when national experts from one of the project’s beneficiary institutions were leading the course delivery.

“With the growing scope of both cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled crime and the importance of digital evidence in all types of investigations, it is becoming crucial to provide introductory-level training on this subject to a wide range of criminal justice practitioners.  While international organizations like the OSCE can help countries to start such a process, in the end the only sustainable way to do this is through using national capacities,” said Ion Gaina, Head of the Moldovan Police General Inspectorate IT Forensic Department, who supported local lecturers during the event.

The participants learned about the cybercrime and digital evidence, sources of digital evidence, approaches for searching and seizure of digital evidence at a crime scene, and basics of conducting online investigations.

The course was supported through the extra-budgetary project “Capacity Building on Combating Cybercrime in Central Asia” funded by the United States, Germany and the Republic of Korea. It took place in a new computer classroom, donated to the State Committee of National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic through the project.

WARSAW/VIENNA, 8 December 2023 – Two decades after the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) embarked on its journey to improve the lives of Roma and Sinti and work towards societies that promotes the diversity of our nations, ODIHR is publishing its five-yearly report to assess efforts made by OSCE states in ensuring equal opportunities for Roma and Sinti people in all areas of life.

“Since the countries of the OSCE committed to ensuring positive change for the Roma and Sinti across the region over 20 years ago, real progress has been made,” said ODIHR First Deputy Director Tea Jaliashvili. “But deep disparities between the lives of the Roma and the general population remain in a number of places, and anti-Roma racism and discrimination are still a fundamental challenge. We must continue working to improve their situation and increase Roma participation in public and political life.”

OSCE countries have moved forwards in developing targeted policy to support Roma and Sinti and adapting their domestic legislative frameworks to address the many challenges faced by these communities. However, regular consultation with the communities themselves, including women and youth, is needed to ensure these frameworks and mechanisms are implemented effectively.

“This is an occasion to be proud on behalf of the OSCE, and a good example of the difference our organization, despite its limited resources, has been able to make over the years for people on the ground. But as this report also makes clear, much, much more needs to be done,” said Hilda Kolevska, Minister Plenipotentiary, OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia. “The lack of access to equal quality education and economic opportunities makes it all the more important to finally break the cycle of the generational “reproduction of inequality” that is still negatively impacting and hampering the lives of Roma and Sinti in so many of our countries,” she added.

“Roma and Sinti communities across the OSCE region still experience multiple inequalities, racism and discrimination in exercising their rights and accessing services,” said Gabriela Hrabanova, Executive Director or European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network.  “The situation of women and communities displaced by conflict are of particular concern, and require tailored measures that lead to sustainable solutions.” 

All OSCE countries have recognized “the particular difficulties faced by Roma and Sinti and the need to undertake effective measures in order to achieve full equality of opportunity” for these communities in the OSCE area.

ODIHR supports states throughout the OSCE area in fulfilling these commitments. In line with the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area, ODIHR publishes a report every five years to summarise the progress made by states in improving the social and economic situation of Roma and Sinti, their participation in civic and political life, and progress in combating racism and discrimination.

560052

In his final event as Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, on 7 December 2023, Ambassador Bruce Berton hosted a special meeting of the International Election Working Group with the Heads of Missions from OSCE participating States and international organizations in Albania. The meeting focused on sharing insights of OSCE/ODIHR recommendations from the Final Report on 14 May 2023 local elections and the recent follow-up visit in Tirana. Additionally, the discussions covered the latest efforts related to electoral reform and the need for continued progress in this regard.

“It is my hope that the leaders and representatives of the various political parties and groups will rise above their partisan divisions and interests, taking concrete steps toward meaningful reform,” Ambassador Berton said. “The Assembly’s decision on the establishment and functioning of the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on Electoral Reform defines the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations as the main guideline for electoral reform. The recommendations are directed at a wide range of stakeholders, including political actors, the Central Election Commission, state authorities, public institutions, and others, each responsible for playing their part.”

While stressing that all recommendations are important and deserving of attention, Ambassador Berton highlighted three major areas that require particular consideration:

• A thorough and swift investigation of allegations of serious electoral violations, such as vote-buying, voter pressure, and the abuse of state resources for electoral gain, combined with raising awareness of these negative phenomena;

• Ensuring the secrecy of the vote through effective procedural safeguards enforced by responsible authorities to prevent voter intimidation, group and proxy voting, etc.;

• Addressing issues related to the role of the media in elections, particularly avoiding or at least limiting the use of materials produced by parties/state authorities in news and promoting an independent and genuinely diverse media environment that is free from political/corporate influence, as well as limiting the concentration of media ownership.

Participants expressed full support for the OSCE’s work on electoral assistance, and emphasized the importance of properly addressing all outstanding OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, and encouraged political actors and election stakeholders to engage in a meaningful, inclusive, and timely electoral reform process.

The International Election Working Group is a forum initiated by the OSCE Presence in Albania, meeting periodically to exchange information and co-ordinate stances and assistance on electoral issues.

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On 6 December 2023, in Tashkent, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, jointly with the Committee on Innovative Development, Information Policy and Information Technology of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Public Fund for Support and Development of National Mass Media, held a round table on "Constitutional and legal guarantees of freedom of speech and media activities in Uzbekistan". The opening of the press gallery of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, established with assistance from the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, also took place.

Twenty-six representatives, including members of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, prominent bloggers and journalists, leading scholars and experts working in the field of information and mass communications, participated at the roundtable todiscuss the current constitutional and legal guarantees for freedom of speech and media activities in Uzbekistan.

During the roundtable, it was reaffirmed that continued efforts to address "hate speech" are crucial in establishing a constructive dialogue and respectful attitude towards each other in the media environment. In addition, the speakers shared their expertise and effective strategies for countering hate speech in the media.

Silke Kloever, the Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, remarked that "Human rights and freedoms, democratic values are about respect and acceptance of different opinions, willingness to speak freely and to search for compromises by means of dialogue".

This roundtable was organised within the framework of the PCUz UB project “Promoting Rule of Law, Human Rights and Media Freedom”.

559980

On the occasion of Human Rights Day on 10 December, the University of Sarajevo’ s Faculty of Law, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), hosted a conference titled "Freedom of Religion or Belief: Contemporary Challenges and Perspectives” in Sarajevo.

The conference provided a platform for representatives from the judiciary, state ministries, the Institution of the Human Rights Ombudsmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the academic community, and non-governmental organizations to engage with Bosnia and Herzegovina's legislation and legal practices. It also sought to explore best practices from other countries regarding the right to freedom of religion or belief as an individual right.

Thomas Busch, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, emphasized: " As a country rich with religious diversity, Bosnia and Herzegovina must regulate, facilitate, protect and promote this important freedom inclusively and without discrimination, in line with international standards and best practices. The exchange of global and local experience is invaluable for the advancement of this right and fulfilment of the relevant OSCE commitments and international standards.”

The conference, held just days before the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, provided a significant opportunity to assess achievements and challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere in upholding these foundational principles of inclusive and peaceful societies.

Ahmed Saheed, former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and current member of the OSCE/ODHIR Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief, said: “As a universal right, it rests on the shared and reciprocal commitments of all moral agents to respect the freedoms of everyone to search for their own truths and pursue their life-plans. It frees and generates spiritual, intellectual and cultural resources to enrich personal and social life”. He also highlighted the universality of this right: “It thus demands and creates the spaces and conditions necessary to build social trust, allyship and societal resilience, and is a particularly useful and resourceful bulwark against intolerant attitudes towards extending these freedoms to all.”

Zinka Grbo, Dean of the University of Sarajevo’ s Faculty of Law, said: “Freedom of religion or belief is faced with the challenges of every era, while globally it has not stopped being a neuralgic subject in social relations, in the widest possible sense. It is a perennial distinguishing point in interpersonal relations, although all religions and beliefs have the same origin.”

BELGRADE, 7 December 2023 – The OSCE Mission to Serbia awarded the 2023 Person of the Year award to Dr. Mirjana Drenovak-Ivanović, a full tenure professor in Environmental Law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Belgrade, and to Mr. Dejan Stojanović, a lawyer at the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications.

The award recognizes the important contributions of these two individuals in promoting the OSCE’s values and commitments throughout the year. Both awardees demonstrated exceptional dedication to the promotion and protection of media freedom and the safety of journalists, the respect for human rights and rule of law, good governance, environmental protection, gender equality, youth rights and sustainable development in 2023.

“The OSCE Mission to Serbia’s Person of the Year award recognizes and honours citizens of Serbia who, as partners of our Mission, have had a positive impact on Serbian society and inspire others to follow in their path,” stated the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Jan Braathu.

Dr. Mirjana Drenovak-Ivanović is recognized for her outstanding contribution to the establishment of the Environmental Law Clinic. The Clinic is an OSCE Mission-supported extracurricular program launched in 2015 that has allowed 600 senior law students to strengthen their theoretical and practical skills and complete their professional placements in state institutions. Dr. Drenovak-Ivanović also played a pivotal role in establishing the master’s programme in Environmental Law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Belgrade. 

Mr. Dejan Stojanović received the award for his dedication to a transparent, inclusive and collaborative process in drafting media policy documents and legislation. His efforts contributed to a beneficial environment for media freedom. He has also been a staunch supporter of the implementation of the Media Strategy 2020-2025. Throughout his engagement, Mr. Stojanović  ensured that the views of all stakeholders, including media and journalist associations, were reflected in media laws and policies. In every reform process, he has built confidence based on dialogue among participants.

“Engaged citizens and professionals such as Dr. Drenovak-Ivanović and Mr. Dejan Stojanović contribute to the OSCE’s objective in Serbia: Supporting future-oriented reform processes that build lasting security based on human rights, good governance and the rule of law. I salute them for their tireless efforts in advancing reforms in two key areas: protection of the environment and ensuring a free and pluralistic media environment,” said Ambassador Braathu.

559950

On 5 December 2023, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) supported an International Conference on Sustainable Conservation and Management of Protected Areas, organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change. 

While we are globally confronted with a climate and biodiversity crisis, protected areas are a critical component of a life support system and a repository of biodiversity. They provide ecosystem services such as clean water, temperature regulation and food provision. They also have an inestimable social and economic value, providing livelihood security and being instrumental in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Having increased its protected areas coverage in recent years, Uzbekistan has the capacity to leverage the potential of nature to effectively address environmental challenges and achieve socio-economic benefits. 

The event was the occasion to exchange views and experienceon current issues in the field of protected area management in Uzbekistan, as well as to propose strategies for better management and avenues for financing.

At the OSCE, we are working on the nexus betweensustainable economic development, environment and security, to find joint solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises. 

In order to strengthen the resilience, security and livelihoods of communities in protected areas, the PCUz in particular supports efficient environmental monitoring to complementthe efforts on sustainable management of natural resources.

Over the past years, the PCUz has facilitated the monitoring and assessment of pollution in the Syr Darya River Basin which led to recommendations on mitigation activities. The Mission also works in the South Aral Sea region, supporting regular monitoring to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation activities with regards to flora and fauna species. 

The PCUz will continue to help building institutional and individual capacity of national stakeholders to cope with the challenges posed by environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, taking into account the impacts of climate change. 

559944 Therese Abrahamsen Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo organized today a roundtable discussion with Mayor Shaqir Totaj and representatives of Islamic, Serbian Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant Evangelical, Jewish, and Tarikats communities in Prizen to support the municipality in promoting dialogue and fostering partnerships with religious communities.

Local institutions play an important role in promoting dialogue, respecting the principles of religious neutrality, non-discrimination, and transparency. Today’s roundtable provided them with a platform to discuss concerns, find common ground, and jointly address the needs of all communities in Prizren, and follows previous OSCE-facilitated activities aimed at fostering interfaith dialogue at both the local and central levels.

“Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right, and its essence is the understanding that every society is diverse, and that respecting our differences is the only way for us to live together peacefully,” said Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. “Continuous interfaith dialogue, including through forums like this one today, is vital to promote this human right and reject any kind of intolerance,” he added.

Mayor Totaj commended the positive rapport established with various religious communities, reciprocated by acknowledgment from religious representatives who highlighted effective collaboration with the municipality. Both the Mayor and religious leaders valued the OSCE's role in facilitating dialogue and welcomed the organization's suggestion to host similar events in the future.

Regular exchange and co-operation between religious communities contributes to the advancement of freedom of religion or belief and strengthen the basis for peaceful co-existence. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will continue to advocate for and support local authorities to have an active role in fostering interfaith dialogue and establishing partnership with the religious communities.

GENEVA, 6 December 2023 - The 59th round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) took place on 5-6 December 2023 in accordance with the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008 and implementing measures of 8 September 2008. This round was held in two working groups meeting in parallel on security and humanitarian issues, as per usual practice.

It was the third round held this year in a highly challenging regional and geopolitical environment. The participants reconfirmed the importance of the GID as the only platform where the conflict consequences have been addressed over the past 15 years.

The round took place against a backdrop of increased tension along the South Ossetian administrative boundary line. In this context, the fatal shooting of 6 November 2023 was broadly discussed, with extensive exchanges between participants on ways to prevent a repetition of similar incidents.

The issue of internally displaced persons and refugees could not be discussed due to a walkout by some participants.

The Co-Chairs thanked the participants for their overall commitment to this process and called on all of them to engage in constructive, forward-looking exchanges to overcome their differences and ensure the peaceful settlement of issues relating to the security and humanitarian situation on the ground. 

It was agreed to hold the next GID round in April 2024.

Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report on Albania’s 2023 local elections during a visit to Tirana that took place from 4 to 6 December 2023.

Representatives from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform, the Central Election Commission, the Audio-Visual Media Authority and civil society organizations met with the ODIHR experts and discussed key findings and recommendations outlined in the report.

The discussions covered both the positive steps taken before the elections and the recommendations that are yet to be implemented. Priority areas highlighted included preventing misuse of administrative resources and vote-buying practices, ensuring voting secrecy, reviewing defamation laws, safeguarding media editorial freedom and enhancing the effectiveness of election administration.

ODIHR also suggested potential areas for collaboration with national institutions, to bring the electoral process in line with OSCE commitments and international standards, offering support through legal reviews and thematic workshops. The authorities expressed an interest in engaging in further discussions to address these recommendations.

ODIHR’s election observation methodology includes an assessment of countries’ efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. For Albania, the latest ODIHR observation mission evaluated the follow-up to recommendations from the ODIHR final reports on the 2019 local elections and the 2021 parliamentary elections. The reports concluded that three recommendations had been fully implemented, another seven mostly implemented, and 16 partially addressed, while others remain to be carried out.

In the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Document, all OSCE participating States committed themselves to “follow up promptly the ODIHR’s election assessment and recommendations”.

559890

More than 50 representatives from the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, law enforcement agencies, and institutions across the country gathered in Jahorina for a workshop organized by the OSCE Mission to BiH titled "Instituting and Facilitating Regular Inter-agency Meetings and Briefings Between Agencies and Prosecution".

The workshop’s primary objective was to address structural requirements and to improve inter-agency co-operation by establishing ILP relevance, ensuring consistent use of criminal intelligence information and analyses in criminal proceedings as well as facilitating regular meetings and briefings between law enforcement agencies and the prosecution.

"To successfully establish an Intelligence-led Policing (ILP)-based framework, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to modernize its law enforcement structures. This involves capacity building, acquiring new equipment, providing training, and fostering improved criminal intelligence exchange among all stakeholders in the justice sector," said Thomas Busch, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. "Consistent application of ILP approaches will ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina is well-equipped to implement robust, holistic, and effective crime prevention strategies."

This initiative is part of the OSCE Mission to BiH project titled "Enhancing Intelligence-led Policing to Combat Serious Security Threats and Crimes," implemented with the generous support of Germany, Norway, Liechtenstein, Türkiye, Austria, and Luxembourg.

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Identifying new ways to engage men in working towards gender equality was the focus of a conference organized by the OSCE WIN and CHANGE projects on 5 and 6 December in Warsaw.

The innovative two-day conference brought together 75 representatives of democratic institutions and religious communities, human rights defenders, members of academia, experts and practitioners to discuss successful approaches, lessons learned and new initiatives to engage men in promoting gender equality.

Engaging men in gender equality work is still a challenge, and gender equality is often regarded as a women’s issue. Participants stressed the importance of partnership and co-operation to achieve progress on gender equality.

“Ending gender-based violence and achieving gender equality is not just a women’s fight – it is a collective fight for a just and an equitable world,” said Dr Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues. “We will not succeed if 50% of the population – the male population – does not support women and women’s rights!”

“Despite some positive policy developments, there are still too few tangible improvements to gender equality across the OSCE region,” said ODIHR First Deputy Director Tea Jaliashvili. “We need deeper and more far-reaching changes in society, and these will only succeed if both women and men are engaged, on the understanding that gender equality ultimately benefits all of us.”  

Several innovative and transformative initiatives were presented during the conference, including an art exhibition by Serbian artist Marija Milanković. The WIN Project presented an overview of existing OSCE activities and networks of men that aim to promote gender equality in the OSCE region. These good practices were used to develop the OSCE Toolkit to Engage Men in Gender Equality published in 2022. The OSCE network of Men for Gender Equality also presented their work and initiatives to promote the topic in their own workplaces.

As part of the overall efforts to engage new allies, contribute innovative approaches and support the leadership needed to make a real difference, the CHANGE project designed a training course to empower male networks in the public sector, civil society, and religious and traditional communities. This aims to contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as combating violence against women and girls.

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Seventeen officials from the General Prosecutor´s office, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance, and the Parliament of Turkmenistan strengthened their knowledge of corruption proofing draft legislation in a training course held from 4 to 6 December 2023 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) organized the training in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“The OSCE is determined to continue supporting efforts of the authorities of Turkmenistan in preventing and combating corruption,” said Kurban Babayev, Project Officer at OCEEA. “This training aims to share knowledge with and build capacities of government officials to enhance legal frameworks and strengthen anti-corruption expertise.”

The training programme extensively covered the critical aspects of corruption proofing of draft legislation, encompassing its fundamental concepts and principles. The theoretical sessions were dedicated to the evaluation of draft laws, the perception of both public and private interests, and a thorough examination of legislative provisions. Participants looked into how deficiencies in wording and the absence of preventive mechanisms can open loopholes for corruption. The training also included practical exercises, addressing challenges encountered during anti-corruption investigations, and emphasizing effective strategies for corruption prevention. It concluded with hands-on preparation for anti-corruption expert assessments, ensuring that officials are equipped with practical skills to actively contribute to the prevention of corruption in Turkmenistan, particularly within the regulatory framework domain.

This course is part of OSCE's ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing good governance in the region. The OSCE is committed to continually strengthening the capacities of Turkmenistan's national authorities to both prevent and combat corruption. Addressing corruption remains integral to the OSCE's comprehensive security approach and is a key focus area for OCEEA.

559812 Marina Živaljević

Between 15 and 24 November, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Faculty of Law of the University of Montenegro administered a mock election asking students to write down their priorities on a ballot. The ballot was a questionnaire that canvassed youth on a range of issues and priorities. Ballot boxes were placed at the Faculty of Law, Political Sciences, and Economics in Podgorica. An email address for online voting was set up too.

The students surveyed told us their three most important priorities are to be financially independent, live independently of their parents, as well as for the government to fight and challenge discrimination and stereotypes. Many said they wanted to see more efforts being put in protecting the environment, and more cultural and engaging events taking place where they live.

Although most students voiced support for tolerance and individual liberty, some expressed extreme and radical views, and used hate speech that targeted minorities such as the LGBTI+ community.

Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Deputy Head of Mission said that engaging with the youngest generation of voters can increase their engagement in civic and voluntary ways to make a difference. “Universities can play an important role in encouraging public participation, but also in targeting hate speech, and preventing extremism. Mock elections not only allow students to become familiar with how to cast their vote, but they also help instigate the habit-formation process,” said Leirtroe.

Aneta Spaić, Dean of the Faculty of Law, commended the Mission’s approach to raising the awareness among students about participation at elections. She expressed readiness to continue working alongside the Mission to uphold democracy and build transparent and accountable institutions.

Nikola Mugoša, Chair of the State Election Commission said that voting is a fundamental right. “This is why I would like for young people to feel more confident and knowledgeable about elections, and how they can get involved in democracy. Learning more about what young people want will help the State Election Commission shape its policies, and better understand how to encourage young people to vote,” said Mugoša.

The Mission will use the findings in developing its projects for young people in the coming years.