Central Europe

574604 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) supported the Anti-Corruption Summer School for Youth in Yos resort, Tajikistan, from 12 to 16 August 2024. The event was organized in collaboration with the Agency for State Financial Control and Fight against Corruption and Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Transparency and Anti-Corruption.

The summer school was an experience-sharing and learning event involving 20 young people from Tajikistan, OSCE staff, with invited experts and practitioners from both abroad and Tajikistan. The participants were introduced to international standards and best practices in good governance and anti-corruption. They also learned about the impact and causes of corruption from various disciplinary approaches, including legal studies, political science, economics, sociology, social anthropology, and gender aspects. The young people actively engaged with the topic through lectures, interactive sessions, case studies, teamwork, and individual presentations. In addition to the training programme, various social activities were organized to encourage networking and social relationships among the participants.

This initiative is part of the POiD’s ongoing efforts to support Tajikistan in its anti-corruption campaign, focusing on raising awareness of the causes and risks of corruption among citizens, with special attention to women and youth.

574580

Helping Ukrainian media professionals ensure their stories dispel stereotypes, uphold the equality of women and men, and contribute to better protection of their rights is at the heart of a new publication launched in Kyiv on 14 August. “Gender Equality Policy in the Media Content”, was developed by the NGO, Women in Media, in close partnership with the Governmental Representative for Gender Equality and the Commission on Journalism Ethics, a self-regulating body for journalists and editorial boards in Ukraine, with assistance provided by the OSCE Secretariat Extra-budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU).

“We remain committed to promoting a free, independent, and puralistic media. A media that not only informs but also empowers, challenges the status quo, and upholds the principles of gender equality and human rights. That way, it not only tells more accurate stories but also contributes to a more just and equitable society. This in turn contributes to a stronger and more resilient Ukraine,” noted Paul Fraleigh, Gender Advisor at the OSCE SPU.

“When we have modern media, abiding by principles of human rights protection and gender equality, the whole of society will feel the impact. We won’t see offensive content on screen or hear it on the radio. We will see more coverage of diverse topics or groups, that are currently vulnerable, because nobody talks about them. So, it is my advice to everyone – to make use of this Policy, which is very competent and complex,” said Kateryna Levchenko, Governmental Representative for Gender Equality.

The document outlines key principles on the representation of men and women, advice on how to avoid sexism, dos and don’ts for coverage of gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence. It was already integrated into editorial policy by Espresso TV group for all its platforms, with several other outlets expressing interest in taking it into account while revising own guidelines.

"Last week, we published all these rules on our website and made a commitment to our audience, to our team, to other Ukrainian media to adhere to the policy of equality between men and women. This applies both to how these rules are applied within our team and to our content as well. The matter is of fundamental importance to us, that's why we joined the initiative”, noted Anastasia Ravva, General Producer of Espresso TV.

“This is just a set of daily guidelines and recommendations that should be known and read and re-read from time to time, and, of course, this policy should be alive. It must be constantly updated and reviewed, and no policy is good without its implementation,” said Liza Kuzmenko, an expert from Women in Media.

The policy outlines suggestions on how media can make it a useful tool, by incorporating its provision into own editorial policies, making them available to public, educating staff and performing periodic monitoring of own content to check compliance with the adopted principles, among others. Full videos of the  presentation event are available here in English and Ukrainian.

Communication and Media Relations Section

On 15 August 2024, the Seized Property Management Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FAZUOI) and the National Agency of Ukraine for the Detection, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening their co-operation in the fight against organized crime and corruption through tracing, detection and management of illegal assets.

The Memorandum—signed by Emir Bašić, Acting Director of FAZUOI and Olena Duma, Director of ARMA—seeks to establish mutually beneficial relations between the two agencies through the exchange of experiences and resources. It outlines a broad range of joint activities, including the organization and implementation of seminars, webinars, business forums, educational and research activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine. These will further improve the methods currently used to detect, trace and manage assets derived from corruption and other crimes.

"We believe that this co-operation will yield significant results in the fight against corruption and the management of seized assets, thereby strengthening public trust in our institutions," said Acting Director Bašić.

Both agencies are committed to developing and strengthening their abilities to combat illegally acquired assets through this co-operation, contributing to the enhancement of professional competencies.

“This Memorandum of Understanding provides a concrete example of the results we can achieve by bringing States together to better recover criminal assets and find suitable solutions to their management,” said Sami Ryhänen, Head of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department Strategic Police Matters Unit.

The signing of the Memorandum was preceded by bilateral exchanges between the two institutions on the margins of meetings of the OSCE-supported Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network. The co-operation between the two agencies was facilitated as part of the extrabudgetary project “Strengthening Asset Recovery Efforts in the OSCE Region”, which is funded by Austria, Germany, Italy and the United States.

574508 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

From 1 to 15 August 2024, Tajikistan National Mine Action Center with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) organized a two-week summer rehabilitation workshop for landmine/ explosive remnants of war survivors in the resort area of Guliston, Sughd region.

The workshop brought together 40 participants, including eight women, who took part in various activities such as psychological counseling sessions, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, physiotherapy, art therapy, advocacy support, business start-up sessions, and adaptive sport/leisure activities.

The primary goal of the workshop was to provide psychosocial rehabilitation for mine survivors, with the aim of reducing the physical and psychological implications of post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, the event aimed to help survivors overcome social marginalization and the impairment of the realization of their rights.

These initiatives are part of the ongoing support provided by the POiD for Tajikistan's efforts under the victim assistance pillar of mine action, in line with the provisions of the National Mine Action Strategy 2021-2030 and the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention.

574493 Communication and Media Relations Section

From 12 to 14 August, the OSCE facilitated its second training session on countering blockchain obfuscation techniques—this time for investigators from Armenia and Georgia. The course took place in Warsaw and was hosted by the Ministry of Finance of Poland.

How do criminals try to hide and obscure their cryptocurrency transactions on the blockchain? What techniques do they use to avoid detection by law enforcement? These were some of the questions addressed during the three-day training.

Participants emphasized that criminals increasingly resort to cryptocurrencies to run their illicit activities, which makes the training especially timely and valuable for their investigations.

“This course, delivered by a team of experts with substantial experience, has helped me acquire skills that I can apply directly in my work environment, making it very practically relevant,” said one of the participants from the Financial Monitoring Service of Georgia.

Engaging exercises and case studies provided participants with an opportunity to enhance their investigation skills on the blockchain. Additionally, the course encouraged the investigators to exchange knowledge on trends, challenges and good practices from the different beneficiary countries.

This training was organized within the framework of the extra-budgetary project “Innovative Policy Solutions to Mitigate Money-Laundering Risks of Virtual Assets”, implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. The project is financially supported by Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States.

574649 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE recognizes the significance of women and youth in leadership roles and aims to advance women's rights and gender equality in public and political spheres. As part of these efforts, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a Gender Equality and Leadership Skills Summer School in Bahoriston of Sughd region from 6 to 9 August 2024.

The summer school welcomed 30 young women who were nominated by the Committee for Women and Family Affairs, the Committee for Youth and Sport, seven registered political parties, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy. The discussions at the event covered various topics, including concepts of gender equality and leadership, as well as national and international legal frameworks related to the empowerment of women.

Additionally, two guest speakers from the Union of Women Judges, and the Coalition De Jure de Facto were invited to deliver presentations on relevant topics to the young women leaders. The participants also received guidance on best practices for leadership skills, providing an inspiring opportunity for youth to engage with successful women leaders.

574418 Participants of the VIII International Summer School for Young Diplomats, along with representatives of the Ministry of International Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Diplomatic Academy and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. Chyngyz Zhanybekov

On August 9, 2024, the VIII International Summer School for young diplomats from Central Asian countries, the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation concluded on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. The event, entitled “Diplomatic and Consular Service in the Era of Digitalization of International Relations,” was organized by the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic jointly with the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The Rector of the Diplomatic Academy Akylbek Kylychev, Director of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Almaz Bukalaev and Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek Alexey Rogov spoke at the summer school. They noted the importance of sharing knowledge and experience gained by the participants, and emphasized the uniqueness of such platforms in the formation of a new generation of diplomats ready to work effectively in the digital age. Over the course of five days, the participants attended lectures, seminars and practical classes that covered modern trends and challenges in the field of diplomacy, consular service and digitalization.

The event allowed young professionals not only to deepen their knowledge, but also to establish professional contacts with colleagues from different countries.

574400 Communication and Media Relations Section

From 6 to 9 August, the OSCE held a workshop at the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) in Tbilisi to enhance the bank’s regulatory framework for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), improve customer risk assessment procedures and implement robust preventive measures within the virtual assets sector.

The training started out with two days of discussions covering key topics such as Know Your Customer processes and the use of blockchain analytics tools for monitoring customer behaviour, focusing on developing and integrating customer risk assessment models. The latter half of the workshop focused on preventive measures—including establishing internal governance structures and enhancing due diligence procedures for VASPs—with an emphasis on aligning these practices with international standards.

The workshop concluded with a collaborative effort to create compliance recommendations that will be integrated into the NBG's regulatory guidelines. The participants emphasized the importance of ongoing co-operation to ensure that Georgia's regulatory framework remains resilient against the risks associated with virtual assets, contributing to a more secure and transparent financial environment.

574364 Communication and Media Relations Section

From 7 to 10 August, the OSCE trained financial investigators from Moldova and Ukraine on mitigating blockchain obfuscation techniques used by criminals in a course hosted by the Ministry of Finance of Poland in Warsaw.

Considering that criminals increasingly resort to blockchain technology to hide and launder the proceeds of their illicit activities, the training aimed to familiarize the participating investigators with a wide array of techniques used by criminals to obfuscate cryptocurrency transactions. Through practical exercises, the participants acquired skills crucial to conducting specialized investigations targeting these techniques. 

“Understanding and addressing these techniques is crucial for maintaining transparency and combating illicit activities in the financial system. This training aims to deepen our understanding of these methods and equip us with the tools to identify and counteract them effectively”, said Anna Chałupa, the General Inspector of Financial Information at the Ministry of Finance of Poland.

As blockchain technology continues to rapidly evolve, so do the methods employed by criminals to evade law enforcement. Practitioners are required to stay abreast of these developments through continuous training and awareness-raising.

The OSCE contributes to these efforts through its extra-budgetary project “Innovative Policy Solutions to Mitigate Money-Laundering Risks of Virtual Assets”, implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. The project is financially supported by Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

574319 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

On 2 August 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD), in collaboration with Tajikistan's Border Troops, concluded a three-week Training of Trainers (ToT) course for nineteen officers of the Tajik Border Troops. The course was led by two international experts specializing in adult learning and planning military training exercises.

The training provided essential skills in adult learning, curriculum development, and teaching methods to border officers. The training included lectures and hands-on exercises and focused on conducting effective military-style field training with an emphasis on safety and practical application. In addition, the officers were taught to use generative artificial intelligence to research training topics and develop course material. The course prepared the officers to develop and conduct effective training on various topics within the Border Troops. Effective training is crucial for the professionalization of Tajikistan’s Border Troops and for preparing the organization to respond appropriately to the dynamic security and humanitarian situation on Tajikistan’s borders. To date, 57 officers of Tajikistan’s Border Troops have completed the ToT course during the "Patrol Field Capacity Building of the Tajik Border Troops (PFCB2)" project's second phase.

The feedback from the participants was positive, with many expressing interest in applying the new teaching techniques and content development skills in their future training sessions. They found the instruction on curriculum development and learning evaluation particularly valuable for their duties. This underscores the practical value of the training for the ongoing professional development of Tajikistan’s Border Troops.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Tatiana Turcan, Deputy Head of the POiD, Jukka Tuononen, Head of the Political-Military Department of the POiD, and Jon Casey, PFCB2 Project Manager. Tatiana Turcan congratulated the graduates of the ToT course and highlighted their newly acquired skills in adult education, curriculum development, and planning military training. She emphasized the course's importance in building institutional capacity within Tajikistan's Border Troops and acknowledged the support from the project's international donors and the continued co-operation of the Border Troops.

The ToT training is part of the "Patrol Field Capacity Building of the Tajik Border Troops (PFCB2)" project's second phase, funded by France, the United States, and Germany and implemented by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. This initiative aims to develop the skills of Tajikistan's Border Troops and strengthen their capacity along the Tajik-Afghan border.

574313

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), in co-operation with the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) Secretariat, organized a five-day training session on 5-9 August 2024.

The event was jointly opened by Shamsiddin Sokhibnazarov, Head of the Department; Ambassador Antti Karttunen, Head of the PCUz; and Dzmitry Varabyou, Senior Adviser at EAG Secretariat.

“The OSCE endeavours to contribute to the capacity building of its national partners, including by sharing best practices from the OSCE region,” said Ambassador Karttunen. “With this in mind, we support events where opportunities arise to strengthen regional co-operation, improve joint problem-solving and learn practical skills for mutual evaluation within the Eurasian Group.”

During the training, 30 representatives of EAG member states from Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as experts of the EAG Secretariat, engaged in discussions ahead of the third round of mutual evaluations of member states’ national systems.

The event, which provided advanced training on international standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), enabled participants to effectively prepare for the new assessment. The training covered all the processes for assessing a country's national system in the areas of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of weapons of mass destruction.

This event was supported within the framework of the PCUz project “Support to Transparent and Accountable Public Governance”.

574175 Nino Sukhitashvili OSCE Mission to Moldova

With the financial and technical support of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, 154 tons of dangerous chemicals were safely removed, repackaged and transported from Transdniestria for incineration in Germany.

The chemicals were collected from electrical sub-stations in Bender, Grigoriopol, Hirtop, Dubasari, Ribnita, Camenca and from the Moldavizolit plant in Tiraspol. The chemicals traveled to Germany in eight trucks for incineration at a special site designed for the elimination of hazardous waste.

This project aims to strengthen the cooperation between the two banks of the Dniester/Nistru River in addressing issues of environmental safety, disaster risk reduction and hazardous waste management. It also demonstrates to people on both banks the OSCE’s genuine interest in their wellbeing.

“Authorities from Tiraspol and Chisinau who oversaw the removal of these dangerous chemicals are committed to improving people’s health. They transformed the risks of these toxic chemicals into fruitful cooperation, as they agreed on the transportation of the chemicals to Germany for incineration”, said Ambassador Kelly Keiderling, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

Following requests from the Moldovan government and Transdniestrian representatives, the OSCE developed the project to facilitate the disposal of some 363 tons of dangerous chemicals. In June 2023, the OSCE Mission to Moldova and Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Moldova signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the “Removal and Disposal of Dangerous Chemicals from Moldova”. In the second half of 2024, about 210 tons of dangerous chemicals will be removed, repackaged and transported from the right bank of the Dniester/Nistru River.

WARSAW, 2 August 2024 – We must move beyond commemoration to education in order to overcome the bias against Roma that allows hatred to fester, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on today’s Roma Genocide Remembrance Day.

“To honour the memory of all those who were murdered in the Roma genocide 80 years ago, we need to do more to address the discrimination and prejudice Roma and Sinti face across the OSCE region today,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “By educating young people and raising awareness more broadly of the Roma genocide, we help protect the memory of victims and build more tolerant societies.”

On 2 August 1944, 4,300 Roma and Sinti were murdered in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The majority of these victims were elderly, women, and children. Today, ODIHR will join survivors as well as representatives of governments, parliaments and international organizations at the location of the former Nazi camp in Oswiecim, Poland, to honour the memory of Roma and Sinti victims of persecution and murder during the Second World War.

Together with other international organizations, ODIHR is a member of the campaign #ProtectTheFacts, developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance to commemorate the Roma victims of the Nazi era and combat attempts to downplay or deny the persecution and murder of Roma and Sinti.  

Holocaust remembrance and education forms an important part of the framework of the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area. Adopted in 2003, this framework calls for the inclusion of Roma history and culture, and in particular the genocide of Roma and Sinti during the Holocaust, in educational materials.

All OSCE states 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 Roma and Sinti. ODIHR continues to support countries across the region in addressing hatred and discrimination of Roma, working with governments, civil society, and Roma communities to increase their participation in political and public life.

BAKU, 1 August 2024 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 1 September early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, following an official invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is headed by Ditmir Bushati and consists of a core team of 11 international experts based in Baku and 28 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 8 August. ODIHR also plans to request 280 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day.

The mission will assess the conduct of the elections for compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all key aspects of the elections, such as the conduct of the campaign, including on social networks, the work of the election administration at all levels, election-related legislation and its implementation, respect for fundamental freedoms, media coverage and the resolution of election disputes. Observers will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

Meetings with representatives of state authorities and political parties, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

The day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report with an assessment of the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published some months after the elections.

For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in the country, please   visit:

https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/azerbaijan

Media contacts:

Kira Kalinina, Media Analyst: kira.kalinina@odihr.az, or +994 55 220 72 36

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson: +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl.

BAKU, 30 July 2024 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference on the opening of the observation mission to the forthcoming early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan on Thursday, 1 August.

What: 

• An introduction to the role of the ODIHR election observation mission and its planned activities

Who: 

• Ditmir Bushati, Head of the ODIHR observation mission

When: 

• 11:00 local time (GMT +4) on 1 August 2024

Where:

• Hotel Radisson, 2nd floor, Room: Nasimi. 1 Azadliq Ave, Baku 1001.

Registration:

• No registration is necessary, but only questions from journalists will be taken.

For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Azerbaijan, please visit: Elections in Azerbaijan | OSCE

Media Contacts:         

Kira Kalinina, Media Analyst: kira.kalinina@odihr.az or +994 55 220 72 36

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson: +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl.

573866 OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan empowers youth to combat human trafficking

On 29 July 2024, Ambassador Antti Karttunen, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), participated in the conference “Combating Human Trafficking: National Approaches and International Standards” in Tashkent.

The event, which was organized by the National Commission on the Issues of Combating Human Trafficking and Decent Work and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Central Asia, was dedicated to World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

“Let me congratulate the whole anti-trafficking community of Uzbekistan with the world anti-trafficking day, which marks all our joint efforts in counteracting this heinous crime and reminds us about all the challenges we still need to overcome,” Ambassador Karttunen said.

Participants at the conference reviewed anti-trafficking practices in Uzbekistan and discussed international anti-trafficking standards and the rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficking victims.

Ambassador Karttunen shared with conference attendees a video of a simulation exercise for law enforcement professionals, created by the PCUz in 2022 in co-operation with its national partners. The video depicts human-trafficking scenarios enacted by actors from Tashkent’s Ilkhom Theatre.

Other speakers at the conference included Senator Ravshanbek Alimov, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs; Pulat Bobojonov, Minister of Internal Affairs; and Zeynal Hajiyev, Sub-Regional Coordinator of the IOM for Central Asia.

573848 Željka Šulc

In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), trafficking victims include women forced into prostitution, men exploited for labour, and children sold into begging, child marriages, or forced criminal activities. Victims often come from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly the Roma community. On the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the OSCE Mission to BiH, in co-operation with the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, organized a workshop to address human trafficking among minorities, children, and persons with disabilities.

The event brought together nearly 40 representatives from the cantonal and entity ministries of internal affairs, prosecutors, civil society members, and the international community in BiH. The workshop aimed to discuss how the specific needs of vulnerable groups can be addressed through an intersectional lens, and to enhance understanding, dialogue, and co-operation among those dealing with human trafficking, as well as those working on minority, child protection, and disability issues.

Kari Johnstone, the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, said: "The OSCE takes pride in being at the forefront of researching the vulnerabilities of specific groups, such as women, children, minorities, people with disabilities, and migrant workers. Our Office’s work has shown that despite heightened risks of being targeted by traffickers, victims belonging to these groups are often overlooked and face increased barriers in accessing support services and justice."

The OSCE Mission to BiH has been working with local partners and institutions to combat human trafficking since 2003.

“Our efforts are directed towards ensuring greater protection and support for victims of this serious crime through appropriate institutional and legislative tools. Human trafficking often affects the most vulnerable members of our society, and I am confident that all of us here are committed to investing our efforts in everything we do to diminish this problem,” said Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH.

The workshop was part of the OSCE Mission to BiH’s broader efforts to support the fight against human trafficking in BiH by strengthening the capacity of relevant institutions to detect, investigate, and process such crimes as well as to protect and support victims and survivors.

573800

On 29-31 July 2024, the OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), in co-operation with the National Human Rights Centre (NHRC) of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Main Directorate for the Execution of Punishments, launched a three-day training on the UN Bangkok Rules and gender-sensitive approaches to torture prevention.

Twenty-eight representatives from closed facilities in Tashkent, Syrdarya, Djizzakh and Samarkand regions, as well as the Syrdarya branch of the National Agency of Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, learned about international practices for monitoring juvenile and female prison facilities. They also acquainted themselves with UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules).

The main objective of this training was to equip prison staff with the skills to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence in prison settings while adhering to internationally recognized standards. During the sessions, experts covered health and hygiene in places of detention, the role of prison staff in promoting gender-sensitive approaches, and the rehabilitation of women and girls in custody.

The event was opened jointly by PCUz Senior Project Officer Andrew Yurkovsky, NHRC Deputy Director Dilnoza Muratova, and Lieutenant Colonel Burkhankhoja Akromov of the Penitentiary Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The other speakers were Surayo Rakhmonova, Representative of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for children’s rights (Children’s Ombudsperson), and Oliya Ilmuradova, Director of the NGO Barkaror hayot (Sustainable Life).

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

573776 Marina Živaljević

While physical violence against journalists has decreased in recent years, forms of attacks have evolved, taking on more insidious and damaging forms. If left unaddressed, these newer threats can have profound consequences for media professionals. Recognizing the urgency of this issue and in support of journalists’ work, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, upon the request of its partner Media Trade Union, organized a workshop on psychological well-being and support for media workers on 27 and 28 July in Sutomore.

The workshop presented a Handbook for a better understanding of the psychological well-being of employees in the media, developed by the Mission and the Media Trade Union. This important resource contains tools and guidelines to help journalists cope with the stressful and crisis-ridden situations they often face in the course of their work.

The training was conducted by a prominent journalist of BIRN Milorad Ivanović and experienced psychologist Dragana Đokić. Twelve journalists from national and local media outlets were trained to become focal points for psychological support in their respective media outlets.

By using the skills acquired in training and tools and techniques from the Handbook, the focal points will be able to provide adequate support to their peers in need. This is particularly relevant given the alarming rise in online and offline attacks and insults directed towards journalists, with women journalists often being the targets of such abuse.

First workshop on psychological first aid for media workers in Montenegro was organized in June 2023.

573773 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in partnership with the Tajikistan Border Troops, conducted eight awareness-raising meetings from 15 to 20 July 2024 in the Rushon and Shughnon districts of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).

The purpose of these meetings was to educate the local population about potential security threats from Afghanistan and the importance of promptly reporting any unusual or suspicious incidents related to border security. Over 400 individuals, including local administration officials, students, teachers, and residents (more than 50% of whom were female), gained a better understanding of working together for border protection during these meetings.

The OSCE Programme Office also provided hotline numbers and printed more than 1,000 calendars to help the local population near the Tajik-Afghan border report any border-related violations.

Engaging with communities residing in remote border areas near Afghanistan can provide valuable information to enhance overall situational awareness. Informing border communities about the role of civil society in state border protection is crucial for local security, stability, and safety.