Central Europe

WARSAW, 1 September 2023 – 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 parliamentary elections in Poland on Monday 4 September.

What: 

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

Who: 

• Douglas Wake, Head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission
• Tamara Otiashvili, Deputy Head of the limited ODIHR election observation mission

When: 

• 11:00 local time (GMT +2) on 4 September

Where:

• Hotel Bristol, Krakowskie Przedmieście 42/44, 00-325 Warsaw

Registration:

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

Media Contact:            

Katya Andrusz ODIHR Spokesperson, katya.andrusz@odihr.pl or +48 609 522 266

Ivan Godarsky, ODIHR LEOM Media Analyst, ivan.godarsky@odihr-leom.pl or +48 697 330 843

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) conducted two capacity-building workshops for twenty-five members of the steering committee of the Women Forum of Syrdarya River in Tajikistan. The first workshop, on “working in a team” was held from 17-18 August, 2023 and the second workshop took place from 25-27 August 2023. Both events were held in Khujand, the Sughd region.

The workshops aimed to support the Women Forum of Syrdarya River in promoting women’s equal participation in water resources management and governance. Participants were familiarized with ways to work harmoniously in teams and collaborate effectively. They also learned how to develop a workable five-year strategic plan to advance the Women Forum of Syrdarya River.

The Women Forum of Syrdarya River was established in 2019 with the ultimate aim of involving grassroots women into decision-making processes pertaining to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The Office’s support to this initiative is part of its ongoing work to promote women's equal participation in public and political life in Tajikistan.

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

From 19 to 22 August 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Office), jointly with Tajikistan’s Committee for Environmental Protection, organized the Youth Eco – School. The four-day event was attended by 25 young people, of which 14 were female participants.    

The Youth Eco-School serves a platform for dialogue and exploration of the pressing global environmental challenges with a specific focus on climate change and air pollution. Participants were able to deepen their understanding of the interconnection between these two key issues. During the events, participants had an opportunity to participate in the exhibition of energy-efficient technologies and devices using solar power, including solar parabolic kitchens, solar lighting systems, and energy-saving food ovens, provided by the NGO Little Earth.

On the final day of the event, the participants made their “eco oath”, committing themselves to be more environmentally friendly and contribute to a sustainable future. In his congratulatory speech to the participants, Mr. Mavlodod Abduqodir, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection, highlighted the important role of the Tajik young people in addressing environmental challenges in the country and encouraged them to continue working together on climate action. Rati Japaridze, OSCE Officer-in-Charge, stressed the importance of addressing environmental challenges at an early age and noted in particular the importance of tackling climate change.

The event is part of the activities set out in the Action Plan of the State Program for the Development of Education and Environmental Awareness of the Population (2021-2025).

The Office will continue to support initiatives that promote Tajik youth involvement in good environmental governance.

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

On 25 August 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) organized the webinar titled “Countering Corruption in the Context of Border Security Management”. The event brought together 15 (eight women, seven men) participants from the border and customs agencies of 11 OSCE participating States (Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland and Tajikistan).

The webinar was led by experts from Moldova who introduced the participants to the identification and mitigation of major corruption risks at borders, the types and impact of corruption and the various strategies and tactics for combating it. Participants learned about a wide range of enabling factors of corruption at borders and explored possible countering measures.

The webinar was the third in a series on border security management delivered by the OSCE’s Border Management Staff College (BMSC). The BSMC was established in 2009 as a platform for the advanced education and empowerment of a new generation of senior executives and leaders in border security and management. It is part of OSCE’s broader work to strengthen the capacities of border-related agencies and to promote co-operation between them, in line with the OSCE Border Security and Management Concept and relevant Ministerial Council Decisions.

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

On 29 August, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) donated 9,800 liters of diesel and 4,500 liters of petroleum to the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CoESCD). The donation will be used to fuel CoESCD vehicles and equipment, which are used to protect and evacuate the population to safe areas during disasters.

The CoESCD is responsible for responding to natural disasters and other emergencies in Tajikistan. The most recent flooding in Tajikistan resulted in casualties, taking the lives of 21 person. Maintaining and increasing the operational capacity of CoESCD is thus vital and the Office will continue to support its efforts to save lives and mitigate the consequences of natural disasters.

This activity is in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and Tajikistan’s Mid-term State Program for the Protection of population and Territories from Emergency Situations for 2023-2028. It is part of OSCE’s broader work to support disaster preparedness, prevention, response and recovery at community level as well as at national and transboundary levels.

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More than 90 young legal professionals, students of law and post-graduates, including 53 women and 40 men, had a chance to upgrade their professional knowledge during a series of four summer schools, organized in August by the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine (the SPU). Selected on a competitive basis participants benefited from lectures and presentations delivered by prominent Ukrainian (such as Olena Kharytonova, Olena Boryslavska, Yurii Barabash, Mykhaylo Savchyn) and international experts (such as Mykola Gnatovskyy, judge of the European Court of Human Rights), enjoyed debates and informal communication with scholars and even top-officials from judicial system (such as Mr. Dmytro Lukianov, deputy chair of the High Council of Justice, Mr. Vitalii Gatseliuk, member of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, judges of Ukraine’s Supreme Court Dmytro Gudyma, Albert Iezerov). In-depth lectures were combined with moot court competitions, cinema clubs, interactive legal excursions, podcasts production by students and other activities.

The war and its impact on rule of law were at the  top of the agenda of all events. The Constitutional Summer School organised in Zakarpattia focused on how basic law and the Constitutional Court can serve as a safeguard for maintaining the balance of power even during martial law. Among many things, the mechanics of constitutional justice tools were reviewed in details, notably the implications for gender equality and the ways to protect distinct needs of men and women were in focus. The partner of the event, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, was represented by three justices Oksana Hryshchuk, Vasyl Lemak, Oleksandr Petryshyn, who actively engaged in discussions with youth.

With the Ukrainian Catholic University, the Support Programme co-organised two opportunities for the youth. The Lviv International Law Summer School focused on international justice and accountability mechanisms, dispute settlements, responsibility of states, strategic international and human rights litigation and transitional justice mechanisms. The “Real Court: the role of the judiciary in the protection of human rights during war and danger" Summer School in addition to detailed review of war-related challenges to the justice system, provided insights on impact of new digital technologies on rule of law, including the effects of artificial intelligence tools such as Chat GPT on understanding of key legal concepts. These events were part of a project requested by the Supreme Court and the National School of Judges.

The series was concluded by the Summer Academy of International Law held in partnership with the Supreme Court in Zakarpattia. It covered intensively international humanitarian law, but also provided a focus on the process of Ukraine’s integration to the EU, its impact on the justice system and the needed reforms to approximate the legal system to the European acquis. Selected lectures of the event are available at the SPU’s YouTube Channel.  

Ambassador Marcel Pesko, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairmanship – Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine contributed to two of the schools, by discussing with the participants the role of the OSCE in the international system and presenting the work of the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine to assist the country in the times of war.

551248 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The March 2023 parliamentary elections in Estonia were competitive and pluralistic and the election process, including internet voting, was administered efficiently, with minor technical difficulties. While trust in the internet vote remains high, some parties publicly questioned its integrity, often as part of their campaigning. The legal framework constitutes a sound basis for the conduct of democratic elections and ensures equal participation of national minorities. The integrity of political financing is ensured, but some aspects, such as campaign funding limits and third-party campaigning could be further improved.

These are some of the main conclusions of the final report published by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The report offers 16 recommendations to bring elections in Estonia closer in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections.

Key recommendations include:

• Proactively addressing all concerns raised by some election stakeholders who distrust the results of internet voting;

• Putting in place a quality assurance process that includes the comprehensive testing of the internet voting system before deployment;

• Explaining the process and timeline for reporting results in due time before election day;

• Amending law to establish deadlines by which unpaid bills related to campaign expenditures must be serviced;

• Mandating that all campaign advertisements include information on who produced and paid for them;

• Introducing campaign spending limits to avoid escalating campaign expenditure and enhance equity among parties and candidates;

• Including in the law a comprehensive definition of what activities of unaffiliated third-party organizations constitute election campaigning and provide for their accountability;

• Making efforts by the authorities and political actors to lessen the divisive rhetoric in political discourse and during the election campaign to prevent alienation and marginalization of minority groups.

ODIHR deployed an Election Expert Team (EET) on 22 February 2023 to observe the parliamentary elections. The EET focused on internet voting, party and campaign finance and minority issues. All 57 countries across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

SKOPJE, 30 August – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, held a telephone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov.

During the conversation, Chairman Osmani addressed current challenges in the OSCE region and reiterated the Chairpersonship’s call to adhere to the basic principles and commitments of the OSCE.

In this context, Chairman Osmani once again emphasized the immediate need for an end to the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, the withdrawal of Russian military forces from Ukraine, and the respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all participating States.

In addition, Chairman Osmani and Minister Lavrov exchanged opinions on the current issues related to the functioning and leadership of the Organization.

Field visit to Kara-Batkak glacier, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan

From 17 to 26 August 2023, twenty young people from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in the northern Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan to learn about climate-related security risks in mountain areas and deliberate on innovative solutions and collective actions to mitigate these risks.

The summer school was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in collaboration with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, the Tian-Shan High Mountain Scientific Center, the NGO Students of Kyrgyzstan for the Green Economy, and the Berlin-based think tank adelphi.

“At the OSCE, we pay more and more attention to the voices of young people. We take steps to integrate youth perspectives into security debates and to facilitate their involvement and contribution to enhancing security and stability,” said Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities in his opening remarks for the summer school.

Drawing attention to climate-related challenges in the Central Asia region including the mountainous terrain and glaciers, Hasani referred to the 2021 OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on climate change and the important role of youth in tackling climate challenges. “Young people are the innovators, the agents of change and the driving force for a sustainable, climate-resilient and peaceful future,” he said.

The summer school programme encompassed lectures, interactive discussions, collaborative group work, and engaging field trips to the Kara-Batkak glacier. These experiences provided participants with insights into the impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems and on livelihoods of the local communities that depend on these rich ecosystems.

Following on the first Regional Youth Conference on Climate Change, organized by the OSCE in October 2022 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the summer school fostered networking and exchange among young people across Central Asia on climate change issues and generated a set of proposals for youth-led action in areas such as climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation with a focus on mountain areas. 

The Central Asia Regional Youth Summer School on Climate Change and Security in Mountain Areas was organized within the framework of the OSCE project Strengthening responses to security risks from climate change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia, which is implemented in partnership with adelphi and in close collaboration with OSCE Field Operations.

The project is funded by Andorra, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

550993

Following the adoption by referendum of the new edition of the Constitution on 30 April 2023, from 2024 Uzbekistan intends to implement proportional representation for 50% of the seats in the Legislative Chamber (Lower Chamber) of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament). This presents a key opportunity for persons with disabilities to strive for 75 deputy positions and become active part of the political life in the country.

This is why, from 26 to 30 August, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) – jointly with UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN Development Programme within the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – organized the second phase of a series of capacity-building training courses for representatives of disability-focused NGOs who aspire to participate in Uzbekistan’s next parliamentary elections. The objective of this second phase was to complement negotiation techniques, focus of last July’s training, with public speaking skills.

A total of 31 representatives (12 women, 19 men) from across different regions of Uzbekistan, including the Republic of Karakalpakstan, attended the event. Participants enhanced their understanding of the state structure of Uzbekistan, the priorities and electorate of political parties, the responsibilities of deputies at various levels, and learnt from bloggers about successes and difficulties in using the media to address social issues. They also met with members of both Chambers of the Parliament, four political parties and the recently created National Agency for Social Protection under the President of Uzbekistan.

Nadia Yakhlaf-Lallemand, the Head of Human Dimension at the PCUz, noted that these trainings reflect the “commitment to creating an inclusive society where the voices of every individual are heard and valued,” and added that “the participation of persons with disabilities in politics promotes equality and social justice. This inclusive approach is fully in line with the OSCE commitments, which Uzbekistan has agreed to implement.”

550939 Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 29 August 2023 –  With compassion for the families of the victims of recent tragic events in Gradačac, Živinice and Bijeljina, the OSCE Mission to BiH hosted today in Sarajevo the Speaker of the BiH Parliament House of Representatives, ministers and representatives from the state, entities', Brčko District of BiH and cantonal levels, the President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, justice and interior ministries, and gender institutional mechanisms to address the pressing issue of gender-based violence.

“When tragedies such as those in Gradačac, Živinice, and Bijeljina happen, we all express our horror and sympathy for the victims and their families.  And that is appropriate – it is a very human reaction – but unfortunately that’s not enough.” said Ambassador Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “There must be an action making sure this does not happen again. And action is possible.  Domestic violence is a scourge that touches every ethnic, religious or linguistic group across the country.  It is a shared challenge calling for shared action.”  

The meeting of over 30 high level governmental, law enforcement and gender professionals served as a pivotal platform to dissect the system's shortcomings, understand why victims are often reluctant to seek help, and address the alarming under-reporting.

The participants unanimously agreed that combatting domestic violence requires a similarly complex response that is nuanced, multi-sectoral, and committed, a response that is gender-sensitive, victim-centric, and trauma-informed. 

Consequently, a series of joint commitments were formulated for immediate, strategic, and systemic institutional action as follows:

• The OSCE Mission to BiH (the Mission) commends the relevant authorities for their commitment to undertake all necessary measures to fight gender-based and domestic violence, including by strengthening the respective legal frameworks. In that regard, the Mission would like to underline the important role of the Federation Parliament in (i) advancing the appropriate political and institutional responses against domestic violence/gender-based violence and (ii) in particular amending the criminal code to fully implement the Istanbul Convention and to promulgate the draft law on Protection against Domestic Violence. The Mission is fully committed to assisting the relevant institutions in those efforts. 
• Noting efforts already undertaken, the Mission commends Entity Ministries of Interior for their commitment to conduct training via the respective police academies, including through curricula reform that enables future police officers to respond to domestic violence and gender-based cases promptly, effectively and sensitively. We particularly commend recent relevant initiatives of the FBiH Minister of Interior in this respect. The Mission will maintain its assistance to the Entity ministries to this process.
• The respective Entity and Cantonal Ministries of Interior commit to continue planning and implementing mandatory specialized trainings for in-service police officers, including co-operating with the respective Ministries of Justice to engage prosecutors in these trainings. The respective Entity and Cantonal Ministries of Interior should conclude this process by end-November. The OSCE Mission to BiH commits itself to partner closely with the relevant authorities on this.
• The Cantonal Ministries of the Interior commit to participating in a stakeholder meeting that the OSCE Mission to BiH will call for with the Federation Ministry of Interior, to draft guidance for actions of police officers in response to case of domestic violence in line with the relevant Federation Rulebook. This guidance is to be adapted to the specificities of the police structures in each canton. This should be initiated by mid-September and completed before the end of 2023.
• In close co-ordination with the Federation Ministry of Interior, the Cantonal Ministries of Interior commit to harmonizing and making stricter the existing cantonal legislation and regulations on issuance, possession and control of firearms. They will include therein procedures for a mandatory temporary seizure of firearms from the perpetrators/household following a report of domestic violence. These improvements should be procedurally initiated by the end of October 2023. Where in place, authorities commit themselves to ensure a more efficient and harmonized implementation of these procedures/instructions.
• The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH commits to ensuring effective training to improve the justice sector response to domestic violence, including the proper application of the relevant legal provisions. The Mission commits itself to supporting the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH in this process.

The OSCE Mission to BiH will host a review meeting by the end of November 2023 to track progress against the foregoing commitments aimed at preventing gender-based violence cases and providing adequate support to victims.

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In the mountainous areas of Tajikistan - as in many rural communities worldwide - energy poverty disproportionately impacts women’s lives. Rural women often still carry out the bulk of traditional household chores. This heightens their exposure to indoor air pollution derived from the use of solid fuels for cooking and heating, or exposes them to the safety risks of walking long distances to collect biomass and fuelwood.

To help overcome these challenges, the OSCE provided 20 households in the Yaghnob Valley of Tajikistan with off-grid clean energy technologies and trained the women whose homes received the new technology. The trainings sought to build the capacity of the recipients so they could make the best and most efficient use of these devices, ultimately enabling them to drive positive change within their communities.

The three villages of Khishortob, Qul, and Gharmen, where the households are located, lie at the altitude of up to 2,700 m above sea level and are isolated from central energy networks. They rely on firewood, manure and coal for their cooking and heating needs. The installed small-hydro plants are sufficient only for lighting during the spring and summer period. From October to May, the villages are closed off from the rest of the country due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.

“Clean energy technologies, such as the solar parabolic cookers and mini-solar power stations provided by the OSCE, would alleviate some of the hardships these communities face and have the potential to empower women as agents of change, while also having a positive impact on the environment,” says Giulia Manconi, the OSCE Project Manager.

This mission was the result of a collaboration between the OSCE, the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan, the municipality of Jamoat Anzob, and the implementing partner PO “Nerui Toza”. It was organized within the framework of the OSCE Project on Promoting women’s economic participation in the energy sector for energy security and sustainability in Central Asia, co-funded by Austria, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Poland. The project, including installation and training, took place from 7 to 18 August 2023.

550768 Željka Šulc

TUZLA, 28 August 2023 – Following the recent tragic cases, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Brian Aggeler, conducted a series of meetings in Tuzla, aimed at discussing the alarming situation related to the ongoing challenge of gender-based violence.

Ambassador Aggeler commenced the visit with a meeting with Tuzla Canton Prime Minister, Irfan Halilagić. He commended the co-operative efforts of Tuzla Canton institutions with the OSCE Mission to BiH and its Field Office in Tuzla, underscoring the importance of these partnerships in achieving tangible results.

Addressing the recent tragic killings in Gradačac and Živinice and highlighting the gravity of the matter, Ambassador Aggeler emphasized: "The importance of an effective institutional response to cases of gender-based violence cannot be overstated. There is an urgent need to improve the work of institutions for prevention, protection, and processing of such cases, with a firm commitment to a victim-centered approach."

Ambassador Aggeler also met with Tuzla Canton Minister of Interior Hajrudin Mehanović and Tuzla Canton Head of Police Director’s Office Denis Fejzić, reiterating that there must be zero tolerance to gender-based violence and that more focus must be placed on strengthening the capacities of relevant institutions in offering support, protection, and well-being to victims of domestic and gender-based violence.

At the meeting with Tuzla Canton Assembly Speaker Žarko Vujović and Deputy Speaker Boris Krešić, Ambassador stressed that effective prevention demands joint efforts of all institutions within and beyond the Canton, emphasizing that while the executive power has its role, the significance of the legislator's role should not be underestimated.

Ambassador Aggeler used this opportunity to meet with representatives of NGO Vive žene, and express his deep appreciation of the organization's impactful activities, particularly its support for survivors of war trauma, sexual violence, and domestic violence. He sought insights on local level enhancements to living conditions and victim support within local communities, placing emphasis on domestic violence survivors.

The discussions underscored the collective commitment to combat gender-based violence, fostering a comprehensive approach that integrates institutional cooperation, legislative support, and community engagement.

The OSCE Mission to BiH remains dedicated to collaborating with Tuzla Canton and its institutions to ensure the safety, well-being, and rights of all citizens, particularly those affected by gender-based violence.

550204 Screenshot from awareness-raising video on safety rules in chemical emergency. OSCE

As the ongoing war against Ukraine causes damage to industrial facilities across the country, it heightens the risks of release of toxic chemicals, posing a serious danger for people and environment. To help diminish threats to health and lives of people, the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine (the SPU) produced and delivered to the country’s State Emergency Service (the SESU) the awareness-raising materials, designed to inform the public about safety rules for chemical emergencies.  

These materials include a 4-minute educational cartoon “Chemical Emergency – Safety Rules”, that explains signs of such situation, including symptoms of impact of chemicals on health, outlines rules of safe behavior in a variety of situations where chemical threats can materialize. This cartoon can be used during awareness-raising outreach events, organized by the Service for people leaving in high risk areas, e.g. near industrial facilities. It is accompanied by a short version on signs of a chemical emergency, as well as four clips with safety rules for when people can be caught in such a disaster, notably outdoors, in the premises - at home or in the office, while driving. These materials can be instrumental for social media and outreach for specific audiences; they are available at the OSCE website and SESU resource “Safety ABC”.  

In addition, the SPU updated designs of leaflets on dangers posed by most widespread industrial chemicals and produced a handy brochure with safety rules in case of emergencies with ammonia, nitric acid, chlorine and mercury. A brochure and two types of posters on dangers posed by chemical weapons were also developed for civil defense lessons. The State Emergency Service received in total 11,000 print copies of these publications; they were dispatched to regional offices of the SESU for distribution. Digital copies of print materials can be found here.  

This effort is part of the “Enhancing Ukraine’s Chemical Emergency Response Capacity” project, implemented by the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine with financial contributions from the Organization's participating States; see full list of the Programme's donors. 

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

On 17 and 18 August 2023, the Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) organized a two-day training for social workers and psychologists in Dushanbe. The training aimed to teach techniques for rehabilitating juvenile offenders and preparing them for reintegration into society after serving their sentences.  

The Office is working with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population to implement the government’s National Programme for Rehabilitation and Social Integration of Juveniles for 2020-2024.   

“Today’s training for social workers and psychologists is just one step towards fulfilling this plan. The role that these professionals play in the lives of juvenile offenders can contribute to their success or failure upon their release,” said Rati Japaridze, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. 

The training brought together a total of 25 social workers and psychologists of which 15 were female participants. The training addresses the needs of both male and female juvenile offenders and is the latest example of OSCE support to the juvenile colony in Dushanbe. Last year the Office provided a heating system and developed risk assessment and classification tools to aid colony authorities in establishing a case management system based on international standards.  

This activity assists the Government of Tajikistan to fulfil the OSCE Commitments related to the structural components of a Democratic society and the 2006 Brussels Declaration on Criminal Justice. 

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

On 21 August 2023, The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) in co-operation with Tajikistan’s Border Troops launched a one month training course. Twenty-five officers from the Special Units of Tajikistan’s Border Troops are taking part in the course on “Sustaining Field Operational Capacities” held in the Border Troops Regional Training Facility in Khorog.  The course is conducted by a national expert and supported by assistant instructors from the Tajik Border Troops, leveraging local expertise while fostering sustainable internal training capacities.

The course will help participants improve skills relevant to their vital mission of securing the Tajik-Afghan border and addressing the security threats and humanitarian challenges emanating from Afghanistan. The main topics covered in the course are map reading, land navigation, pathfinding, reconnaissance and security operations and reporting, first aid, night observation and alpine/mountaineering, gender sensitive operations, and risk assessment. The participants are also introduced to the Google Earth Pro geospatial mapping and analysis software to help plan tactical-level border security operations.

The training is conducted within the framework of the 2nd phase of the Project “Patrol Field Capacity Building of the Tajik Border Troops (PFCB2)” financed by France and implemented by the Office. The course is part of the Office’s multi-year efforts to support Tajikistan’s border security response capabilities.

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

On 21 August 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Office) in partnership with the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan organized a disaster related awareness session for the 20 community members of Marghak village in Muminabad district. The village is located in a disaster prone area. 

The sessions were designed to raise awareness of disaster preparedness and mitigation measures. Participants discussed the specific context of Marghak village including mapping its disaster prone areas. In addition, first aid training was provided to community members. This training will help them to provide basic medical care in the event of a disaster.

Marghak village is one out of eight villages in Muminabad district where similar community awareness raising sessions on disasters preparedness, mitigation and response are taking place throughout this month. The Office anticipates that these sessions will build resilience among communities in disaster-prone areas of Tajikistan.

This campaign is in line with the strategic goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and Tajikistan’s Mid-term State Program for the Protection of population and Territories from Emergency Situations for 2023-2028. It is part of OSCE’s broader work to support to disaster preparedness, prevention, response and recovery at community level as well as at national and transboundary levels.

550399 Communication and Media Relations Section Enhancing youth crime and drug use prevention through education on legality and awareness campaigns addressing threats of organized crime and corruption

The OSCE, in co-operation with the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and the Ministry of Education and Science of Kyrgyzstan, held a training course from 21 to 25 August 2023 in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan to help teachers use an OSCE-developed curriculum on crime prevention and lawful behaviour for students in grades 5 to 11.

The 27 teachers from 18 schools across Kyrgyzstan learned more about the curriculum and how to use it, while also expanding their knowledge of organized crime, corruption and illegal drug use. They also learned effective teaching methodologies to further strengthen students’ resilience and reduce the likelihood of young people’s engagement in illegal and corrupt activities.

“Fostering a culture of lawfulness and integrity among future generations is one of the priorities for the Government of Kyrgyzstan,” said Kyialbek Akmatov, Head of the School Education Policy Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kyrgyzstan. “We are pleased to have developed, thanks to OSCE support, the school curriculum that will equip youth with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand, respect and actively promote the rule of law and integrity across our country.”

The curriculum is designed to help Kyrgyz students learn about the risks and consequences of criminal behaviour, including organized crime, corruption and illegal drug use. The curriculum will be piloted across 18 schools in Kyrgyzstan over the forthcoming 2023/2024 school year. More than 10,000 students are expected to benefit from the pilot programme.

The OSCE developed the curriculum through consultations with stakeholders across Kyrgyzstan after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on youth crime prevention in April 2022 between the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and the Government of Kyrgyzstan.  

The MoU underscores the OSCE’s commitment to supporting Kyrgyz authorities in implementing their national commitments within the Youth State Policy and the State Anti-Corruption and Drug Control Strategies, both of which emphasize the importance of youth education in the rule of law and integrity.

These efforts are part of the OSCE-wide multi-year project, Enhancing youth crime and drug use prevention through education on legality and awareness campaigns addressing threats of organized crime and corruption, which is funded by Germany and Poland. Other donors supporting this project are Andorra and Italy.

550243 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

From 21 to 25 August 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) conducted a Gender Equality and Leadership Skills Summer School in Bahoriston, Sughd region. The event brought together 26 young women nominated by the Committee of Women and Family Affairs, the Committee of Youth and Sport and the seven registered political parties.

Discussion topics ranged from concepts of gender equality and leadership to the national and international legal frameworks on the empowerment of women. Three members of the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians held discussions with young women and shared best practices from their own experiences of entering into and participating in politics.

“It is a generally accepted axiom that the family and society play a decisive role in the formation of the individual and further personal growth. In this context, the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians, which includes a group of women deputies at the highest legislative level, supports all legislative initiatives concerning women,” said Surayo Dustmurodzoda, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economics and Finance, member of the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians.

Since 2017, the Office has hosted this annual summer school for youth in partnership with key institutions in Tajikistan. The Office will continue to support Tajikistan’s efforts to foster gender equality and promote women’s equal participation in public and political life. 

Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 22 August 2023 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is deeply saddened by the incident of attempted femicide in Bijeljina. The Mission is alarmed by the growing number of such cases and the overall gender-based violence situation.

Since 2015, 56 women have lost their lives in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 19 classified as femicide in just 2021 and 2022. An OSCE study reveals that 48 percent of women in BiH have encountered abuse, of which a concerning 84 percent goes unreported. Immediate action is imperative.

All levels of government in BiH must prioritize the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, including domestic violence. Collaboratively, we can eliminate these crimes, which exact an unacceptable toll on individuals and society alike.

We trust that responsible authorities will demonstrate accountability and prioritize resolving this urgent concern. Excuses are no longer acceptable, as every passing day could result in more lives lost.