Central Europe

548992 Kunduz Rysbek

From 19 to 22 July, the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), in close co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, conducted the OSCE Training-of-Trainers (ToT) course on “Implementing intelligence-led policing in Kyrgyzstan”. This course has provided 20 participants (5 women, 15 men) from national and regional police authorities with the knowledge and expertise to instruct additional law enforcement officers in the practical application of intelligence-led policing (ILP).

The training course covered a wide range of topics related to the implementation of ILP including an explanation of the main concept of ILP and how this relates to the use of intelligence analysis for law enforcement. The international expert instructing the course participants also presented training materials, including a comprehensive training manual and presentations in English and Russian, which were made available to the course graduates for use in their training activities targeting additional police officers across Kyrgyzstan.

This event is part of an ongoing effort to support Kyrgyzstan in the nationwide roll-out of ILP and follows an in-depth needs assessment conducted jointly by the OSCE and Kyrgyz authorities, as well as an introductory session on ILP delivered in 2022.

The POiB co-operates closely with the Ministry of Internal Affairs on police reform, including the establishment of ILP as a key model for policing in Kyrgyzstan. Konstantin Bedarev, the POiB’s Adviser on Police Matters, stated that “the OSCE POiB welcomes the opportunity to combine the resources of the Programme Office and the Secretariat’s TNDT in order to deliver real value for our national counterparts. There has been great interest in additional support from the OSCE to further embed ILP in the national law enforcement culture.”

“The OSCE’s efforts in promoting ILP have resulted in numerous activities organized jointly with participating States and partners over the past six years. This Training-of-Trainers course will support the implementation of ILP approaches in Kyrgyzstan by equipping participants with hands-on lesson plans and comprehensive training materials,” highlighted Sascha Strupp, Senior Programme and Analysis Officer and ILP Project Manager with the OSCE Secretariat’s TNTD.

The OSCE has been supporting the implementation of the ILP model in participating States in South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia. ILP remains the most widely recognized approach to policing that combines analysis, foresight, prioritization and planning to create a proactive and effective decision-making framework for policing. The OSCE has been actively promoting ILP through various activities since 2017.

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

548971 Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 21 July 2023 – The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan, in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, facilitated a study visit for the Tajik delegation on domestic violence prevention and response from 15 - 21 July. The study visit aimed at enhancing Tajikistan's legislative framework and best practices in tackling domestic violence by drawing insights from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

Comprising 12 members, the Tajik Delegation included government representatives and representatives from women's rights organizations. Their visit centered on learning about BiH's institutional response to domestic violence, particularly focusing on multi-sectoral approaches.

The Tajik Delegation engaged in extensive meetings with representatives from various institutions and women's rights organizations that possess extensive experience in prevention, protection, service provision, and advocacy concerning domestic violence in BiH. These insightful interactions provided valuable knowledge and practical strategies that can be applied to combat domestic violence in Tajikistan.

"Through co-operation, knowledge-sharing, and the implementation of best practices, we aim to make substantial strides in protecting the rights and well-being of all individuals affected by domestic violence," said Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. "The OSCE Mission to BiH will continue to support authorities in BiH in strengthening survivors centered institutional response to all forms of gender-based violence."

Marifat Khidiralieva, a representative from the Tajikistan Women's Resource Center, stated: "This study visit provided me with more information about the multi-sectoral system. A good cooperation between different institutions and non-governmental organizations is important. There are many similarities, but Bosnia and Herzegovina is more advanced. I will study BiH's example and use it to improve the work of my organization, Women's Resource Center, and cooperation with the multi-sectoral group."

The success of this study visit exemplifies the spirit of co-operation and knowledge-sharing between Tajikistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina, demonstrating the potential for continued collaborative efforts in promoting gender equality, protecting human rights, and combating domestic violence.

548956

On 17 to 21 July 2023, the OSCE Secretariat, in co-operation with the Programme Office in Dushanbe, held the Central Asia Youth Dialogue Forum on the rule of law, integrity and crime prevention in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Forum gathered around 25 young people from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia to build confidence and trust among youth in the region.

The event served as a platform for Central Asian and Mongolian youth to identify and discuss key security challenges concerning the rule of law, integrity, and crime prevention. The interactive discussions led to the development of concrete policy recommendations and ideas aimed at enhancing these areas within their communities and the wider Central Asian region. These recommendations were presented to representatives of the Permanent Missions of Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States to the OSCE, as well as representatives of the Embassies of the United Kingdom and the United States in Kazakhstan.

One distinctive feature of the Dialogue Forum was its emphasis on meaningful youth engagement and capacity building. The event was largely youth-driven, with young individuals from the Central Asia Network by Consensus acting as facilitators for various sessions. This inclusive approach aimed to strengthen regional ties and create a supportive environment for young individuals to work together towards common goals.

“Fostering the culture of lawfulness among youth is one of the highest priorities for the Government of Kazakhstan. It is a pleasure for us to co-operate with the OSCE and host this important Forum in our country to give youth a platform to discuss the issues of crime prevention, integrity, and rule of law,” said Mr. Rollan Kuspan, Deputy Chair of the Committee of Youth and Family Affairs of the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Parvina Saidova, representative of the Central Asia Network by Consensus said, “Youth dialogue and exchange across Central Asia are essential for fostering understanding, collaboration, and a peer-to-peer approach, enabling youth to become active agents of positive change.”

The outcomes of the Forum clearly highlighted the significance of including the perspectives of young people in shaping policies regarding the rule of law, integrity, and crime prevention. The active involvement of youth demonstrates their potential as catalysts for positive change in their communities and the Central Asian region as a whole.

The Forum was held as 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. Other donors supporting this project are Andorra, Italy and Poland.

548947 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

The holistic nature of security sector governance and reform (SSG/R), the transformations experienced by different countries, and the efforts still required to further improve security sector governance in Central Asia were discussed at an OSCE workshop, held from 16 to 21 July in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. 

Fourteen OSCE Academy graduates and alumni from Afghanistan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan came together to learn about contemporary SSG/R concepts, taking the opportunity to think critically, to use different approaches, and to evaluate “when, where, and why” to apply SSG/R tools in the Central Asian context – including in light of the situation in Afghanistan. 

During the five-day workshop, participants deepened their theoretical and practical knowledge of human security, good governance, and human rights – focusing on both people-centred and state-centred security. They also enhanced their knowledge of the links between security and justice and the importance of gender and inclusivity in SSG/R processes. The event provided young graduates and alumni the opportunity to develop their professional and academic skills, together with their peers.

This summer school workshop was organized jointly by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, and the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. It was funded by the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Support, capacity-building and awareness-raising for Security Sector Governance and Reform within the OSCE: Phase III”, with financial contributions from Germany and Finland as well as in-kind support from DCAF. 

SARAJEVO, 20 July 2023 - The United Nations, the OSCE Mission, the Council of Europe and the EU Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina are dismayed that the Republika Srpska National Assembly today re-criminalized defamation.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right and a fundamental European value. This move contravenes the international human rights commitments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is inconsistent with its European path as it is not in line with the 14 key priorities of the European Commission’s Opinion, in particular, key priority 11 on an enabling environment for civil society, and key priority 12 on the freedom of expression.

Where criminal defamation laws exist, they risk being misused against journalists, human rights defenders and other civil society actors for performing their legitimate role to investigate and inform the public on issues public interest, which is fundamental for the functioning of any democratic society. The amendments represent a regrettable and undeniable major step backwards in the protection of fundamental rights and undermine the effective functioning of democracy in the Republika Srpska.

We also recall the recommendations that were provided by the United Nations, OSCE and Council of Europe bodies and human rights mechanisms which urged the Republika Srpska authorities not to recriminalize defamation and instead manage issues around defamation through improved media regulation and civil legislation. We also recall similar appeals made by civil society organizations, including journalists associations.

We will continue to provide our full support to any constructive and substantive discussion or process on how to further align legislation across Bosnia and Herzegovina with international human rights standards to which the country is legally bound. We will also pursue our active support to the important work of responsible and independent media actors and organizations in Republika Srpska and beyond.

548833

The universal and absolute prohibition of torture has been enshrined in several universal and regional treaties, and all fifty-seven OSCE participating States have ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). All States parties regularly submit reports to the UN Committee against Torture on measures being taken to implement the rights undertaken under the Convention, and receive recommendations from the Committee.

Against this backdrop, from 18 to 21 July 2023, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), in close collaboration with the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – Regional Office for Central Asia (UN OHCHR ROCA) held a specialized training course titled “Professional Development of State Agencies for the Preparation of the Sixth Periodic Report Of Uzbekistan on the Implementation of the [United Nations] Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” in the Tashkent region.

Thirty senior and mid-level government officials from the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (National Parliament), as well as ministries and agencies gained a deeper understanding of the international practices for the preparation of the periodic state report to the UN Committee against Torture, and examined the importance of ratifying  the Optional Protocol to the UNCAT.

In his opening remarks, the Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator, Ambassador Clemens Koja, underlined that “with the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision 7/20 adopted in 2020, the OSCE participating States have explicitly and unequivocally pledged to uphold the absolute prohibition of torture. In 2017-2023, we have witnessed the serious efforts undertaken by Uzbekistan to identify and eliminate shortcomings in torture prevention, affecting the level of protection of human rights and freedoms.”

Professor Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, Director of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan noted that “a fundamental right that is recognized in both national laws and international human rights treaties is the prohibition of inhumane treatment and torture. No one may be subjected to torture, violence, or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, declares the new Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan."

Overall, participants deepened their knowledge of the UNCAT, the substantive state obligations and areas of interest for national reporting process, strengthening national capacity to improve the mechanism for monitoring and implementing the concluding observations of  the UN Committee against Torture.

Mr. Jakhongir Azizkhodjaev, Acting Head of the UN OHCHR ROCA stressed that “amnesties for torture are incompatible with the obligations of State parties on absolute prohibition of torture; thus, they shall abstain from granting amnesties to perpetrators of torture and issuing pardons to persons found guilty of committing acts of torture.”

This specialized course was supported in the framework of the PCUz UB project “Promoting Rule of Law, Human Rights and Media Development”.

548869 Mirvete Islam, OSCE Mission to Skopje

The OSCE Mission to Skopje, together with the UNHCR Representation in North Macedonia, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, and the Committee for Political System and Inter-community Relations kicked-off a regional workshop aimed at supporting the country in its efforts to end statelessness.

“North Macedonia has become a leader in the region as well as globally by making it a national priority to end statelessness by the end of 2023.” said Ambassador Kilian Wahl, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje. “It is an ambitious but achievable goal and the Mission, together with UNHCR, is pleased to support this process.”

“I am proud that we became the first country in Europe, as well as the second country in the world, to successfully solve the problem of unregistered persons. I expect that by the end of 2023 these people will get an identity and most importantly they will finally be able to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed human rights without limiting their access to education, health and social protection,” highlighted Minister of Justice Krenar Lloga.

“Not having the basic personal documentation is a problem most often faced by the members of the socially vulnerable groups, precisely when they initiate proceedings before the competent authorities - centres for social work, health institutions, the Employment Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia in order to achieve the basic human rights,” noted Minister of Labour and Social Policy Jovana Trenchevska, adding that “North Macedonia is developing a society in which citizens, regardless of which ethnic community they belong to, [should] feel safe and have equal opportunities for personal development and progress.”

“UNHCR commends the great progress made by North Macedonia for addressing statelessness and hopes that with the harmonized implementation of the latest modifications of the Law on Civil Registry books adopted by the Parliament in June and the hard work of the Registry Office staff, all those missing a birth certificate and those currently temporarily registered will enjoy their rights as proud citizens of the country,” added Cristina Bunea, Officer in Charge of the UNHCR Representation in North Macedonia.

The aim of a series of regional workshops organised by the OSCE Mission to Skopje and UNHCR across the country is to train administrative staff in the practical application of the newly adopted amendments and supplements to the Law on Civil Registry regarding the late registration of unregistered persons in North Macedonia.

Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

On 11-13 July 2023, the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with the support of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, conducted a training-of-trainers course to further the skills of local financial investigators, judiciary and prosecution officials to apply analytical techniques in financial investigations as part of wider counter-terrorism efforts.

The course focused on building the capacities of local experts representing financial investigators, judiciary and prosecution to train their peers in using financial intelligence as a tool to detect networks of terrorists and their financiers. During the three-day course, a team of local trainers and international experts reviewed course material and exercise scenarios, including on topics such as the intelligence cycle, data and network analysis, and the grading of intelligence.

As part of his opening remarks, Koen De Smedt, Project Officer at TNTD’s Action against Terrorism Unit, stated: “The gathering and sharing of financial intelligence should be at the core of counter-terrorism operations. Not only can it uncover new intelligence and evidence, it can also give each agency strategic focus, unveiling certain trends that can assist in prioritizing your efforts and better orienting your future operations.”

The course forms part of a comprehensive training programme on countering the financing of terrorism funded by the United States. The objective of the programme, run jointly by the OSCE and UNODC, is to further build the operational framework of local financial investigators, judiciary and prosecutors to prevent terrorists from moving, using and raising funds for terrorist purposes, in line with international commitments and standards, in particular UN Security Council resolution 2462 (2019), Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and international human rights standards.

VIENNA, 18 July 2023 – Participants at the ongoing OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group Conference have discussed synergies and opportunities for co-operation with a particular focus on enhancing dialogue between the OSCE and Asia on efforts to reduce the risks of conflict stemming from the use of information and communication technologies, promoting effective co-operation in addressing the challenges caused by climate change, and the role of civil society in the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

At yesterday's opening session, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bujar Osmani underscored the close and inseparable link between security in the OSCE region and the security of its neighbours: “In today’s globalized world, ever more challenges are shared ones. With common challenges, however, come also common opportunities. This is why it is crucial for us to work together, learn from each other and ultimately reinvigorate multilateralism.”

“Enhancing dialogue, sharing commitments, exchanging expertise, identifying areas of common concern and generating ideas on jointly addressing the security challenges – these are all ways Europe and Asia can strengthen their ties and their security,” concluded the Chairman-in-Office.

The event, co-hosted by Poland, the 2023 OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group Chair and Australia, an Asian Partner for Co-operation of the OSCE, is being held in Vienna on 17 and 18 July.

In his opening statement, Zbigniew Rau, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, underlined the unique value of the OSCE Asian Partnership: “The OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group offers a highly functional platform for discussion with the OSCE Partner countries. Our co-operation is of the utmost importance when facing global problems, which are impossible to tackle individually. The Russian aggression against Ukraine is definitely such an existential challenge.”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, emphasized in her video message “the enduring value of agreed rules, standards and norms, which has only become more stark as Russia's war drags on. Australia understands the risks to all of us when a larger country attempts to subjugate a smaller country.”

“We resolutely advocate for the fundamental principles of international law to be upheld at every opportunity. Because Australia believes small and medium countries must be able to maintain their sovereign choices, protected by a stable framework of rules. And to do that, we must work together across all the issues we can't address alone, including cyber security, climate security and human rights,” she added.

OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid thanked Poland and Australia for their initiative to organize the conference and stressed that, for the OSCE, co-operation with its partners adds tremendous value: “We know that the challenges we face – whether we consider the risks of conflict arising from the use of information and communication technologies, the challenges posed by climate change – are not unique to any one region, and so there is real benefit in sharing our experiences, learning from each other, and working together to tackle the challenges we face.”

This APCG Chairmanship event was organized at the joint initiative of the Polish Chair of the Group and OSCE Asian Partner for Co-operation Australia. It continued to provide a valuable opportunity for OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation to share experiences and lessons learned on issues of common interest.

548665 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

The OSCE, in partnership with the Guardia Civil of Spain, trained canine team instructors in detection of weapons, ammunition and explosives (WAE) through a four-month course to support Ukraine’s capacities in countering illicit trafficking of SALW.

The training of eight instructors, six from the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) and two from the State Customs Service (SCS) of Ukraine, was held at the Guardia Civil Dog Training Centre (CADEPE) in Madrid and ended on 14 July. During the graduation ceremony, the Ukrainian canine instructors and their service dogs demonstrated their skills in the search for WAE.

Trainees went through over 600 hours of theoretical and practical sessions set up in a module-based training of trainers (ToT) programme delivered by experts from CADEPE, in accordance with European standards and best practices in product scent detection.

“The curriculum we used for the training of Ukrainian instructors proved its efficiency and is widely applied across the European Union. Focusing on WAE detection, our overall aim was to develop the ability of the course participants to analyze the training process and introduce corrective measures once a mistake in a dog’s or handler’s performance happens,” said Lt. Col. Guillermo Reyes, Head of CADEPE, in his address at the graduation ceremony.

Once back in Ukraine, the instructors will be integrating the skills taken from their Spanish colleagues into the national canine training programs of SBGS and SCS, aligning them with European Union standards.

Canine resources play a vital role in combating illicit trafficking of weapons, as well as other forms of organized crime such as drug smuggling. With the ongoing war against Ukraine, SALW-related threats can increase significantly, putting Europe at risk.

“Today, the illicit proliferation of SALW is a global security threat, fueling organized crime, terrorism, and armed conflicts. By supporting Ukraine and co-operating with the Guardia Civil in canine training, the OSCE contributes not only to strengthening Ukraine’s response to this threat but also to wider European security” said Shawn DeCaluwe, Chief of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation Support Unit, during his opening speech.

This initiative is a part of the project “In support of strengthening capacities of Ukrainian authorities in preventing and combating illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives in all its aspects”, funded by the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Slovakia. The project also receives in-kind support from Lithuania, Poland and Spain.

WARSAW, 17 July 2023 – Allegations of arbitrary imprisonment and enforced disappearances of civilians living in areas under occupation are occurring with alarming frequency, with widespread reports of the use of torture and ill-treatment, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today in a new report summarising its ongoing monitoring of violations of international law following Russia’s military attack in Ukraine. According to the many credible testimonies, torture and ill-treatment have been widespread in detention in all Russian-occupied areas.

“The credible evidence of human rights violations that we have collected is deeply worrying,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “The documented cases of torture and sexual-based violence contained in this report highlight the devastating impact the war is having on people’s lives, and make it all the more important to ensure accountability for those responsible for these crimes, as well as justice for all victims.”

In the course of its monitoring, ODIHR has received reports of summary executions, as well as torture and poor detention conditions of Ukrainian prisoners of war. For today’s report, ODIHR also interviewed witnesses who spoke of sexual violence, including allegations of rape, threats of rape and sexual violence, sexual harassment, electrocution of genitals, and forced nudity carried out by the Russian armed forces. Some reports of ill-treatment of Russian prisoners of war (POWs) by Ukrainian authorities have also been documented, and ODIHR analysed videos apparently showing the killing of POWs by both the Russian and Ukrainian armed forces.

ODIHR’s monitoring found evidence that Russia’s armed forces continued the routine use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in densely populated areas, leading to numerous civilian casualties. From late April 2023 attacks on civilian objects in residential areas were intensified, especially in Kyiv. ODIHR also collected further evidence of forcible displacements of civilians, including children, by the Russian authorities, within and from occupied areas of Ukraine.

All parties to an armed conflict must act in line with international humanitarian and human rights law, which explicitly bans indiscriminate attacks against civilians and protects the civilian population at all times against violence and inhumane treatment. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment are prohibited worldwide, and every OSCE country has recognised that no circumstance whatsoever, including war or a threat of war, can justify torture.

Ukraine has been a priority of ODIHR’s work over the last year. The Office began its mission to monitor and report on the most urgent issues affecting the lives of civilians and prisoners of war immediately since the war began, and has now carried out over 200 interviews with survivors and witnesses of alleged human rights violations to help ensure accountability for violations committed in the context the armed conflict in Ukraine.

Today’s report is the third in a series that brings together key findings of the monitoring. ODIHR makes a number of recommendations to both parties to the conflict, calling on them to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and to fulfil their duty to investigate violations and bring those responsible to justice in fair trials.

All OSCE countries have committed to “respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law including the protection of the civilian population” in situations of armed conflict.

548641

Staff from constituency offices from all over Albania and senior parliamentary administrative officials came together in Shkodra on 14 and 15 July 2023. The co-ordination and training event – organized by the Albanian Assembly with the OSCE Presence’ support – aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the MPs offices’ staff.

On the first day, participants engaged in an open discussion and evaluation session, and learned from each other experience. On the second day, they participated in a tailor-made training programme focused on the boosting citizen engagement, introducing the Assembly to youth, facilitating meetings between citizens and parliamentarians, maintaining records and preparing evaluations. In addition, parliamentary staff discussed outreach activity plans for October-December 2023 to be implemented with the Presence support in regions such as Gjirokastra, Saranda, Vlora, Dibra, Shkodra, Korça and Elbasan.

“We value the irreplaceable and meaningful role of the Assembly services, and our support is a proof of our long-term commitment to create a more active and healthy relationship between the citizens and their institutions. Civil society and parliament have begun to reach out to each other and we, by supporting similar initiatives, are determined to help narrow this gap from both sides,” Ambassador Bruce Berton, Head of the OSCE Presence, said at the opening of the event.

Secretary General of the Assembly of Albania Genci Gjonçaj stressed that parliament is the house of people and it should serve them to the best, also through the constituency offices that act as connection bridges. He considered the role of the OSCE Presence as irreplaceable in this process.

For more than a decade, the OSCE Presence has been working together with the Assembly of Albania to increase parliament’s professionalism, accountability, and transparency. In 2015 and 2016, the Presence supported the opening of the constituency offices in Korça and Shkodra, and has since organized activities to consolidate trust and co-operation between the MPs and the local communities.

548635

From 12 to 14 July, staff members from the Statistics Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan benefited from a three-day study visit to Washington D.C., United States, which included a specialized training on data openness and quality, metadata and data dissemination, as well as meetings with relevant stakeholders such as the World Bank, the Global Data Barometer and the Center for Open Data Enterprise. The training was organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) and delivered by Open Data Watch (ODW), an international non-profit organization working at the intersection of open data and official statistics.

When it comes to good governance, quality open data is critical and can lead to more effective and efficient governments. In addition, a public sector based on integrity, openness, transparency and accountability is key to promote a positive climate for business and investment.

The PCUz has been actively supporting efforts to promote and develop an effective open data ecosystem in Uzbekistan, integrating best standards into national open data policies and strengthening the capacities of national stakeholders based on best practices in the OSCE region. The PCUz and ODW have been cooperating since 2019, when Uzbekistan initiated reforms in the field of open data.

As a result, open data publishing has considerably improved in the country and so has the country’s position in various international rankings. In the Open Data Inventory (ODIN) – managed by ODW – Uzbekistan ranked 37 out of 193 in 2022, a steady improvement from its initial rating of 168 out of 178. The workshop represented a further step in the improvement of Uzbekistan’s open data record, as the staff from the Statistics Agency learnt from ODW’s expertise and experience to improve data access and quality. Participants went beyond the basics of open data and explored other significant recommendations from the latest 2022 ODIN assessment, as well as additional areas of interest such as data governance and data use and visualization.

During the workshop, participants also met with members of the Open Gov Hub, a non-profit coworking space gathering various stakeholders working in the area of good governance and opening up governments.

548617

The OSCE scholarship programme for young entrepreneurs and start-uppers from the Western Balkans kicked off today in Porto, Portugal, at the European Innovation Academy (EIA) - one of the world’s leading summer entrepreneurship programmes for young professionals, students, recent graduates and young start-uppers.

From 16 July to 4 August, 30 young women and men from the Western Balkans between the ages of 18-25 are joining peers from all over the world for the three-week programme, where they will be immersed in a multicultural ecosystem with professionals and mentors from the world’s top institutions, including business leaders from North America, Europe and Asia.

Participants will be given the opportunity to work with leading start-up coaches and mentors to further develop and scale up their socially and environmentally impactful businesses ideas, particularly in the field of employment/training, sustainable transport, sustainable tourism, waste management, energy, sustainable agriculture and pollution reduction.

The scholarships are awarded as a part of the YDEAS project (Young Developers and Entrepreneurs to Advance Start-ups in the Western Balkans), which is managed by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), in collaboration with the network of the OSCE Field Operations as well as the local branch offices of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).

“With this initiative, the OSCE is making a real contribution to innovation and human capital development in the Western Balkans. By supporting these young people, we are tackling persistent unemployment and brain drain by providing an opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills so they can start businesses, create jobs and improve their communities,” said Ambassador Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.

18 year old Ana Morina from Albania says, “The OSCE-EIA Scholarship is the perfect environment to foster entrepreneurship and innovation, to get inspired, to network and cooperate.”

The YDEAS project expands opportunities for skills development and job creation, with the aim of improving the employability of youth and women and promoting an enabling environment for innovative, socially-impactful and green start-ups. It works to establish regional networks of social and green entrepreneurs and leverage innovation and social economy to foster trust, connectivity, inclusive development, and reconciliation in the Western Balkans and in the OSCE region.

528447 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz Kazakhstan, Early Parliamentary Elections, 19 March 2023: Final Report Kazakhstan, Early Presidential Election, 20 November 2022: Final Report

Kazakhstan’s 20 November 2022 early presidential and 19 March 2023 early parliamentary elections took place in the context of reforms aimed at bringing the country’s elections closer in line with international standards and OSCE commitments, but further changes to the legal framework are needed for conducting democratic elections and ensuring genuine pluralism, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its final reports published today.

ODIHR concluded that while the legal amendments to the electoral legislation introduced so far addressed several prior ODIHR recommendations, limits on the exercise of constitutionally guaranteed fundamental freedoms remain and prevent some political groups from participating in elections.

Both votes were efficiently prepared and election day was calm in both elections, ODIHR said. Nevertheless, significant procedural irregularities and omissions during counting and tabulation undermined the transparency of the process.

The reports offer recommendations to bring elections in Kazakhstan closer in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections.

Key recommendations include:

• Taking further efforts to enable a fully genuine pluralistic and competitive political environment;
• Reviewing the electoral legal framework and legislation on fundamental freedoms through an inclusive, timely and consultative process in line with international standards;
• Removing undue restrictions on candidacy for the presidential post and on political party registration;
• Ensuring a meaningful exercise of the right to peaceful assembly by reviewing the existing legislation and its implementation;
• Revising the rules for the appointment of election commissioners to ensure their independence and impartiality at all levels;
• Repealing criminal sanction for defamation in favour of civil remedies in line with international standards;

• Limiting or blocking websites only in cases where such limitation is in line with international standards;

• Allowing unrestricted access of citizen and international observers to the entire electoral process, including during voting, counting and tabulation of voting results;
• Enhancing the transparency and integrity of the electoral process, including by publishing disaggregated election results.

The ODIHR election observation missions also assessed the country’s efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. For Kazakhstan, the ODIHR mission evaluated the follow-up to recommendations from the 2019 presidential election, the 2021 parliamentary elections and the 2022 referendum, and concluded that three recommendations had been fully implemented, another three mostly implemented, and 24 partially addressed, while others are still outstanding.

All 57 countries across the OSCE region have formally committed to follow up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

548587 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

The joint session, organized under the Bulgarian FSC Chair and 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia, provided a platform to explore the role the FSC can play in the environment-security nexus and how the OSCE can best address issues such as protection of the environment during armed conflicts. The discussion was designed to raise awareness and foster further co-operation on the subject.

“We are glad to dedicate this security dialogue to the Security and Environment Nexus, particularly in the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. This war disrupts and affects the lives of millions of people, threatening human health and causing damage to the environment, critical infrastructure and security.” said Ambassador Emilia Kraleva, Chair of the Forum for Security Co-operation, in her opening remarks. “The recent destruction of the Kakhovka dam led to the devastating deterioration of human, economic and environmental security, including water access and quality. The implications are enormous and require ongoing effort, co-ordination and mobilization of resources, expertise and support.”

Remarks were delivered by OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, Yevhenii Fedorenko, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection of Ukraine, Dr. Rowena Watson, Chief of the US State Department Environmental Division and Colonel Christian Tournié, Deputy Head of Department in the French Ministry of Interior. Throughout the discussion, the speakers presented many of the existing challenges and the possible and diverse synergies to address them, including the role OSCE is able to play.

“There are many examples in the OSCE region of environmental degradation as a direct consequence of military conflicts. For already 25 years, the OSCE has been working to address environment and security challenges, including through our field operations, from disaster risk reduction and supporting transboundary water co-operation to the disposal of surpluses of Small Arms and Light Weapons,” said OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid in her address.

The meeting further recognised the inextricable link between environmental instability and exacerbated geopolitical and socio-economic tensions, including escalation to domestic and regional conflict - particularly in transboundary risk areas, such as shared waterways, forests, soil or air.

“The OSCE documents, starting from the Helsinki Final Act, recognize the nexus between Security and Environment. As OSCE participating States, we committed ourselves to the OSCE’s comprehensive and co-operative approach to security, which addresses the human, economic and environmental, political and military dimensions of security as an integral whole,” added Ambassador Igor Djundev, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council. “Environmental issues are not limited to a country or one region; they are transnational and solutions require an appropriate and a global approach. Adaptation strategies become a collective process to attain environmental security.”

Participants were also invited to deepen their understanding and discuss the security repercussions of the destruction of the Khakovka dam during a side event titled “The destruction of the Kakhovka HPS dam: What Consequences for Environment and Security in Ukraine”. The event highlighted the role of the Organization in mitigating both short and medium-term impacts of this disaster, through monitoring, assessment and offering options for remediation.

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OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid recognized the outstanding achievements of OSCE staff in advancing gender equality and empowering women in the OSCE at the fourth award ceremony that took place at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today.

“The OSCE has a crucial role to play in promoting peace and security - and women's equality is an important component of this. We remain steadfast in our commitment to empower women and combat all forms of violence. Throughout the year, we have continued to make improvements within the Organization as well, I am proud to say that we now have gender parity among our international staff and in senior management. Significant progress has also been made in promoting a safe and secure working environment. Today, we highlight the outstanding contributions of our gender champions for their dedication and commitment to making gender equality a reality for all,” Secretary General Schmid said.

Three staff members and one project received the OSCE Gender Champions Award, which recognizes significant contributions in to advancing gender equality in four categories: leadership, staff member, gender focal point and project.

Ambassador Alena Kupchyna, Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats, received the Leadership Award. She was recognized for raising gender awareness amongst her staff and strengthening the gender focal point structure within the Transnational Threats Department in OSCE Secretariat.

Dimitar Dimitrovski, Media Assistant in the OSCE Mission to Skopje, received the Staff Member Award for his contributions to a project supporting the Platform for Investigative Journalism and Analyses in conducting a nationwide survey, publishing a baseline study, and producing the “Dangerous Network” documentary on the experiences of women media workers who face online harassment.

The Gender Focal Point Award was presented to Julia Haas, Associate Project Officer from the Representative on Freedom of the Media, who was nominated by colleagues for her principled stance as an equality activist, and dedication to the cause of streamlining a gender-sensitive approach across all projects and activities.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) received an award in the project category for the “Capitalizing on the Human Dimension Mandate to Advance Gender Equality” (CHANGE) project. The project demonstrated a unique approach to strengthening holistically the individual and collective impact on democratic institutions, policies and social norms to advance gender equality, women’s human rights and women’s safety.

548374 OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities HCNM at 30: Lessons Learned and Potential Challenges – Building Long-term Social Cohesion in South-Eastern Europe FRAZA information video First-ever digitalized Macedonian-Albanian-Turkish-Serbian Fraza phrasebook launched by OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM), in collaboration with the 2023 North Macedonia Chairpersonship, organized a high-level conference on 7 July 2023 in Vienna. The participants reflected on the achievements, challenges and lessons learned in promoting long-term social cohesion in South-Eastern Europe. The event was one of several planned this year to mark the 30th anniversary of the HCNM.

Opening the conference, High Commissioner Kairat Abdrakhmanov said, “The OSCE itself was built to address the issues related to peace and security by means of co-operation and dialogue. We need to use all of these tools effectively to ensure peace and stability in our shared space.”

Representatives from OSCE participating States, practitioners, officials from international organizations, academics and experts in the field analysed the three decades of conflict prevention work carried out by the institution of the HCNM and its role in the contemporary security architecture, as well as identifying emerging challenges related to national minorities.

OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani said, “The OSCE region has a long history and culture of respect for national minority rights and peaceful coexistence between different communities. My own country, North Macedonia, treasures and nurtures our unique model of functional multi-ethnic democracy, coupled with solid social cohesion across its diverse communities. We have every right to speak out with our credible voice in support of all the efforts of this organization, and its field missions and autonomous institutions, to protect the values of social cohesion and promote the rights of different minority groups.”

“Thirty years since the first High Commissioner took office, the success of the OSCE’s work and its impact on the lives of people across the region is clear. The combination of the role of the High Commissioner, along with the OSCE’s strong network of field operations, excellent partnerships with host authorities, local-level engagement, and the ability to partner with civil society and youth, provides a key tool to support social cohesion and foster positive, sustainable change for the people of South-Eastern Europe,’’ emphasized OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid.

In his keynote speech, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues Miroslav Lajčák said, “Preventive diplomacy, genuine dialogue, integration of diverse societies and recommitment to multilateralism remain key to peace and stability in our region.”

The half-day event also served as an opportunity to showcase collaborative efforts in long-term conflict prevention. Participants shared positive integration practices and offered critical insights and perspectives on sustainable social cohesion. The conference also highlighted the pivotal role of gender, youth and civil society as drivers of integration.

The office of the HCNM, which was established in The Hague 30 years ago, has played a crucial role in reducing tensions and fostering the integration of diverse societies in the OSCE participating States. Through quiet diplomacy, the six successive High Commissioners have engaged in dialogue with national authorities and local stakeholders, assisting them in developing policies and legislation that incorporate the interests of national minority communities.

The discussions and outcomes of this conference will contribute to the institution of the HCNM’s toolkit of approaches that can support future efforts to support inclusive and resilient societies across South-Eastern Europe and the OSCE area.

GENEVA, 12 July 2023 - The 58th round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), as mandated by the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008 and implementing measures of 8 September 2008, took place on 11-12 July 2023. As usual, this round was held in two working groups meeting in parallel on security and humanitarian issues.

This was the second round held this year in a continued highly challenging regional and geopolitical environment. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to the process and key role played by the GID as the only platform where the conflict consequences are addressed. The Co-Chairs expressed appreciation for this shared commitment.

Non-use of force/international security arrangements, as one of the key items of the GID, were discussed in detail. All participants actively engaged on the issue, but without reaching a common understanding on the way forward. Discussions will continue in future rounds.

The humanitarian situation on the ground was broadly reviewed. The issue of internally displaced persons and refugees could not be fully covered as per the agenda due to a walkout by some participants.

It was agreed to hold the next GID round in December 2023.

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An exchange of best practices on the functioning of Local Public Safety Councils (LPSCs) between the municipality of Elbasan and those of Lushnja, Cërrik and Gramsh took place in Elbasan, on 12 July 2023. The OSCE Presence in Albania organized the event in partnership with Elbasan Municipality with the aim to enhance the LPSCs effectiveness in tackling public security issues and promote co-operation between local institutions and non-institutional stakeholders to prevent and address security challenges within the community.

“Since its establishment with the Presence’s support in 2016, the Local Public Safety Council of Elbasan – the first of this kind in Albania – has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in increasing community safety and security. It now stands as an example of best practices that can be shared with other LPSCs across the country”, the Head of the OSCE Presence, Ambassador Bruce Berton, said at the opening of the meeting. He stressed that the success of LPSCs depends on the active engagement of all stakeholders – local officials, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, youth and media.

The event was attended by senior representatives of Elbasan, Lushnjë, Cërrik and Gramsh municipalities, including the mayors, the Head of Prosecution Office of Elbasan, the Director of Elbasan Local Police Department, and other representatives of various institutions and non-institutional actors, such as youth councils and civil society. They engaged in interactive discussions on the importance of LPSCs in preventing and addressing local security threats and best ways to make them act as bridges between the police and local institutions and communities to address public safety and security concerns. Security mechanisms established by Elbasan LPSC, as well as and civil society and youth initiatives on local safety and security were also presented at the roundtable.

Elbasan Mayor Gledian Llatja said: “We cannot be an island in Elbasan region or in Albania, thus we should share our experience with these community structures, be it good or bad, with each other, and create a safer environment not only in Elbasan municipality, but in the entire region and across the country”.

The Local Public Safety Councils – established in 56 out of 61 municipalities of Albania – are structures with consultative competencies, which bring together local stakeholders, such as local government, law enforcement agencies, civil society, youth, religious leaders and media, to discuss and improve the multi-agency co-operation in addressing local security and safety issues. The OSCE Presence in Albania has supported their establishment and functioning since 2016 and will continue to support these mechanisms with the aim to further institutionalize and strengthen their role in enhancing community safety.