Central Europe

VIENNA, 3 June 2022 – “In view of the imminent decision by UK’s Home Secretary Priti Patel on Julian Assange’s extradition to the US, I want to express my concern regarding the impact that such a decision can have on media freedom and investigative journalism”,  said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro.

The case of Julian Assange has preoccupied the public in many countries for over a decade, with many civil society and media organizations and public figures calling for Assange’s release.

“I call on the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel not to extradite Julian Assange. The public interest of several of the publications by WikiLeaks should be taken into account, as it contributed to important investigative reports and news reporting. It is essential to consider the impact on freedom of expression and media freedom if he is extradited and convicted. The fact that someone who disclosed material of public interest might face a long prison sentence could have a grave and lasting stifling impact on investigative journalism,” the Representative said.

In this light, the Representative reminded all OSCE participating States that they have adopted a set of commitments that consider freedom of expression and access to information as fundamental human rights and a basic component of democratic societies. “Access to information of public interest enables people to make well-informed choices and ensures transparency and accountability of governance,” concluded Ribeiro.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

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On 3 June 2022,  the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) in co‑operation with the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) and the Uzbek Prosecutor General’s Office organized an international scientific-practical conference themed “Legalization of the Proceeds of Criminal Activities and Financing of Terrorism: Modern Threats and Current Issues of Combating them”.

Experts from 16 countries and 15 international organizations discussed in Tashkent the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) international standards, development of international co-operation, enhancement of the role of law enforcement and supervisory authorities in strengthening national Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) systems.

This initiative aimed to ensure effective interaction and co-operation at the regional level and the integration of the EAG member States into the international system of combating the legalization of criminal proceeds and the financing of terrorism in accordance with the FATF Recommendations. Participants also discussed the international standards for combating the legalization of criminal proceeds and the financing of terrorism.

The meetings of working groups and the 36th Plenary Meeting of the EAG preceded the conference. The representatives of EAG member States, the FATF Secretariat, as well as observer States and organizations attended this series of events.

The PCUz has been supporting the enhancement of the country’s AML/CFT legislation in line with the recommendations of the FATF for more than ten years and has been instrumental in helping the country to withdraw from FATF blacklisted countries and considerably improve its FATF regime.

519681 Marina Živaljević

On 6 June 2022, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Technical Working Group for Self-Regulation published a document Manual for Moderation of Online Users' Comments, which is a guide for moderators of user comments on portals on how to identify controversial and harmful content, providing an adequate response.

The Manual aims to ensure a fair, impartial and respectful approach to moderation, as well as to minimize the risks of commenting – both legal risks for the media and users, as well as risks of inadequate contextualization of primary content.

It elaborates the legal framework, purpose, risks and rules of moderation and commenting, types of moderation and procedures, but also provides practical advices on how to improve moderation. What the legally protected rights that the moderator must take into account are, how to recognize the content posted by bots, how to recognize trolling and distinguish offensive speech from satire and criticism – these are some of the questions that the Manual provides answers to.

On the occasion of document’s publication, Dominique Waag, Head of the Mission, met with representatives of the Technical Working Group on Self-Regulation Ranko Vujović, Executive Secretary of the Media Council for Self-Regulation, Mihailo Jovović, Programme Director of daily Vijesti; Paula Petričević, Ombudsperson of daily Vijesti and weekly Monitor, Ilija Jovićević, Ombudsperson of daily Dan and Ljiljana Minić, Editor at daily Dan.

Ambassador Waag said that the Mission has a long-lasting co-operation with self-regulatory mechanisms in Montenegro and nurtures it through the Technical Working Group, which has so far worked on a number of documents of great importance to Montenegrin journalists.

“In the times when all countries fight hate speech and misinformation, mostly in the online sphere, it is important that we are all on the same page and join forces to fight this phenomenon. Let’s not forget the importance of media literacy, because due to the lack of knowledge in this area, we face the problem of unverified information, disinformation and hate speech today“, said Ambassador Waag.

Participants of the meeting also exchanged ideas on combating growing hate speech in on-line sphere and steps to be taken. It was concluded that further work on documents of the type of the new manual is needed, which would facilitate the work of journalists in Montenegro, especially when it comes to how to respond on hate speech.

In 2019, the Mission supported development of Guidelines for applying section 2.8 of Montenegrin journalists’ Code of Ethics, which elaborated rules, ethical standards and guidance on how to moderate readers’ comments on internet portals.

519642 Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is supporting human rights education through training by some of the many young people who have benefitted from the Mission’s programmes. The move marks a shift away from training by OSCE to a group of talented young women and men who will use their expertise in human rights education to design and implement activities proposed by the Mission and other institutional partners.

Since 2015, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has trained over 2,000 young people from different backgrounds on human rights education, facilitation skills and inter-cultural learning. As a result of these trainings, the Mission identified a core group of participants who were ready to become non-formal educators, paving the way to the creation of a Pool of Trainers.

“When we empower youth, we empower the future,” said Shqiponjë Kodraliu about her experience as a member of the Pool of Trainers. “Exchanging experiences with other professionals from different backgrounds, helps me grow professionally, and contribute to setting a higher standard of trainers,” she added.

“Young people have always been at the centre of real change in society. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has long recognized the role of young people as catalysts for peace and security. We will continue to empower young women and young men to embark on initiatives that will positively impact and shape their own communities,” said Deputy Head of Mission Kilian Wahl.

Last week, members of the Pool of Trainers implemented their first activities for the Mission, while many more are planned in the coming months. One activity focused on training law students from Kosovo on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on property rights. Through this first collaborative engagement, Besnik Beqaj from the Pool of Trainers informed students about the Court and its approach to property rights, including those of non-majority communities. “A professor of mine once told me that we rise by lifting others and I see this potential in the OSCE Pool of Trainers.”

Based on the positive feedback received from participants in the training, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo will continue to employ members of the Pool of Trainers to engage with youth to enhance their skills and knowledge.

VIENNA, 5 June 2022 — The OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will visit Tajikistan on 6 and 7 June for meetings with high-level officials and to attend the 2nd International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028.

The visit will focus on the OSCE’s assistance to Tajikistan’s government in responding to the security implications of Afghanistan, particularly at its southern border. Also opening the Women Water Forum, the Secretary General will highlight the OSCE’s support on transboundary water co-operation, especially in light of climate change, and the important role of women in this regard. Discussions will also focus on OSCE’s support to Tajikistan in implementing the national reform agenda.

The OSCE Secretary General will meet with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin and Colonel Rajabali Rahmonali, Commander of the Tajik Border Troops.         

In Dushanbe, Schmid will meet with the Vice Speaker of the Parliament Dilrabo Mansouri, who is also the Head of the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians in Tajikistan. She will furthermore have discussions with representatives of civil society organizations.

The Secretary General will meet with staff from the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the Border Management Staff College team. She will also address the annual staff course for female leaders in border security. 

How to undertake effective financial investigations to identify, investigate and disrupt the financing of terrorism was in focus during a five-day training course, which concluded today, 3 June 2022 in Sarajevo. The OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly organized the training course with the support of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

Twenty-two experts from the Ministry of Security of BiH, the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, the State Investigation and Protection Agency, Intelligence Security Agency of BiH, the Ministry of Interior of the Federation of BiH, the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska and Brčko District Police, including eight local trainers previously trained by the OSCE and UNODC, took part in the course.

They learned about techniques and methods to assist in the successful conduct of financial investigations as part of wider counter-terrorism operations. The course was particularly aimed at strengthening inter-agency co-operation through joint work on a realistic and localized scenario, which simulated an unfolding terrorist attack.

To strengthen links with international partners, a representative of the EUROPOL European Counter Terrorism Centre presented the wide array of support it can bring to local financial investigations.

The training programme on countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) has been implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina since December 2020 with the aim to further build the country’s CFT framework to better prevent terrorists from raising, using and moving for terrorist purposes, in line with international commitments and standards.

This course was organized with the financial support of the United States within the framework of the extra-budgetary project “Train-the-trainer and Training Courses on Countering Terrorist Financing”.

VIENNA, 3 June 2022 – Following discussions held at the Stockholm Ministerial Council, participants at today’s special OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group discussion looked into several aspects of a framework for response to the implications of Afghanistan for the OSCE region. The meeting was convened by the Swedish Chair of the Group. The meeting particularly highlighted gender-related aspects of the regional consequences of developments in Afghanistan, and how the situation in Afghanistan has affected young women and men in Central Asia.

"Just as Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the situation in Afghanistan is having vast consequences for the OSCE region. I would like to thank the Secretary-General and the Secretariat for their excellent work in developing the Framework for an OSCE response, focusing on Central Asia and particularly addressing gender-related aspects”, said Ambassador Ulrika Funered, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OSCE and Chair of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group.

“Today´s topic is timely and remains an issue of great concern to the Polish Chairmanship. While Russia´s aggression against Ukraine has taken up much focus this spring, it is important that we don’t lose the broader OSCE region from our sight”, said Mr. Marcin Czapliński, Deputy Permanent Representative of Poland to the OSCE, Polish 2022 OSCE Chairpersonship. “While discussing the regional consequences of the situation in Afghanistan one should highlight grave security implications for the Central Asian region.“

The Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, Tuula Yrjölä, presented key elements of the Framework for Response to the Implications of Afghanistan for the OSCE Region (RIAOR). “This framework aims to mitigate risks, address vulnerabilities and pursue opportunities to support connectivity and development,” she said. “We will continue to focus on delivering support in Central Asia to bolster the resilience of the region in the context of developments in Afghanistan. I welcome the support of participating States that recognize the wider impact these developments can have.”

The OSCE supports the Asian Partnership in its efforts to further promote common values in the international community and address the new challenges affecting European security and beyond.

519522 Kunduz Rysbek

On 31 May, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek held a round table to discuss the results of the study “Violence against Women in Politics in Kyrgyzstan” - the first one ever conducted in the host state. The study was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022 by the non-governmental organization "Agency for Social Technologies", with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The participants of the round table included members of the national parliament of Kyrgyzstan, representatives of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda, civil society and expert communities, international organizations, and national media community.

The research found that women in Kyrgyzstan are not sufficiently protected from this negative phenomenon and face violence at all levels of public and political life.

The results of the study demonstrate that women in politics and/or aspiring to enter local and national politics, are subjected to psychological, emotional, economic and even sexual violence by their family, within their communities, by local villagers, fellow party members, as well as other male candidates.

The study revealed a particularly high prevalence (97 percent) of sexual harassment among women candidates or women politicians in the form of unwanted sexual demands and messages of sexual nature.

Around 32 percent of the interviewed women experienced various forms of psychological violence: threats, humiliation, verbal abuse, blackmail and discrediting in the eyes of the public. Notably, harassments came from both men and other women.

A third of the women interviewed, or 30 percent, faced economic violence in the form of lack of equal access along with men to economic resources and their distribution. An election campaign requires significant funds, and only few women have them.

On the contrary, violence against women politicians is rarely observed in the local media in Kyrgyzstan, with only 6 percent of female respondents confirming they encountered it.

In the participants’ opinion, various forms of violence against women in politics is used specifically to weaken their self-confidence, reduce authority in the public’s eyes, ultimately leading to reluctance on the woman-candidate’s side to campaign and participate in political and public processes.

Nonetheless, these women also confirmed that when faced with acts of violence, their determination to continue campaigning and/or working in the political industry was only strengthened.

“Women shall not be considered as a quota to fill the seats, or as mere statistics. Women should be perceived as an equal and important factor, without which the sustainable development of the country is impossible,” says Rasmiya Kazimova, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The round table also discussed recommendations to better prevent violence against women in politics in Kyrgyzstan, including international research and good practices from across the OSCE region that has been presented by the OSCE/ODIHR.

What is still critically needed, beyond the reforms recommended in this study, is a fundamental shift in how society sees women in government, in politics. So that women are not perceived as just a quota that will fill the seats, or as mere statistics. When women are perceived as an equal and important factor, that means the country is using all available resources towards achieving a sustainable and fair development for all.

The work of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in promoting gender equality in Kyrgyzstan, including women’s equal political participation, is in line with the 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, and the UN Security Council resolution #1325 on Women, Peace and Security.   

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On 30 May 2022, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) in co-operation with the Ministry of Preschool Education, the Ministry of Sports Development and the Cycling Federation organized a cycling marathon in Samarkand to promote sustainable green development and improve environmental awareness.

The initiative aimed to develop sustainable skills in the field of environmental conservation and to raise awareness for the use of green transportation. The marathon also served to popularize cycling, promote a healthy lifestyle among preschool children, and contribute to promoting the green economy principles.

Ecological education and the introduction of youth to sports are vital issues for the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The OSCE supports initiatives to promote sustainable green development, improve environmental awareness and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Following a similar event held last year in Tashkent, this marathon was the second of its kind and was organized within the framework of PCUz’s programme on environmental security.

In 2021, the OSCE in close co-operation with national partners launched a project to introduce environmental education into the system of preschool education and the method of riding balance bikes. Within this project, 13 pilot state preschool educational organizations were provided with 400 balance bikes.

The first children's cycling marathon took place on 1 June 2021 in Tashkent in the Ecopark, where 65 children, teachers, and cycling athletes took part. In 2022, within the framework of the project, 20 state preschool educational organizations were selected and provided with 500 balance bikes.

This initiative was attended by high-level officials, including Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva,  Minister of Sports Development  Adkham Ikramov, the Minister of Preschool Education Agrippina Shin, Head of the Main Department for the Formation and Conduct of Policies in the Sphere of Preschool Education of the Ministry of Preschool Education Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, and Governor of the Samarkand region Erkinjon Turdimov.

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On 2 June 2022, the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD/ATU) held an interactive workshop on media literacy to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT), in which 26 OSCE-trained facilitators from South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia participated.  

Using scenario-based exercises, the participants explored how information disorder is exploited by various actors including violent extremist organizations, and to what ends. Participants also reinforced their knowledge of the importance of media and information literacy to address VERLT and disinformation in a human rights compliant manner; and explored possible roles for civil society.

The workshop was implemented under the OSCE Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism (LIVE) initiative, a flagship training programme that seeks to build the resilience and capacity of communities.

The training is part of TNTD/ATU’s and the OSCE field operations efforts tobuild an enduring LIVE Community of Practice of LIVE facilitators.

The OSCE’s LIVE Initiative consists of three different training courses tailored to youth, women and community leaders across the OSCE area. From 2018 to 2021, the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE field operations, delivered a series of regional LIVE train-the-trainer seminars for South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and supported OSCE field operations in their implementation of national LIVE training courses.

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Countering the illicit financial flows linked with Afghan opiates trafficking was at the centre of a meeting by the Expert Working Group of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Paris Pact Initiative hosted by the OSCE on 30 May 2022.  

Among other topics, participants discussed the security situation in Afghanistan, opiate trafficking, money and service transfer services (Hawala), inter-agency and international co-operation. They also examined challenges and developments to counter money laundering and asset recovery initiatives. Moreover, participants considered technical assistance needs and new capabilities, which can enhance the understanding and disruption of illicit financial flows.

“Afghanistan’s economy has been deteriorating over the past nine months. Illegal narcotic cultivation, production, and trafficking are further fueling corrosive and destructive effects, such as generation and utilization of illicit financial flows into and out of Afghanistan and the broader region” said Alexandre Schmidt, Chief, Regional Section for Europe, West and Central Asia at the UNODC.

“Working together, Paris Pact partners have delivered to the partnership through co-ordinated, prioritized operational recommendations on all four thematic Pillars of the Paris Pact, including on tackling financial flows linked to Afghan opiates” said Riku Lehtovuori, Paris Pact Initiative Coordinator at the UNODC. “Just recently, Paris Pact Initiative partners have launched the discussion of methamphetamine production and trafficking originating in Afghanistan, thus highlighting the added value of the Paris Pact as a unique platform promoting a comprehensive approach to addressing new and emerging threats” he concluded.

“The Afghan drug trade is linked with the insurgency, corruption, financing terrorism and illegal economies. As we know, drug traffickers rely on the services of financial professionals to manage their assets. No country or international organization can effectively address this threat singlehandedly. To tackle it we should work together to increase our collective capacities, build strategic partnerships and strengthen operational impact,” said Dennis Cosgrove, on behalf of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD).

The event was organized in line with the OSCE-UNODC Joint Action Plan for 2020-2022, as well as following the practice of co-operation at policy and expert level in the framework of the Paris Pact Initiative with regards to combating the trafficking in illicit opiates originating in Afghanistan.

The Paris Pact Initiative is a broad international coalition made up today of 58 partner countries and 23 organizations, for combatting illicit traffic in opiates originating in Afghanistan.

519438 Željka Šulc

Sarajevo, 2 June 2022 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission), in the period from March to May 2022, supported the Ministry of Justice of BiH in the organization of five consultative meetings across the country on the Draft Justice Sector Reform Strategy 2021-2027 (Strategy). These meetings were part of the wider process designed to resolve stagnation around justice sector reform and advance the adoption of the Strategy, while also enabling more inclusive and informed participation of relevant actors. These also aimed to encourage key authorities to support the implementation of the Strategy, including in providing the required financial resources.

Crucially, the Strategy ensures ownership by local institutions over the delivery of concrete inputs and results in relation to justice sector reform in BiH.

The Mission urges authorities to swiftly adopt and then effectively implement the Strategy, which provides the institutional framework that is an essential component of wider, much-needed justice sector reform in BiH.

The Delegation of the European Union to BiH/ European Union Special Representative to BiH (EU Office to BiH) also follows this process closely. In its 2021 Country Report on BiH, the European Commission urged BiH to adopt a new Justice Sector Reform Strategy and the related action plan in the coming year, to replace those that expired in 2018, as part of the authorities’ commitment to the citizens of BiH, who deserve an independent, accountable, and efficient justice sector. Judicial reform is further a crucial component of the EU accession process.

The OSCE Mission to BiH, in partnership with the EU Office to BiH, will continue supporting this process.

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Following national awareness raising workshops on social re-use of confiscated assets in 2020 and 2021, government officials and civil society representatives from South-Eastern Europe gathered in Rome on 30 and 31 May for a seminar on the re-use, including re-use for social purposes, of criminal assets. 

Participants discussed the importance of asset recovery as a key mechanism in the fight against organized crime and corruption and addressed the challenges encountered in different jurisdictions for asset recovery. Experts from OSCE participating States also shared some of their country's best practices.

Arnaldo Minuti, Head of the Transnational Threats Office of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation welcomed the participants by highlighting that “the very idea that the criminal assets can be given back to the communities for their own good embraces indeed a whole of society paradigm, where civil society organizations are entitled to play a significant role”.

In his opening remarks, Giuseppe Busia, President of the Italian National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC), highlighted the importance of international co-operation and enhanced relationships between government institutions and civil society organizations for an effective asset recovery process.

During the event, the OSCE presented a draft paper on policy options for re-use and social re-use of confiscated assets, compiled after interviews with government representatives, civil society organizations, and experts. This document served as the basis for focus group discussions among government and civil society representatives on how the procedures and practices of re-use, notably for social purposes, can be enhanced in their jurisdictions.

The workshop was organized as part of an extra-budgetary project on asset recovery in South-Eastern Europe, a joint initiative of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA). The project is funded by the United States, Italy, Germany and United Kingdom.

519369 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

A two-day online seminar on international experiences and best practices of the OSCE participating States in accession to and implementation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Espoo Convention was held from 30 to 31 May 2022. 

The seminar brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection and other relevant ministries, agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGO) of Turkmenistan.

International experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Tajikistan elaborated on technical aspects and procedural requirements of the Espoo Convention, its provisions, and practical recommendations for its implementation at the national level.

They also emphasized the importance of the implementation of the Espoo Convention as an important tool for improving environmental cooperation in Central Asia, and the role of NGOs in the exchange of environmental information, taking into account the provisions of the UNECE Convention.

“The Espoo Convention is interrelated with the provisions of the Aarhus Convention and serves as an important tool in achieving good environmental governance and environmental democracy at the national and regional levels,” said Rune Castberg, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

The representative of the Office of the Co-ordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities in Vienna focused on the role of the OSCE in the implementation of the UNECE Espoo Convention, while an Environmental Specialist from the UNECE Aarhus Convention Secretariat in Geneva presented the links between the implementation of the Aarhus Convention and the Espoo Convention/ Protocol on SEA.

519309 SDGs SDGs:  5 - Gender equality 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure 14 - Life below water

On 30 May 2022, women professionals from Black and Caspian Sea ports joined the first online session of the OSCE-IPER Women in Port Management training course to strengthen their professional skills and advance their careers in the logistics and maritime sectors.

The training provides mid-level female professionals from the ports of Baku,  Azerbaijan; Constantza,  Romania; Aktau, Kazakhstan; Kuryk, Kazakhstan; Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan; and the Maritime Agency of Georgia with the knowledge tools and network to reduce their ports’ carbon footprints, increase operational efficiency and competitiveness, and foster women’s representation at the managerial level.

“The transport sector has been a male-dominated industry since its inception and the port industry is no exception,” said Giulia Manconi, Co-Project Manager and Associate Energy Security Officer at the OSCE Secretariat. “Providing education and training opportunities is essential to accelerate the careers of women professionals in junior and middle management positions in the port industry and support their pathways to leadership positions.”

This was the first of the Women in Port Management Training series launched by the OSCE in partnership with the Institute for Teaching and Port Research of the Normandy Business School (IPER) within the framework of the Green Ports and Connectivity Project. The training will be delivered in a hybrid format: a two-week online course and a one-week in-person training in Le Havre, France in September 2022.

519294 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in partnership with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan, conducted a series of hybrid roundtable meetings in five provinces of Turkmenistan on the implementation of the National Action Plan for Gender Equality for 2021-2025. The events also aimed to provide support to Turkmenistan in the preparation of the 6th National Periodic Report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) as well as implementation of international obligations on gender equality.

The objective of five one-day roundtable discussions, organized from 16 to 30 May 2022, was to provide further assistance in strengthening the participants' knowledge of national and international commitments on gender issues and support the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2021-2025.

Representatives of the Institute of State, Law and Democracy, the Halk Maslahaty (People's Council), the Mejlis (lower chamber), of the Milli Gengesh (National Council), local and provincial municipalities, law enforcement agencies, the Women’s and Youth Union of Turkmenistan and other relevant ministries and state organizations took part in the event.

Rune Castberg, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, stated: "Recognizing that equal rights and opportunities for women and men are essential to peace, democracy and sustainable economic and environmental development, the OSCE mainstreams gender into all of its activities across three dimensions.”

“The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat attaches special significance to projects promoting gender equality and these meetings mark a successful continuation of the Centre’s co-operation with the host country and UNFPA in this important area,” added Castberg.

The representatives of the OSCE Programme for Gender Issues presented best practices in the implementation of international obligations in the field of gender equality. Participants also discussed the implementation of the final recommendations of the 5th CEDAW report, and elaborated on the process of collecting, analyzing and systematizing information for the preparation of the 6th National Periodic Report on CEDAW.

Information for Google Short description:  ODIHR experts present final report on Czech Republic’s 2021 parliamentary elections in Prague Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Elections experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report of ODIHR’s Election Expert Team to the 2021 October parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic on 30 May 2022.

The experts discussed the report’s findings and recommendations with government officials. Discussions focused on introducing a centralized voter register, the participation of women, including introduction of special measures to increase the number of women in elected positions, and the need to improve campaign- and media-related regulations.

“It is encouraging to see that the authorities have started consultations with various government agencies, including on the introduction of a central voter register, and expect to submit draft amendments to electoral law later this year,” said Armin Rabitsch, Leader of the ODIHR Election Expert Team for the 8 and 9 October parliamentary elections. 

ODIHR experts discussed with authorities potential assistance in bringing the Czech Republic’s elections closer in line with international standards and commitments by implementing these recommendations. The ODIHR assistance offered includes expert discussions, thematic workshops and legal reviews related to potential changes to the electoral legislation.

All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to promptly follow up on ODIHR election assessments and recommendations.

VIENNA/WARSAW, 31 May 2022 — The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau will visit Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from 31 May to 6 June for meetings with high-level officials.

During his visit to Mongolia, Minister Rau will meet with President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, and Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh.

In Kazakhstan, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office will meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Chairpersons of the two parliamentary chambers—Maulen Ashimbayev and Yerlan Koshanov—and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Akan Rakhmetullin, in charge of the Kazakh MFA. A meeting with members of civil society is also planned.

During his visit to Uzbekistan, Rau will meet with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov and the Chairpersons of the two chambers of the Parliament Tanzila Narbayeva and Nurdinjan Ismailov.

The trip will focus on strengthening the links with the OSCE and highlighting commitment to the Organization’s goals and activities, as well as expressing support for ongoing reforms in visited countries.

For more information about Poland's 2022 OSCE Chairmanship, please visit the OSCE website: https://www.osce.org/chairmanship.

BRUSSELS / GENEVA / VIENNA, 30 May 2022 - The Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), UN Representative Cihan Sultanoğlu, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Viorel Moșanu, and EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar are currently undertaking a round of consultations with all GID participants starting on 30 May. These consultations are primarily aimed at exchanging views on recent developments related to security and humanitarian issues on the ground and to permit the Co-Chairs to gain a comprehensive understanding of the positions of the participants. They will focus as well on the timing and modalities of the next GID round.

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Countering emerging threats posed by the illicit trafficking of cultural property was the focus of a three-day national workshop, organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, Border Security and Management Unit, in close co-ordination with national customs officials in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Thirty participants from multiple operational units within the Lithuanian border police, customs forces and the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture gained in-depth knowledge, tools and practical investigation skills in the workshop. This allows them to enhance the customs’ overall capacity to stop, interdict and investigate cultural property trafficking and its linkages to terrorism and organized crime financing.

“The operational partnerships and practical investigative skills developed during this workshop are critical in combatting the trafficking of art, antiquities and cultural heritage in the region, the OSCE area and globally. We will continue to work with customs, border security and law enforcement organizations to combat the illicit cross-border movement of the world’s heritage and the criminal and terrorist networks that are profiting greatly from these crimes,” said Cameron Walter, Associate Programme Officer of the OSCE Border Security Management Unit.

The training course was conducted within the frames of a project established by the Border Security Management Unit in 2021, aimed at raising awareness about illicit trafficking of cultural property and its impact on security and stability in the OSCE area.