Central Europe

560644 Communication and Media Relations Section David Dadge

Strengthening youth resilience to organized crime and corruption in South-Eastern Europe was the aim of a civil society organizations’ regional grants programme, carried out by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

Between July and October, 5,142 young people engaged in 72 in-person events, workshops, art performances and film festivals. Moreover, the programme reached 436,257 young people through social media channels, raising their awareness on the rule of law and integrity to create a peaceful and prosperous society.

Recognizing the civil society’s essential role in working with and for youth on the ground, during the programme, the OSCE and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime supported two civil society organizations in each of the involved participating States including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The organizations conducted grass-root extra-curricular educational and awareness-raising events engaging young people.

“Young people want to make sure that their opinions are heard, particularly when it comes to tackling organized crime and corruption. It is thus important to include them in efforts to address these challenges,” said one of the young participants from Montenegro, where the research by NGO Juventas showed that 40 per cent of the most listened songs in Montenegro glorify criminal activities and invited youth to critically assess the media they consume.

“I did not know about the risks and dangers of youth engagement in criminal and corrupt activities before. Through the creative approach of using photography, this initiative helped me learn to critically detect delinquent behaviour among young people and utilize effective ways to prevent it,” pointed out a young participant from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where NGO Sensus organized a youth camp creatively exploring photography to understand crime patterns and negative influences in the local communities and social media.

The programme was delivered in the framework 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, funded by Italy. Other donors supporting this project are Andorra, Finland, Germany and Poland.

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On December 15, 2023, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, jointly with the National Center for Human Rights and the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labor, held a roundtable discussion  on Challenges and Solutions in Promoting Business Respect for Human Rights Across the Supply Chain.

Fifty (twelve women and 38 men) representatives from the govenment agencies and business entities exchanged good practices on ensuring respect for human rights in the supply chain, and discussed methods for identifying the challenges with respect for human rights that companies encounter at various levels of business operations. 

During the event, the leading experts presented operational approaches to build a more equitable, inclusive, and responsible business world. In addition, a brief introduction to the draft National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights was presented at the roundtable.

This Roundtable was organised in the framework of the PCUz project “Promoting Gender Equality and Combating Human Trafficking”.

560604 Therese Abrahamsen Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo concluded today its 7th edition of the annual Civil Society Forum, a platform that gathers civil society organizations (CSOs) to address challenges and issues they face and facilitates constructive exchanges amongst them.

Around 80 representatives and activists of civil society organizations from across Kosovo working on a wide-range of areas participated in this year’s edition. Together with expert panels, they discussed developments related to youth legal framework, as well as the role of organizations of persons with disabilities and other human rights organizations in monitoring the implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The discussions also focused on the need for a comprehensive approach toward a stronger role of CSOs in the society.

“A vibrant civic activism at all levels is an essential building block of democracy and social development, and civil society organizations are in the position to hold governmental bodies accountable for their actions,” said Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. “Furthermore, locally-based organizations - those closest to residents - have the potential to develop new solutions for existing problems, while actively involving local governments and residents,” he added.

During discussions, youth organizations and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports representatives reconfirmed their commitment to the ongoing development of the broader youth framework. With the draft Law on Youth in the Assembly, participants emphasized the need for an open and transparent consultative process for the development of related sub-legal acts, that will start once the Law is adopted. Finally, the Strategy on Youth 2024-2032 and its three-year Action Plan remain key youth policy documents to be finalized, that will provide the framework for the mid- and long-term development of the youth sector. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo remains strongly committed to these processes and to support involved stakeholders.

In addition, Afrim Maliqi, Director of HandiKos, stressed the necessity of a stronger human rights-based approach to the rights of persons with disabilities, in view of the Constitutional amendments that will include the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as directly applicable international instrument in Kosovo.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo works with civil society organizations as part of its long-lasting commitment to strengthen their contributions to public life, and to enhance their co-operation and coordination with relevant institutions. It organizes the Civil Society Forum annually since 2016.

BELGRADE, 15 December 2023 – International election observers will hold a press conference to present their findings following the early parliamentary elections in Serbia.

What:

• A press conference of the international election observation mission to the early parliamentary elections in Serbia
• Journalists can attend the press conference in person or via Zoom (details below)
• Those unable to attend in person can follow the livestream here

Who:

• Reinhold Lopatka, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the OSCE short-term observers
• Stefan Schennach, Head of the PACE delegation
• Farah Karimi, Head of the OSCE PA delegation
• Klemen Grošelj, Head of the EP delegation
• Ambassador Albert Jónsson, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission  

When:

• 15:00 local time (GMT +1) on 18 December 2023

Where:

• White Pearl Room, Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade, Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 10k, Belgrade

Registration:

• To take part via Zoom, please register by 11:00 local time on 18 December using the following link

The international election observation is a joint mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and the European Parliament (EP). The observation mission totals 359 observers, made up of 254 ODIHR-deployed experts, long-term, and short-term observers, 71 from the OSCE PA, 23 from PACE, and 11 from the EP.

For more information, please contact:

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

Nat Parry, OSCE PA: +45 601 08 177 or nat@oscepa.dk

Sylvie Affholder, PACE: +33 7 60 19 75 05 or sylvie.affholder@coe.int

Raffaele Luise, EP: +32 477 85 52 67 or raffaele.luise@europarl.europa.eu

560523 Donors to the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine

Within primary financial support from the European Union, the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) organised a roundtable “Priority Setting in Mine Action and Draft National Strategy” in Kyiv on 14 December 2023.

At the event 60 representatives of Ukrainian mine action agencies and international organizations, central and local authorities, demining operators were able to discuss ways to introduce improved planning and co-ordination of all actors in this sphere with due regard to best international practices and local realities.

Miljenko Vahtaric, the SPU’s Mine Action Technical Advisor, shared Croatia’s experience in assigning demining priority status to specific categories of lands, depending on its use by local communities. Olena Kryvova, an expert from Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining, highlighted  the importance of establishing priorities in mine action in international practice. Prioritization in mine risk education and in organization of assistance to victims was also in focus.

Representatives of Ministry of Defense spoke about the current process of forming annual demining plans, while the State Emergency Service of Ukraine presented practice of organizing the work of its mine action teams. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine used the occasion to table for review by participants the provisions of the draft of national mine action strategy, gather input and observations from local and international demining operators, as well as representatives of local authorities from the regions, heavily affected by Russia’s war of aggression , such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhya oblasts. 

Marcel Peško, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairmanship – Project Coordinator in Ukraine noted that “solving the problem of explosive remnants of war will be the key challenge in the process of post-war reconstruction, and it already severely endangers lives of Ukrainians in many communities. Co-ordinated response of all mine action agencies is key to swift and effective resolution of the problem, that is why we are supporting efforts to streamline planning and management of operations in this sphere, notably development of national strategy”.

Arturo Rodriguez Tonelli, Regional Programme Manager EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, commented: “A clear and coherent set of priority criteria across all aspects of mine action is essential to ensure that communities receive assistance tailored to their most urgent needs. The European Union makes mine action a priority in its humanitarian and recovery support to Ukraine. Coordinating efforts will ensure that resources are put to best use and help international partners better target their humanitarian mine action support to Ukraine”.  

For reference:

This effort is part of “Support to Environmental Rehabilitation with Focus on Building National Humanitarian Mine Action Capacities of Ukraine” Project implemented with primary funding provided by the European Union, as well as contributions from the Organization's participating States; see full list of the Programme's donors. 

560493

On 14 December 2023, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) organized an event in Vienna to celebrate International Migrants Day. The event took place in partnership with the International Labour Organization and the European University Institute.

OSCE diplomats, policymakers and practitioners active in the field of international migration, experts of migrant labour rights, representatives of the private sector, and academics working on migration narratives engaged in vibrant discussions on pressing policy issues connecting the labour market, demographic change, migration, and education.

Minister Plenipotentiary Hilda Kolevska, representing the 2023 Chairpersonship of North Macedonia, underlined: “Effective migration governance is a long and complex task, that is achieved only through international co-operation. At its core, migration reflects the innate desire for individuals to pursue happiness, security, and fulfilment. It is about people – as the motto of our Chairpersonship reads. But it is indeed about work too. May our collective efforts lead to solutions that realize potentials of migration, acknowledge the dignity and agency of all migrants, benefitting the socio-economic fabric of country of origin, destination and transit.”

The event, titled “It’s about work: Bringing back the interaction of migration, the labour market and economic development in the public discourse”, was part of the OSCE-led project E-mindful, funded by the European Commission. The project has helped bring together diverse and multi-pronged perspectives on migration governance and labour migration management. It has generated evidence-based guidance, including some of which was presented during today’s discussions, to be used by the European Commission, the OSCE, and ILO constituents. The project has promoted inclusivity in social and economic environments for both migrants and nationals, while encouraging effective policy-making.

The OSCE will continue to facilitate dialogue and co-operation on effective labour migration governance and labour migration management as an integral part of good economic governance.

560475

About 45 women councillors from Vlora, Shkodra and Tirana regions participated in three tailored information sessions organized by the OSCE Presence as part of its Women Municipal Excellence Programme #WoMEP, during the first two weeks of December 2023.

The primary objective of these activities was to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of newly elected women councillors. By equipping them with the necessary tools, the information sessions sought to empower these local representatives, enabling them to excel in their roles. Furthermore, the participants actively engaged in discussions to identify their needs and expectations, contributing to the strategic planning of WoMEP activities for the year 2024. The women councillors also delved into setting development priorities for local governments and mastering the intricacies of municipal budgets and fiscal policies.

Since 2020, WoMEP stands as a flagship initiative in the Presence's efforts to foster gender equality at the local level. This innovative program is specifically designed to empower women councillors serving in Albania’s 61 municipal councils, emphasizing critical aspects such as gender equality, leadership, and management skills. The ultimate goal is to support and guide the women councillors, fostering tangible changes within their respective local councils.

VIENNA, 13 December 2023 – Today, Canada held its closing plenary meeting as Chair of the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC).

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly issued the following comment expressing the importance of the FSC and Canada’s commitment to it: “The OSCE was created in an era of division, and it once again finds itself divided – between an aggressive Russia and participating States that respect and defend their OSCE commitments and obligations under international law. While the FSC faces challenges, we remain convinced that it will play an important role in restoring the Euro-Atlantic security architecture.”

“Canada is honoured to have chaired the FSC, which remains an important forum for politico-military dialogue among participating States, especially in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine,” emphasized Ambassador Jocelyn Kinnear, Permanent Representative of Canada to the OSCE.

Taking into account the current security situation in the OSCE region, and with the objective of stimulating frank and constructive discussion, during its four-month Chairpersonship Canada organized five security dialogues and side events on politico-military subjects including:

• Mine action, with a particular focus on effective measures to protect children;
• Command responsibility and international humanitarian law;
• Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and the improved outcomes in peace, security and operational effectiveness that are achieved through women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in the armed forces and in security processes;
• The mental health impacts of war; and,
• Information integrity in military space.

Prominent Canadian experts featured among the panelists during the events. Professor Valerie Oosterveld from Western University shared her extensive experience building legal cases relating to command responsibility and international humanitarian law, including cases of sexual and gender-based violence. Major-General Marc Bilodeau, Canadian Armed Forces Surgeon General, addressed the progress made by the Canadian Armed Forces in understanding and addressing the mental health impacts of war on its military personnel. Speaking on the WPS panel, Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture, Canadian Armed Forces, presented compelling arguments on the important impacts that gender equality has in the security sphere.

For media enquiries, please contact fsc2023.canada@international.gc.ca.

ERGNETI, 13 December 2023 – The 116th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti today under the co-facilitation of the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Dimitrios Karabalis, and the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Viorel Moşanu.

The EUMM and OSCE commended the commitment of the participants to the IPRM format. Ambassador Moşanu informed that the 2024 OSCE Chairpersonship will be held by the Republic of Malta.

The fatal shooting, which occurred on 6 November near Kirbali village, was discussed at length during the meeting, with the co-facilitators condemning the use of force, which led to the loss of life of a Georgian citizen. The co-facilitators underscored that the safety of the conflict-affected communities must remain the highest priority for all participants at the IPRM. All participants emphasised that such tragic incidents must be prevented to maintain security and stability along the administrative boundary line (ABL).

The co-facilitators and participants noted the important role of the extraordinary meeting in Ergneti on the evening of 6 November to defuse tension. They also commended the crucial role of the EUMM-managed Hotline and the involvement of the co-facilitators for the timely exchange of information surrounding the incident.

The OSCE and EUMM advocated for the lifting of freedom of movement restrictions during the upcoming holiday season while reiterating their calls for the full re-opening of crossing points for regular cross-ABL traffic.

IPRM participants also discussed challenges faced by men, women and children affected by the conflict, particularly ‘borderisation’ activities and recent detentions. The EUMM and OSCE urged for a humanitarian approach towards the resolution of detention cases, particularly in view of the upcoming holidays.

The participants agreed to convene the next regular IPRM meeting on 13 February 2024.

560379

On 11 December, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) organized a side event “Catalyzing change: Political will in fighting corruption” on the sidelines of the tenth session of the Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in Atlanta, Georgia. During the event, OCEEA presented the OSCE’s work in promoting good economic governance and anti-corruption measures to ensure security and stability in the OSCE region. Furthermore, it underscored the essential role of political will in the fight against corruption, emphasizing its critical importance in shaping successful anti-corruption initiatives.

“Political will is not merely important; it is instrumental in shaping the bedrock of robust anti-corruption measures and ensuring their effective implementation. In the broader context of advancing the rule of law and good governance, we recognize these not as abstract concepts but as fundamental prerequisites for prosperity and economic growth,” stressed Adea Pirdeni, Deputy Minister of Justice of Albania, in her opening remarks.

"The OSCE is able to work actively and successfully with participating States to turn their anti-corruption commitments into tangible projects and actions via the work of OCEEA and other units,” said Professor Anita Ramasastry, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combatting Corruption. 

The OSCE’s role in supporting the establishment of Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee was also highlighted by Sasun Khachatryan, Chairman of the Committee: “It is an axiomatic truth that corruption damages all layers of public relations without exception, but now I would like to address its impact on the country’s economic development. The fact that the consistent and uncompromising fight against corruption is yielding its results is also evidenced by the economic indicators recorded by the Republic of Armenia.”

During the week, OSCE also intervened during the General Discussion at the plenary, highlighting the Organization’s commitment to fulfill the mandate in the area of good governance and anti-corruption, and its support to its participating States in implementing their commitments under the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

The Conference of the States Parties (COSP) is the main policymaking body of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. It supports States parties and signatories in their implementation of the Convention, and gives policy guidance to UNODC to develop and implement anti-corruption activities. OSCE has the status of observer within this body. 

560367 Chyngyz Zhanybekov Aida Almazbekova

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

560286

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commitment 1 – Legislative amendments:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commitment 3 – Continuous trainings for police:

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

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

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

Commitment 5 – Control of firearms in DV cases:

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

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

Commitment 6 – Improvement of the justice sector response:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key recommendations from both reports include:

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

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

560223 Željka Šulc

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

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

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

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

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

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

560109 Communication and Media Relations Section David Dadge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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