OSCE

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The OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat held a course on digital forensics at the Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan from 19 to 22 September 2023.

Delivered by international experts, the course introduced over twenty representatives – from the Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Cybersecurity Services of the “Turkmenaragatnashyk” Agency – to digital forensics, computer data, as well as open-source data analysis tools.

“Today, electronic evidence is crucial. Digital devices are involved in the majority of investigations and can contain critical evidence, regardless of whether the crime took place online or offline,” said Ion Gaina, Head of the IT forensic department at the Forensic and Judicial Expertise Centre of the General Inspectorate of Moldovan Police.

“With the widespread use of digital technologies, digital forensics has become an increasingly important field, and digital forensic capacities are essential to secure electronic evidence that can be used in criminal proceedings,” underlined Giorgi Pirveli, Head of the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.

The course was delivered as part of the extra-budgetary project “Capacity Building on Combating Cybercrime in Central Asia”, funded by the United States, Germany and the Republic of Korea.

This was the second national training event in Turkmenistan that took place as part of this project. The first training course on cybercrime and digital evidence was delivered in May for the same group of participants, with a third course envisaged for November 2023.

553606 Nino Sukhitashvili OSCE Mission to Moldova

The OSCE supported the first national simulation exercise that united the entire Moldovan anti-human trafficking community. During a five-day simulated exercise, 80 practitioners from law enforcement agencies, social welfare officials, prosecutors, magistrates, and civil society organizations worked together in a single simulated exercise to identify and assist victims of trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation and to detain and prepare judicial cases against traffickers. 

“You practiced coordinating and prioritizing your load of work to find trafficking victims, and keep them safe and away from the traffickers who had enslaved them. You overcame those irritating daily obstacles to work together to find and prosecute those international criminals who imprison people in sexual or labor slavery. You showed trafficking criminals that there are no gaps in Moldova’s anti-trafficking community and that the criminals will have a hard time moving trafficked people through Moldova. You showed current and potential victims that Moldova will take care of them.  If anyone wondered whether Moldova has the advanced tools to fight trafficking, let them wonder no longer. You’ve shown us that together, yes, you can fight the most despicable, pernicious of traffickers,” said Ambassador Kelly Keiderling, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

Participants highly appreciated this innovative simulation-based training, which gave them the possibility to turn their knowledge into practice and to enhance the co-operation between the institutions for the benefit of the victims of trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation.

The OSCE Mission to Moldova organized this 18-22 September exercise in co-operation with the Moldovan State Chancellery and the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. This simulation exercise was hosted by the Ștefan cel Mare Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and organized within the framework of the Mission’s project “Ending trafficking in human-beings by fostering multi-agency collaboration and strengthening the civil society organizations  capacity across both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River”, aimed at enhancing of co-ordination mechanisms to prevent and respond in an integrated manner to trafficking in human beings.

553549

On 21 September, 40 participants representing municipalities, civil society organizations, and academia from South-Eastern Europe convened in Sarajevo to discuss the impacts of climate change and air pollution on health, and to explore local solutions. The meeting was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The OSCE-adelphi report Regional Assessment for South-Eastern Europe: Security implications of climate change identified air pollution as a major challenge in the region, underscoring its profound health ramifications. Coal power plants emerge as primary air pollution hotspots in the region, followed by cities and urban areas. Climate change, in turn, aggravates air pollution through elevated ground-level ozone and particulate matter levels. This complex interplay between air pollution and climate change poses significant health and livelihood concerns.

“As real issues affecting people’s lives, addressing climate change, air pollution and public health challenges should be a top priority for our region’s high-level decision makers,” said Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, during his opening remarks.  “This meeting is a great opportunity to learn from each other, to hear about successful initiatives from the region and beyond and to strengthen partnerships as we address common challenges,” he added.

“Today, we are launching a regional initiative in South-Eastern Europe to connect municipalities, civil society organizations and academia, fostering collaboration to reduce the health impacts of air pollution and climate change,” said Esra Buttanri, Senior Climate Change Adviser at OCEEA. “The concrete project ideas crafted by stakeholders today will serve as the foundation for this collaboration, while also nurturing good neighborly relations.”

Scholars from Imperial College London and the University of the Peloponnese, alongside experts from UNECE, UNICEF, and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, contributed their invaluable expertise and insights to the discussion.

The regional kick-off meeting “Climate change and security in South Eastern Europe: Tackling challenges at the interface of air pollution and health” was organized within the framework of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Strengthening responses to security risks from climate change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia”, which is implemented by OCEEA in partnership with adelphi and funded by Andorra, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. The project is part of the OSCE’s active effort to support its participating States in implementing the 2021 OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on climate change.

3rd Media Law School Željka Šulc

Jahorina, 24 September 2023 – From 20 to 25 September, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union in BiH and the Law School of the University of Sarajevo held in Jahorina the 3rd Media Law School on “The right to privacy in the digital era”.

Media Law School is an accredited (3 ECTS points) non-cyclic program of the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Law. 

The five-day event enabled 17 law students from all public law faculties in BiH to explore the complexities surrounding privacy rights in the modern era of digital communication and information exchange, and the responsibilities of the state under relevant articles of the European Convention on Human Rights.

„One of the main goals of the Media Law School is to introduce the students early on in their legal education to the relevance of Media law for the adequate functioning of the media landscape and safeguarding the freedom of expression, as one of the fundamental freedoms  every democratic society is based on. In the last years, the emerging technologies had a great impact on how media content is created, offered and preceived and posed a question on how to strike a balance between freedom of expression and privacy rights in the online world. As a consequence, the topic of the 3rd Media Law School was „Right to privacy in the digital age“, in order to provide the students with the latest practical and legislative trends in this context.“, said Dr. iur. Iza Razija Mešević, Vice-Dean for International cooperation of the Faculty of law.

“Currently, the picture for freedom of expression in Bosnia and Herzegovina is highly concerning, with journalists operating in a hostile environment for media freedom. Media law is a rapidly evolving field, with new technologies constantly changing the information environment and posing significant potential threats to fundamental freedoms. This is why it is important that future legal professionals are aware of the current evolving jurisprudence on media law, and its impact on the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. It is encouraging that 18 students from across BiH elected to take part in this Law School”. Said Ferdinand Koenig, Head of Communications/Spokesperson of the EU in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“For us in the OSCE, international human rights standards that have been discussed during this programme form a crucial part of our work in the country.” said Rebecca Agule, Acting Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Human Dimension Department. “ The Media Law School is envisaged as a combination of theoretical and practical work, and I am happy to see students from across BiH had a chance over the past five days to delve into those topics from distinguished first hand experts from the academia, media community and civil society.” she added.

The Media Law School represents the continuation of the OSCE Mission's and EU work in the field of promotion and protection of media freedom.

In addition to lectures, students also worked on hypothetical cases and took part in simulated trials.

Dear Members of the Republika Srpska National Assembly,

As democratically elected representatives, you have agreed to fulfill the solemn obligation of representing the best interests of your constituencies. In light of this responsibility to the electorate, on behalf of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission), I raise deep concerns regarding pending legislation that could seriously and negatively impact everyone living in the Republika Srpska (RS).

As you are certainly aware, RS authorities have unfortunately decided to move forward with adopting the Law on the Special Registry and Publicity of the Work of Non-Profit Organizations. If adopted, this law would profoundly and severely violate the basic human rights of citizens in the RS and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) own international and domestic commitments, including rights enshrined in the constitutions of both BiH and the RS.

Commonly – and misleadingly – referred to as the “Foreign Agents Law,” this law would impinge on the right to freedom of association by critically reducing the already rapidly shrinking space for the functioning of civil society organizations, the independent media and human rights defenders in the RS. This law would further prevent co-operation with international partners and organizations, including those of which BiH is itself a member.

While RS authorities have attempted to frame this law as promoting transparency, it could be easily weaponized to stigmatize and restrict the aforementioned local actors, all of whom are already operating under difficult and constrained conditions in the RS. Civil society organizations, the independent media and human rights defenders play indispensable roles in any democratic society.

The involvement of diverse individuals, associations, groups, organizations and institutions is vital in ensuring the fulfillment of and respect for fundamental human rights. Thriving functional democracies rest on the protection of these fundamental human rights, including the freedom of association. In turn, this enables citizens to come together to realize and enjoy many other rights.

The freedom of association and related human rights enable civil society organizations to create space for discourse, raise the awareness of the public and of institutions on essential issues, enable engagement across all levels of decision- and policy-making, and provide live and virtual town squares in which ideas are shared and developed.

Both domestic and international law protect these crucial functions. Societies cannot grow, develop or heal if citizens lack the freedom to connect and cooperate with those who share their values, engage in discourse where there are disagreements, and work on core social, cultural, political or economic causes. Put plainly, a society without freedom of association would not be a democratic society. In light of this, governmental authorities in democratic societies must respect the peaceful expression of differing and dissenting views, and, as a consequence, must publicly acknowledge – through action, law and policy – the important and legitimate role of civil society organizations, independent media and human rights defenders.

Concerned that these rights were under threat, and based on the draft law, the Mission requested a formal assessment by the OSCE’s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which provides support, assistance and expertise to OSCE participating States and civil society to promote democracy, rule of law, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination. ODIHR then invited the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, which assists CoE member states in ensuring compliance with European and international standards shaping democracy, human rights and the rule of law, to issue a joint Opinion that enumerated severe deficiencies of the draft and urged the RS Government to reconsider its adoption entirely.

Specific concerns highlighted in the joint Opinion include issues regarding onerous reporting requirements and an increase in governmental inspections, both of which seem designed to impede the basic functionality of these originations. Statutory limits on the participation of civil society organizations in political activities or action, without a clear definition of what that would constitute, impose limits on the fundamental right of association.

Further, the requirement that civil society organizations be included in the special registry, as well as certain labelling obligations, would likely lead to the stigmatization and side-lining of these organizations. Finally, this law would allow for the banning of civil society organizations absent objective and necessary criteria. Based on an objective reading, this draft text is excessively vague and ambiguous, making it difficult to anticipate potential abuse and violations, thereby undermining the principle of legal certainty.

Further, the law makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for civil society organizations to co-operate with international organizations, including the OSCE, or to work on any human rights issues. As an OSCE participating State, BiH committed itself to upholding relevant international human rights standards and OSCE human dimension commitments, noting the latter includes more than 10 unanimous commitments adopted over the last 30 years, including but not limited to the Copenhagen Document, which guarantees, amongst others, the right of association; the Moscow Document, which enumerates the narrow conditions under which such rights may be derogated; and the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, which affirms the freedoms of association and peaceful assembly. Per these commitments, governmental institutions in BiH, including elected bodies, have an obligation to institute and implement legal frameworks that protect both these rights and those who rely upon them.

This draft law, if adopted, would clearly and meaningfully contravene these commitments, commitments voluntarily undertaken by BiH as a member of the OSCE. In doing so, it would violate the rights of citizens in the RS by denying them access to and the enjoyment of their fundamental rights.

Following other regressive actions that restrict the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms in the RS, including the recent re-criminalization of defamation through amendments to the RS Criminal Code, the Mission views this so-called “Foreign Agents “ as yet another serious step backwards from the full enjoyment and preservation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.All elected officials must refrain from taking any action that would undermine these rights. This includes immediately and permanently rejecting this draft law and any other similarly regressive legislation and further ensuring that all future legislation complies with the international and domestic human rights standards to which BiH has obligated itself.

The OSCE shares these grave concerns as a sincere and committed partner to promoting a better life for all citizens, and we are prepared to support all willing authorities aiming to do the same.

The Mission further remains committed to support the work of the civil society organizations, human rights defenders and independent media under attack by this and related legislation. We welcome continued engagement on this and other issues of mutual concern.

OSCEBiH DHoM visits Srebrenica, Lopare, Skelani, Lukavac Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 22 September 2023 – The Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Thomas Busch, paid a three-day visit to Srebrenica, Lukavac, Lopare and Skelani. During his trip, he attended the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial Centre, met with officials and members of the Majevica Inter Municipal Working Group and the EUFOR LOT Vlasenica, and handed over equipment for a school playground in Skelani. 

On 20 September, Deputy Busch visited the EUFOR LOT Vlasenica to discuss security situation in the area.

Following the meeting, Deputy Busch visited the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, where he paid his respects to genocide victims and survivors on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre.

“The Srebrenica Memorial Centre is a vital testament to remember, learn, and prevent. The dedication to imperatives of remembrance and the pursuit of justice are paramount to ensure that Srebrenica genocide remains engraved in our collective memory while justice prevails,” said Deputy Busch.

On 21 September, Deputy Busch met with Mayor of Lukavac Edin Delić to discuss the current political situation, the community and authorities’ responses to recent incidents in the area, and future plans for co-operation between the city administration and the Mission.

During his meeting with the Mayor of Lopare and members of the Majevica Inter Municipal Working Group, Deputy Busch expressed his appreciation and support for the efforts invested in building a strong cross-entity and inter-municipal partnership, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of social cohesion in the Majevica area.

“The Majevica Group exemplifies how genuine commitment and political will can drive a real change and tangible impact for concrete benefits. The work done by five mayors from the Majevica area and members of the Inter Municipal Working Group inspires confidence that more communities in BiH will embrace cross-municipal and cross-entity cooperation, delivering concrete benefits for all citizens”, said Busch.

On 22 September, Deputy Busch handed over school playground equipment to Skelani Primary School "Kosta Todorović”, as part of the Mission’s support for community initiatives aiming to revitalize local infrastructure and improve the school environment. On this occasion, he also met with Srebrenica Mayor Mladen Grujičić and school director Ljubinko Katanić to discuss the situation of youth in the community.

The OSCE remains a reliable and dedicated partner to BiH, its citizens, and institutions. The Mission to BiH is fully committed to supporting and promoting positive initiatives aimed at advancing the quality of life and wellbeing of all citizens.

553507 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

Some forty-five students from the Turkmen State Institute of Finance attended an OSCE-organized training course on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) that took place in a hybrid format from 18 to 22 September 2023.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the five-day course to raise the awareness of students about AML/CFT international standards and share best practices of the OSCE participating States in preventing and countering this financial crime.

An international expert provided insights into the AML/CFT policy and co-ordination and elaborated on preventive measures in the AML/CFT area. The course also addressed money laundering and confiscation as well as transparency and beneficial ownership of legal persons and entities.

William Leaf, Acting Economic and Environmental Officer of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, referred to the Basel Declaration on Youth adopted at the OSCE Ministerial Council in 2014,  in which the OSCE participating States “acknowledged the potential of young people to contribute to economic, political and social development, and that they can support participating States in the implementation of commitments in all three dimensions of the OSCE.

“It is my firm belief that our training courses for students who may join the Financial Monitoring Service and other structures of the national AML/CFT system in a near future will enhance the sustainability of the host country’s efforts to advance the AML/CFT system,” said Leaf.

The training course also introduced students to the Financial Action Task Force standards and relevant national legislation. The student shared their views on powers and responsibilities of competent authorities and other institutional measures on the AML/CFT related issues.

553468 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan supports a “National Cyber Incident Classification” workshop for representatives of participating States from Central Asia and South Caucasus as well as from Mongolia on 21 and 22 September 2023 in Tashkent. The workshop is organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), in co-operation with the Cyber Security Center Uzbekistan.

The workshop gathered experts in the cyber/ICT security field from Central Asia, South Caucasus and Mongolia, security officials and ICT experts. Discussions aimed to raise awareness on the importance of national cyber incident classification and enable an exchange of good practices in national cyber incident classification systems across the OSCE area.

"Establishing national cyber incident classification system is key to improve crisis management at national level as well as to build trust and mutual understanding at regional and international levels" - noted Mahé Dersoir, Policy Officer in the Cyber Policy Unit of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs “Our primary objective in organizing this event is to raise awareness about the critical importance of national cyber incident classification. We aim to promote, assist, and foster the implementation of national cyber incident severity scales throughout the OSCE region. In doing so, we seek to enhance our collective preparedness and response capabilities in the face of evolving cyber threats” – emphasized Mr. Sergei Sizov, Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

The workshop was delivered as part of the “Facilitation of the development and implementation of national cyber incident severity scales (NCISS) and related measures to protect critical infrastructures” project, which is funded by France and Germany.

Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj Court Reporting – Guidelines for Journalists

Prishtinë/Priština, 21 September 2023 –The OSCE Mission published today a set of guidelines for reporting on courts to assist journalists in Kosovo in their work and contribute to responsible and informed journalism. The guidelines offer comprehensive support for journalists navigating the Kosovo court system and emphasize ethical and legal considerations in reporting on the judiciary.

The document covers three key areas: court reporting, privacy and protection standards, and legal and normative frameworks. The guidelines also include quick-reference dos and don'ts, highlighting the importance of maintaining ethical standards, respecting privacy, and upholding the presumption of innocence.

“Journalists reporting on legal proceedings in any democratic society have a duty and responsibility to provide accurate information, while at the same time upholding and respecting the integrity of the judicial system,” said Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

“It is our sincere hope that these Guidelines will contribute to freedom of expression being safeguarded and justice being served, both inside and outside the courtroom,” he added.

The document urges journalists to exercise caution when reporting on minors and vulnerable adults, obtaining consent and protecting identities when necessary. It also emphasizes the significance of adhering to codes of conduct and self-regulatory tools, such as the Independent Media Commission's Code of Ethics for Media Service Providers and the Press Council of Kosovo's Press Code.

As follow-up, the OSCE Mission will distribute the guidelines in various mock trial workshops to students of law and journalism in November.

The OSCE Mission has been supporting the development of free and independent media since 1999, as part of its mandate to support human rights protection and promotion, democratization and public safety sector development

The guidelines are available here: https://www.osce.org/mission-in-kosovo/553288

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

On 15 September 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) in co-operation with Tajikistan’s Border Troops concluded a one-month training course “Sustaining Field Operational Capacities” (SFOC). The course was conducted by a national expert and supported by assistant instructors from the Tajik Border Troops, leveraging local expertise while fostering sustainable internal training capacities.   

Twenty-four officers from the Special Units of Tajikistan’s Border Troops were able to improve skills relevant to their vital mission of securing the 1,374 km-long Tajik-Afghan border. The course which was held in the Border Troops Regional Training Facility in Khorog (GBAO) covered a range of topics including map reading, land navigation, pathfinding, reconnaissance and security operations and reporting, first aid, night observation, alpine/mountaineering, gender and human rights-sensitive border security operations, and risk assessment. The participants were also introduced to Google Earth Pro geospatial mapping and analysis software to help plan tactical-level border security operations.  

On 8 September 2023, Jon Casey, the project manager responsible for SFOC accompanied Jukka Tuononen, the OSCE Officer in Charge and Head of the Politico-Military Department, and Lillian Langford, Policy Support Officer at the OSCE’s Conflict Prevention Centre in Vienna to visit the Regional Training Facility and observe the ongoing training. The delegation highlighted the importance of practical skills training such as is taught in SFOC in building the capacity of the Tajik Border Troops; and the importance of strengthening the Tajik border as essential for the overall security of Central Asia and the OSCE Region.   

To date, 689 officers of the Special Units of the Tajik Border Troops have completed the SFOC course since it first began in 2018. Moreover, 72 course graduates have returned to serve as assistant instructors for the SFOC course, helping to conduct internal training on these important skills. SFOC training is conducted within the framework of the 2nd phase of the Project “Patrol Field Capacity Building of the Tajik Border Troops (PFCB)” financed by France and implemented by the Office. The course is part of the Office’s multi-year efforts to support Tajikistan’s border security response capabilities.     

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

From 13 to 14 September, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) arranged a two-day training on the basics of international trade and logistics for the representatives of line ministries and agencies. The event aimed at promoting a better understanding of the policies and regulations governing international trade with a focus on geographically landlocked countries, which includes Tajikistan.

The training was attended by 23 participants (9 women and 14 men). The participants represented mid-level management of their respective state institutions, including the Export Promotion Agency, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Chamber of Commerce, and Customs Service. The training was complemented from different standpoints both on advantages and on disadvantages concerning, for example, compliance with the Registered Exporters System and the benefits of obtaining a GSP+ (Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus) certificate for the goods exporting to the EU market. Upon completion of the training, the international trainer handed over certificates to the participants.

The Office will continue to support Tajikistan’s economic development via trade facilitation and the free flow of goods and services to boost investment potential. This is part of a broader effort by the OSCE to strengthen trade links between countries and promote their regional integration and participation in international commerce.

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

From 15 to 16 September, the Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) supported the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner in organizing a two-day training on Human Rights. The training brought together 20 (19 women and 1 man) human rights teachers from secondary schools of Khorog (GBAO) and surrounding areas.

Two national trainers (both male) provided the training which was focused on enabling the participants to learn about both international and national human rights standards. Participants also familiarized themselves with new pedagogical methods for teaching human rights curricula in secondary schools. It was the third of three such events which the Office supported in 2023.

The activity is a component of the State Programme on Human Rights Education under the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner. It is part of OSCE’s broader work in strengthening and promoting the protection of human rights including by providing technical support to human rights bodies.

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

From 12 to 14 September 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) in co-operation with the office of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Republic of Tajikistan organized a three-day training in Khorog (GBAO) for governmental Human Rights Focal points. The training brought together 23 participants (15 women and 8 men), including from remote districts of the GBAO region. 

Two national human rights experts with extensive experience in the field provided training with a particular focus on state reporting to UN human rights treaty bodies, as well as on national and international human rights protection mechanisms. This was the second in a series of three trainings the Office is facilitating for governmental human rights focal points in the regions in 2023.

This activity is a component of the State Programme on Human Rights Education, adopted in 2022 and supported by the Office. It is part of OSCE’s broader work in strengthening and promoting the protection of human rights including by providing technical support to human rights bodies.

WARSAW/SKOPJE, 20 September 2023 - The Warsaw Human Dimension Conference (WHDC) organized by the OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia will take place from 2 to 13 October 2023 in Warsaw, Poland.

The ten day conference is dedicated to human rights and fundamental freedoms in the OSCE area. It evaluates the implementation of OSCE Human Dimension commitments and offers a forum for participants to present their work and raise issues meriting the immediate attention of the international community.

Media representatives are invited to cover the event, to be held at the Sofitel Victoria Warsaw, Królewska St. 11, 00-065, Warsaw.

Advance accreditation of media representatives is mandatory. The deadline for registration is 23:59 CEST on 30 September 2023.

To register, please fill in this form and send it by email to: accreditations.press-OSCE23@mfa.gov.mk.

Media representatives will receive an email confirmation once the review process is completed.

Follow @OSCECiO on X (formerly Twitter) and see the WHDC event page for more information.

553081 Marina Živaljević

On 20 September, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro concluded a two-day workshop on ecology and climate change for the staff of parliamentary working bodies, with a focus on quality of water and environmental monitoring.

The workshop gathered ten staff of the Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning, Committee on European Integration, Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget, Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms, Gender Equality Committee and Commission for Monitoring and Control of the Privatisation Procedure.

Two Montenegrin consultants provided an overview of international and national legal framework and policies on environmental protection and, water quality management, and the necessity to harmonize the national legal framework with international and EU standards. Participants learnt how to report on policies and monitoring programmes, focusing on  nature protection and air quality. Challenges in monitoring implementation were also discussed, and recommendations for further and active involvement of parliamentary committees in the process of monitoring the environment and solving of the key issues were shared.

Deputy Head of the Mission, Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, stated environmental and climate challenges are numerous. “The OSCE participating States, governments, international organizations, civil society and citizens face them daily, adapting and learning how to respond to them. We recognize the importance of including climate change considerations into national strategies, planning, processes and documents, as well as the importance of building resilience against its impact,” said Leirtroe.

This was the second workshop for the staff of parliamentary working bodies organized in 2023. The first one took place in March, focusing on nature protection, energy and climate change in the context of spatial planning.

553351 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

The regional conference on Promoting Women's Participation in Law Enforcement in Central Asia, held on 14 and 15 September 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan, marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to empower women in the region's law enforcement agencies. It brought together representatives of national authorities, including the Ministry of Interior, Police Academies, Prosecutor Offices, Policewomen Associations, and other relevant law enforcement agencies, alongside OSCE structures and field operations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and international organizations.

Deputy Chair of the National Commission on Women, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Lyazzat Ramazanova, delivered the opening remarks and emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange across the region. During her address, she provided comprehensive statistics on the presence of women in the security sector in Kazakhstan.

The conference facilitated robust discussions and group work, providing valuable insights into effective strategies for promoting gender balance within law enforcement agencies. Participants actively engaged in networking and knowledge-sharing, building connections between each other and the agencies they represented. Furthermore, participants discussed the potential of women police associations as a valuable mechanism for fostering gender equality within the police service, thereby enriching the participation and the role of women in law enforcement.

“If formal institutions may not yet be in place, networking can prove to be an invaluable tool,” said Ambassador Volker Frobarth, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “There is a positive impact of women associations and similar networks on empowering female police officers to voice their concerns, propose solutions, and address the unique challenges they face,” he added.

The conference, which concluded with a set of recommendations on breaking down gender barriers and promoting women's meaningful involvement in the security sector, was organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Gender Issues Programme/WIN Project, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), OSCE Programme Office in Astana, OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department/Strategic Police Matters Unit, and OSCE Secretariat’s Conflict Prevention Centre/Operations Service.

The conference took place within the framework of the multi-year ExB project “WIN for Women and Men on strengthening comprehensive security through innovating and networking for gender equality”, the Conflict Prevention Centre’s ExB project “Support, capacity-building and awareness-raising for Security Sector Governance and Reform (SSG/R) within the OSCE: Phase III”, as well as the OSCE/ODIHR’s ExB project “Promoting a Human Rights Compliant and Gender Responsive Security Sector”.

552970

TESLIĆ, 20 September 2023 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina held a final workshop for law enforcement agencies on increasing awareness of managers and operational staff on core components and significant benefits of intelligence-led policing principles.

The project Enhancing Intelligence-led Policing (ILP) to Combat Serious Security Threats and Crimes was launched in the autumn of 2022. The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) organized a series of sixteen workshops for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to establish a strategic and operational basis for developing a coherent and sustainable ILP model in BiH. The main topics were introduction to the requisite organizational structures, and use of criminal-intelligence reports and analytical products in the decision-making process. The workshops included topics such as  analytical preparation, threat assessment, organizational planning and strategy development. A large segment of the workshop was dedicated to discussion on optimizing technical capacity and compatibility – particularly in terms of ICT systems and equipment, as well as the use of analytical tools and software for criminal-intelligence work.

Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH reflected back on the initial phase of the Project when working side by side with BiH law enforcement partners.  The Ambassador recognised the great strides made in establishing a strategic and operational basis for advancing intelligence-led policing in BiH’s twenty-one law enforcement agencies and institutions, noting “Thirty-six police managers and 293 operational staff had an opportunity to find out more on ILP principles and requirements. The project also has established an ILP Co-ordination Body, a highly operational, progress oriented forum comprised of senior law enforcement managers from all partner agencies and institutions. I am proud to announce that we will deliver the first package of IT assistance to law enforcement agencies by the end of 2023.”  

Funds for the Project were provided by Norway, Germany, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Türkiye, and Austria.

Underlining the importance of the Project for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Olav Reinertsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Bosnia and Herzegovina stated, “The aim of the project in BiH is to ultimately bolster the effectiveness of law enforcement in fighting crime and preventing threats to security. Intelligence-led policing highlights the importance of contemporary technology and provides sustainable mechanisms for interagency co-ordination and co-operation,” the Ambassador added. “Norway strongly supports the advancement and strengthening of institutions and law enforcement agencies in the country, and considers the project to be a strategic priority for BiH.”

In the last year, BiH and international law enforcement agencies jointly planned and executed ILP-driven police investigations in the area of transnational illicit trafficking of narcotics and weapons. These complex operations resulted in several indictments of high-profile individuals. As a result, the use of the intelligence-led policing model helped to uncover, document, and investigate an international organized crime network that produced and transported illegal narcotics and firearms across Europe.

The Mission will remain an active partner in ensuring that all law enforcement agencies have sufficient technical capabilities to bolster their collaborative and efficient response to versatile security threats and crimes.

552895 OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities discusses Serbia’s progress on national minority issues with authorities Against all odds: Building a multilingual university department in Bujanovac

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov visited Serbia from 12 to 15 September 2023 to chair the Stakeholders’ Meeting of the Bujanovac Department of the Subotica Faculty of Economics of the University of Novi Sad and to hold consultations with Serbian authorities on the country’s efforts to promote integration of its diverse society.

On 15 September, Abdrakhmanov chaired the 14th Stakeholders’ Meeting of the Bujanovac Department together with OSCE Mission to Serbia Head Jan Braathu. The stakeholders reviewed the latest enrolment figures and discussed promotional activities and ways to help graduates advance their careers, including through partnerships with the business community.

They also discussed the preliminary findings of a recent assessment on how to improve the teaching and learning of Serbian as a non-mother tongue in southern Serbia, which was conducted by the office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Government of Serbia Co-ordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. 

“The Bujanovac Department remains central to promoting social cohesion in the region. The continued investment by the Stakeholders’ Committee aims to ensure that students attain the best quality education in both languages and leave the university equipped to fully participate in social and economic life,” said the High Commissioner.  

The Bujanovac Department was established in 2011 to address the lack of higher education opportunities in the Albanian language, as well as to improve students’ proficiency in the state language. The department also serves to stimulate interaction among youth from different ethnic backgrounds and to support economic development in southern Serbia. Between 2011 and 2022, 1,088 students (571 girls and 517 boys) were enrolled in the BA programmes.

In Belgrade, the High Commissioner met with President of the National Assembly Vladimir Orlić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, Education Minister Slavica Đukić Dejanović, Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue Minister Tomislav Žigmanov, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Janković, Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church His Holiness Porfirije, and other officials.

During these meetings, the High Commissioner acknowledged Serbia’s comprehensive legal framework to accommodate the interests of national minorities and discussed recent developments in this respect.

In particular, Abdrakhmanov commended the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue on its consultations with all national minorities and its efforts to achieve measurable results toward societal integration. In this regard, he said, he looked forward to the finalization of the revised Action Plan on National Minorities.

Discussions in Belgrade also touched on Serbia’s role in regional stability, its connection with ethnic Serbs in the region, and the effect bilateral relations can have on relations with ethnic groups living in Serbia.

During his visit, the High Commissioner also met with representatives of the Albanian community, including the president of the National Minority Council, to listen to their concerns, priorities and views.

552856 Marina Živaljević

In order to improve institutional response to cases of violence against women, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in co-operation with the Supreme Court, is hosting a three-day workshop that simulates criminal procedure in respect of charges based on serious allegations of gender-based violence. The workshop takes place in Budva from 19 to 21 September.

Twenty judges from the High and Basic courts, together with prosecutors, police officers and special services support staff from NGO shelters are participating in the workshop.  Focusing on innovative hands-on, transformative and multi-sectoral approach, participants are led through a simulation of the criminal procedure in respect of concrete cases of femicide and rape, starting with how the cases were reported; followed by the drafting of the indictments, the hearing in court and final decision. The focus is on the application of international standards and best practices regarding the handling and admissibility of evidence applicable in Montenegro, to ensure a timely and effective administration of justice, respecting the rule of law and human rights.

Opening of the event, Head of the OSCE Mission, Dominique Waag, underlined that the OSCE has a longstanding commitment to promoting gender equality and preventing violence against women and girls. “The statistics and human stories that underline the extent of the problem of violence against women are a stark reminder of the urgency of our actions. The legal system must act independently and decisively to protect victims and deter perpetrators. Each time survivors seek justice and support, they must find a rapid, resolute and efficient justice system,” said Ambassador Waag.

Acting President of the Supreme Court, Vesna Vučković, stated that femicide is always the last, most brutal act of violence. “The trainings that have been conducted so far have yielded results, as women are empowered to demand help and report violence. However, the Committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Convention GREVIO recommends that additional trainings be organized on various aspects of the Convention. It is recognized that a higher level of awareness and capacity building should be ensured not only in relation to domestic violence, but also in relation to all other forms of gender-based violence, for all groups that encounter victims - especially judges and prosecutors. Precisely because of this, this training based on trial simulation, through the interaction of transferring theoretical and practical knowledge represents a significant contribution to the actions of the participants in the procedure, primarily judges and prosecutors,” said Vučković.

The three-day training provides a platform for the participants to exchange best practices, share experiences, and develop innovative strategies for tackling gender-based violence.

Being aware that violence against women and girls is not only a violation of human rights, but also a security and a societal issue that hinders progress and development, the Mission remains dedicated to fostering a society where everyone enjoys equal rights and opportunities, irrespective of gender.

NEW YORK CITY, 20 September 2023 - OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, held separate meetings yesterday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

Chairman Osmani raised his deep concerns over yesterday's military operations in the region and the danger these pose to the affected civilian population. While calling for immediate de-escalation, he again voiced his concerns over the severe consequences for the conflict-affected population, especially on vulnerable groups. He emphasized that humanitarian considerations must prevail and that humanitarian needs of the local people must be met.

He underscored that the use of force to resolve disputes was completely and always unacceptable and that sustained, constructive dialogue in good faith was the only path toward sustainable peace.   

The Chairman reiterated his readiness for personal and active engagement and emphasized that the OSCE stood ready to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan on their path to peace. He noted that the OSCE retained the relevant experience, expertise, and tools to facilitate dialogue, build trust and implement relevant agreements that support normalizing relations between the parties.