OSCE

441011 Anna Vorobeva OSCE Mission to Moldova

The OSCE Mission to Moldova conducted three workshops on non-discrimination and access to information for persons belonging to national minorities from 11 to 29 November 2019 in Chisinau. More than 80 legal professionals and civil society representatives from three different regions of Moldova, including the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, participated in the workshops. 

The training sessions introduced participants to international and national legal standards in the area of national minorities’ rights. The lawyers reviewed existing case law and gained practical experience in promoting and protecting minorities’ rights to access information on labour, justice and health.

The participants also improved their skills in dealing with complainants and providing effective remedies for national minority groups in the area of access to information. Relevant practices and decisions of the key national human rights institutions, including the Equality Council, were included in the workshop’s agenda.  

The event was organized in co-operation with the Lawyers’ Training Centre of the Moldovan Bar Association.

The OSCE Mission to Moldova supports efforts of the Moldovan Government to implement the National Strategy for Consolidation of Interethnic Relations for 2017‒2027. The Strategy seeks to promote inclusivity and tolerance in Moldova, which are important preconditions for achieving the end state of the Transdniestrian settlement process. The document was developed with the participation of the Mission and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.

441350 Marina Živaljević

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized workshops to strengthen the skills of parliamentary staff to support drafting of legislation and amendments within committees on 21 and 22 November and on 3 and 4 December 2019 in Podgorica. The attendees examined the legislative drafting and amending process and discussed the practice and function of the Rules of Procedure of their parliament as compared with the practice in other parliaments.

Legal expert Stevan Lilić said that within these workshops, parliamentary staff explored  key issues were identified to improve legal drafting through a policy development process that creates an adequate institutional framework, sets and maintains legal drafting standards and makes more use of the public consultation processes,” said Lilić.

Participants of the workshops agreed that this experience and knowledge would be useful in their daily work.

The Mission organizes tailored workshops to respond to the identified needs for improving capacities of staff who provide daily support to the legislative function of the Parliament.

Marina Živaljević

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in partnership with the Department for Gender Equality within the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, organized gender equality awareness-raising training for journalists on 2 and 3 December 2019 in Podgorica.

One component of the National Strategy on Gender Equality identifies the need for the media to be part of the promotion of gender equality through tolerant, respectful, responsive, and competent, reporting on human rights with respect to diversity building social cohesion. This awareness amongst journalists includes that their reporting encompass messages explaining that equality between men and women means that rights, responsibilities and opportunities do not depend on what gender they were born.

Aleksandra Crvenica, the Mission’s Democratization Senior Programme Assistant said that the media play an important role in breaking obsolete attitudes and stereotypes. “Journalists influence and shape opinions. They are on the forefront of promoting societal change - in building a society that values equality and does not tolerate any kind of discrimination. Gender equality is a key democratic principle and promoting the equality is a personal contribution of each journalist to the societal growth and development,” said Crvenica.

Dragana Šćepanović from “Vijesti” daily newspaper, one of the 10 participants of the workshop, said that the training was a revelation and exposed her to a variety of topics related to gender equality. “From now on, I will interview more women to provide their insight into important topics. I will also initiate topics such as equal access to healthcare for vulnerable women, for example those with disabilities,” said Šćepanović.

This training was part of the Mission’s “Support of Further Promotion of Gender Equality” project.

SARAJEVO, 9 December 2019 – The Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kathleen Kavalec, and the President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH, Milan Tegeltija, signed today a Memorandum of Understanding on the handover of the War Crimes Case Map.

The War Crimes Case Map, launched in 2014, is an interactive online tool developed by the OSCE Mission to BiH that contains up-to-date information on completed war crimes cases finalized by the BiH judiciary. The overarching goal of the Map is to increase transparency in the processing of war crimes cases in BiH and to enable the public to better understand the work of the BiH judiciary in relation to war crimes cases.

The OSCE Mission to BiH recognizes that the HJPC Judicial Documentation Centre plays a vital role in collection and dissemination of judicial holdings and legal opinions. “In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the War Crimes Map, the Mission has identified the Centre as the most appropriate unit to administer and update the Map. The Mission firmly believes that the HJPC should further support the Judicial Documentation Centre by both strengthening capacities and expanding its role within the Council,” said Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH.

The HJPC President Tegeltija expressed his appreciation to the OSCE Mission to BiH for its continued support, extended over many years, in the area of the protection of human rights and of rule of law in general. He stressed that the BiH HJPC will take over the War Crimes Map from the OSCE Mission, which was created with the aim of presenting the public with a summarized overview of all completed war crimes cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“I am convinced that the HJPC and the OSCE Mission to BiH will continue their partnership and collaboration, not only in the area of war crimes cases, but also within efforts invested in taking systematic steps in strengthening the overall judicial system in BiH,” said Tegeltija.

The War Crimes Map also aims to bridge the gap between judiciary investigating and processing of war crimes and the need for the public to have access to credible information on cases completed by the judiciary.                        

VIENNA, 9 December 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, sent a legal review to the Government of Albania on the latest amendments to the Law on Audiovisual Media in Albania and the Law on Electronic Communications.

This legal analysis is part of a long consultation process between the Office of the Representative and the government during the drafting of the legislation. “I appreciate the long and constructive co-operation we have established with the authorities of Albania during the drafting process of the new amendments to the law on Audiovisual media,” Désir said.

In particular, the Representative welcomed the addition in the law of a strong safeguard, on which his Office had insisted, which states that: “No provisions in this law shall be interpreted in such a way as to accord the right to censor or restrict freedom of expression, or the right to speak out. This law shall be interpreted in accordance with the principles of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as applied in the case law of the European Court of Human Rights”.

The Representative noted that the last versions of the draft also incorporate a new wording of the provisions which define the object and scope of the law. These new provisions make clear that the law applies only to audiovisual media services and electronic publications providers. Moreover, following the previous consultations with the government, the current draft amendments clearly state that electronic media providers will not be submitted to a compulsory registration mechanism to perform their activities in Albania, but only to a voluntary one.

“This is an important step forward,” Désir said. “It was also important to ensure that the regulatory agency, the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA), will not have the same competences on the content of online publication as the broad competences it currently has on broadcasting systems. In that regard, I take note of the decision to suppress former article 132/1, in line with our expert recommendations, which would have granted AMA extensive new powers that could have had an impact on freedom of expression.” 

The possibility of blocking access to online content will now be limited to three grave “criminal offenses: child pornography; promotion of terrorist acts; breaches to national security”. The legal review nevertheless recommends replacing “block access to the Internet” with “order the takedown of a specific piece of content”.

However, based on the legal analysis the Representative recommended several additional modifications to be incorporated in the current draft, so as to clarify safeguards to freedom of expression and avoid any risk of undue restrictions or sanctions on electronic media providers.

“It is paramount to introduce a provision that guarantees that all of AMA’s decisions can be appealed before the competent judge immediately after their adoption,” Désir said.

“A second important point regards the issue of fines in case of breaches of the law. Article 133 keeps referring to very high, and excessive, economic fines in cases of contraventions. Such fines could lead to the closure of media and be seen as indirect pressure. In line with the principles of proportionality and necessity, sanctions should only be adopted after proper consideration of the size and economic capacity of the media in question. This article should be amended.”

Furthermore, the references to “political belief” and “union membership” should be removed in article 33/1 which relates to racism and discrimination, as they could be used to prosecute legitimate, even harsh, criticism against political groups and ideas. Possible specific abuses in this area can be properly solved using the provisions and mechanisms already in place in the area of defamation, and adjudicated by the judiciary.

Finally, as already raised in the previous legal analyses, concerns remain about the powers granted to Electronic and Postal Communication Authority (AKEP) in the proposal to amend the Law on Electronic Communications, regarding the adoption of measures to protect a wide range of interests, including the country’s interests, public security, fundamental rights and any provision included in the Albanian legal system. These notions remain too broadly defined and do not include specific rules on how to ensure protection for freedom of expression. This is why the legal review recommends amending the related article of the draft law.

“I hope that the draft amendments will continue to be improved during their examination in parliament, including by taking into account public consultations with civil society, journalists’ associations and media actors,” noted Désir. “Much will also depend on the implementation of the new legislation. It is important to ensure that the regulatory agency, AMA, can perform its competences and duty in a fully independent manner, free from any kind of political interference. My Office and I will monitor it with careful attention.”

The legal review was prepared by Dr. Joan Barata Mir, an independent media freedom expert, in co-operation with the human rights and media law expert Peter Noorlander, as a follow-up to the previous legal analyses that the Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media published on 11 July and 23 July (see: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/425453 and https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/426323)

The full text of the new legal review is available here: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/440879

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

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM observed craters in a residential area of Zaitseve.
• The Mission received a Note Verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and a letter from the armed formations in Donetsk region on the dismantling of fortifications and other installations of military value in the Petrivske disengagement area.
• Inside the Zolote disengagement area, the SMM observed workers conducting vegetation clearance.
• The Mission saw workers installing lights on the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge.
• The SMM saw armoured combat vehicles in residential areas.
• The Mission monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to facilitate repairs to gas supply lines between Pavlopil and Verkhnoshyrokivske and to power lines in Marinka.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske and at a heavy weapons holding area in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.

BRATISLAVA, 6 December 2019 – The OSCE’s participating States need to show more political will and commitment to real dialogue and diplomacy to effectively address the multitude of, and increasingly transnational, security challenges facing the region, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Miroslav Lajčák as he closed the 26th OSCE Ministerial Council today in Bratislava. “There is a compelling case for co-operative security,” he said.

He said he was heartened to see that the majority of the 57 participating States had supported his ‘Bratislava Appeal’, which shows that there is wide recognition that the OSCE’s toolbox provides “everything we need” in order to address the security threats of today and tomorrow.

“What we know about the threats on the horizon is that none of us will be able to tackle them alone: Joint solutions will become more crucial than ever,” he said.

Congratulating Sweden and Poland on their confirmations as OSCE Chairs for 2021 and 2022 respectively, he said these decisions provide “certainty and continuity in the leadership” of the OSCE.

The future in respect of Ukraine also “looks brighter now than it did last year”, said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

“Hopefully we will see strong political commitment at next week’s Normandy Summit. I am glad we can conclude this Ministerial Council knowing that the OSCE’s political representation on the ground is secure. Here, I want to again congratulate Ambassador Heidi Grau on her appointment as the OSCE Chairperson’s new Special Representative in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group and to thank Ambassador Martin Sajdik for his dedication these past years.”

“We are starting 2020 on the right note,” he added. “We have a lot to work with: our principles and commitments, our evolving toolbox and some positive developments. But to take advantage of them, we need political will, and we need a commitment to real dialogue and diplomacy.”

He said the Slovak Chair is committed to supporting Albania, as the incoming Chair for 2020, “in any way we can”.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said: “I believe we have crafted a realistic and balanced programme, informed by extensive consultation with capitals and in Vienna. Throughout next year, Albania will be an open and inclusive chair. I guarantee you that the voices of each participating State will be heard and that decisions will be taken in a transparent manner. A chair cannot successfully steer the OSCE if there is no political will to compromise.”

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger also assured Prime Minister Rama that Albania can expect the full support of the OSCE Secretariat during its Chairmanship.

“2020 is a year of many important anniversaries – 30 years since the signing of the Charter of Paris, for example,” he said. This could be a timely moment to start work on developing a vision for 2025 - the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act - and work towards this collectively and strategically.”

BRATISLAVA, 6 December 2019 – On the margins of the 26th Ministerial Council, the Slovak Chair, its Special Representatives on Youth and Security, Spain and Albania, supported by the OSCE, organized an event on young voices for a safer future in Bratislava.

Young people from across the OSCE area, together with participants of the OSCE Ministerial Council, including government officials, media and civil society representatives, and Youth Focal Points from OSCE Executive Structures participated in a lively debate on how to strengthen the OSCE’s work with young people. Participants exchanged views on the outcomes of the OSCE-wide Youth Forum in Bratislava, held on 28 and 29 October as the flagship event of the OSCE Perspectives 20-30 initiative, and explored options and initiatives for 2020 and beyond, giving a first glance into initiatives of the incoming Albanian Chair.

Speaking at the closing of the event, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Miroslav Lajčák, stated: “When speaking about a safer future, both the OSCE and us — its participating States — need to be looking at the horizon, and pre-empting the threats that could come tomorrow.”

Addressing the participants directly he said: “Your energy, ideas, and research can help this along. You can broaden our perspectives.”

Throughout 2019, the Slovak Chairmanship was dedicated to engaging young women and men for a safer future by advancing the implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda, including United Nations Security Council resolutions 2250 (2015) and 2419 (2018) and, in particular, the Milan 2018 Ministerial Council Declaration on the Role of Youth in Contribution to Peace and Security Efforts.

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger said: “Many believe, and I concur, that including voices of young women and men into our work is crucial to address security challenges in a more inclusive way”.

Fernando Martín Valenzuela Marzo, the Secretary of State, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs European Union and Cooperation of Spain, stated that with 38% of its population composed of youth, the OSCE  is well placed to contribute to the global and regional implementation of the Youth Peace and Security Agenda, as well as of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In this context, the OSCE Group of Friends on Youth and Security, chaired by Spain, has continued to provide a unique platform for dialogue on topical issues related to youth and security among participating States, including by offering insights and best practices from the field, as well as ideas and recommendations outlined in the OSCE’s Framework to Strengthen OSCE Efforts on Youth and Security.

Strong partnerships among international organizations, participating States and civil society remain the key to advancing sustainable peace and security efforts. The voices of young women and men can enrich the understanding of the OSCE and its participating States on how to address growing security challenges in a more inclusive and effective way.

The Chair’s Special Representatives on Youth and Security, Alba Brojka and Samuel Goda, stressed that it is important to include ideas, views and expertise of young people in discussions on issues that impact their future.

More information: www.osce.org/youth

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and the same number in Luhansk region.
• The SMM observed a team from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine placing concrete obstacles on a road west-north-west of the Petrivske disengagement area.
• The SMM observed the removal of a container and concrete blocks from the checkpoint of the armed formations on the southern edge of the Zolote disengagement area.
• Workers from non-government-controlled areas were installing new railings on the side of the metal section of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge.
• The SMM monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to facilitate repairs to a water pipeline near Zaitseve and electrical works near Holmivskyi.
• The unloading of boxes from a convoy of vehicles with Russian Federation licence plates was observed by the SMM at a compound in Donetsk city.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske, in Donetsk region.

441380 Communication and Media Relations Section

BRATISLAVA, 6 December 2019 – A high-level side event on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava focused on how practical assistance projects can help achieve a comprehensive approach in preventing the uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and stockpiles of conventional ammunition (SCA). The discussion was organized by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and supported by Germany.

In the past fifteen years, the OSCE has achieved a remarkable track record, with a total of over 110 SALW/SCA projects already implemented or in the process of implementation.

High-level participants from the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship, Germany, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kyrgyzstan, as well as the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre took part in the event.

The participants discussed challenges and concerns related to excessive and destabilizing accumulation, illicit trafficking and uncontrolled spread of SALW and SCA. They also shared success stories on how the organization’s work in this area contributes to wider efforts in supporting arms control and disarmament, combatting terrorism and organized crime, border security, and addressing environmental threats.

In his opening remarks, Marcel Peško, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre said: “OSCE assistance projects in the field of SALW and SCA are one of the most practical aspects of the OSCE work, where the impact is almost immediate and the results are clearly visible.”

Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kyrgyzstan shared their positive experiences in working with the OSCE in the area of SALW and SCA, reiterated their national commitments and ownership, and discussed possibilities for further co-operation.

“The uncontrolled spread and misuse of small arms and light weapons is a major factor enabling transnational terrorism and organized crime. Therefore, we can no longer neglect the fact that contemporary threats related to illicit trafficking of SALW demand a more comprehensive approach,” said Marcus Bleinroth, Director of Division, Conventional Disarmament, Preventive Arms Control in the German Federal Foreign Office. “The OSCE has proven to be a valuable partner for Germany and many other participating States in responding to such challenges.”   

Arthur Langlois, Head of the Sub-Directorate at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs responsible for Arms Control and the OSCE, highlighted the role that the OSCE has been playing in supporting global efforts on SALW at the regional level. He noted, in particular, the OSCE’s involvement in the implementation of the SALW Control Roadmap that sets out a reliable, transparent and trackable process aimed at achieving the control of SALW in the Western Balkans by 2024.The roadmap was initiated by France and Germany last year.

The OSCE assistance projects were made possible through funding worth almost 62 million euros and provided by 35 participating States and international organizations. 

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

KYIV,   6 December 2019 - The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Medved’s Research Centre of Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety will hold a workshop and a presentation of the capabilities of the National Reference Centre for identification of controlled and toxic chemicals on Tuesday, 10 December 2019, in Kyiv.

The Center will support national authorities with credible analysis of chemicals, which is an important tool to respond to incidents and conduct investigations.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator Henrik Villadsen will hand over equipment for precise, fast and reliable detection and identification of chemicals to strengthen the capacities of the Centre.

The event will bring together representatives of donors, officials from national authorities, and experts to discuss ways to enhance chemical safety and security in Ukraine. Participants will share international best practices to support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, with particular focus on the role of the National Reference Centre, and its integration into national and international systems of responses to chemical threats.

Keynote speakers include:

• Zoriana Skaletska, the Minister of Health of Ukraine;
• Marek Šafin, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Ukraine, representative of Slovak OSCE Chairmanship 2019;
• Henrik Villadsen, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine;
• Virginija Dambrauskaite, the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine;
• Joanna Wintrol, Chief, Defense Threat Reduction Office, U.S. Embassy in Ukraine;
• Oleksandr Kapustin, Deputy Director - Head of the Division for New Challenges and Threats - Secretariat of the National Body for the Enforcement of the Chemical Weapons Convention of the Department of International Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine;
• Mykola Prodanchuk, Medved’s Research Center of Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine;
• Robin Mossinkoff, the Head of the Forum for Security Co-operation Support Section in the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre.
• Li Zhao, the Head of the International Co-operation Branch, International Cooperation and Assistance Division, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW);
• Tiina Kauppila, Research Director, Finnish Institute for the Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (VERIFIN);

Journalists are invited to attend the workshop that will start at 11:00 (registration of participants: 10:00-11:00) on Tuesday, 10 December 2019, at the Medved’s Research Center of Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, 6, Heroiv Oborony str., Kyiv.

Press briefing will begin at 12:00. Media representatives wishing to cover the event need to obtain accreditation by sending an e-mail to andrii.dziubenko@osce.org by 17:00 on Monday, 9 December 2019. A guided tour of the Center’s laboratories for media professionals is also envisaged.

For more information about the event please contact  Andrii Dziubenko, National Programme Co-ordinator of OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine at +38 050 676 77 34, +380 67 239 39 51.

These efforts are part of the project “Establishing Ukrainian National Reference Centre to Identify Controlled and Toxic Chemicals”, implemented by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine with the financial support of the European Union and the United States of America.

Communication and Media Relations Section

A three-day training course aimed at further strengthening the capacity of Uzbekistan to counter terrorist financing was organized in Tashkent from 4 to 6 December 2019.

The training seminar was delivered to 19 Uzbek experts and practitioners from the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Academy of the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Department on Combatting Economic Crimes at the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the country’s State Security Service.

The aim of the training course was to assist Uzbekistan in implementing international standards, in particular UN Security Council Resolutions, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering’s recommendations, and OSCE and UN commitments. The course emphasized the key role of inter-agency co-operation in disrupting the financing of terrorism.  Based on country- and region-specific scenarios, it included sessions on financial intelligence, introduction to financial analysis, and vulnerability and network analysis. More than half of the course consisted of practical work where participants learned and practiced how to apply a range of analytical techniques to realistic scenarios, including how to use financial investigations to better assess the threat posed by a terrorist group. 

“Today’s training is important because it has been developed specifically for countries of Central Asia based on the best international practice, provides a platform for interagency co-operation and strengthens the capacities of law enforcement agencies of Uzbekistan,” said John MacGregor, the OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Uzbekistan.

The course was organized by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s Global Programme against Money Laundering, and the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia. Three international experts from the UNODC, Belarus and the Russian Federation together with four local government officials delivered the training. Four experts from Uzbekistan were trained beforehand in a train-the-trainers course in Vienna organized by the OSCE and the UNODC.

The course was organized with the financial support of Germany as part of a comprehensive multiannual capacity-building programme to assist national efforts to counter the financing of terrorism in Central Asia. 

BRATISLAVA, 6 December 2019 - A event on “Effective Multilateralism in Action: OSCE co-chairing of ICAT, a year in review” was held yesterday on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council. The panel discussion focused on key milestones of this year’s co-chairpersonship, by the OSCE, of the UN’s Inter-agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT).

Panelists representing the full geographic reach of the OSCE - from the United States to the Russian Federation – spoke in unison on the need to enhance efforts to combat trafficking in human beings and jointly commended the OSCE’s leadership of ICAT for making tangible progress in international efforts.

ICAT is a policy forum mandated by the UN General Assembly to make headway in addressing the crime of trafficking through prevention, enhanced prosecution and victim protection measures. It brings together 24 entities across the UN system and other relevant international and regional organizations and is dedicated to promoting co-ordinated responses against persistent and emerging forms of trafficking.  

For the first time since its establishment, this global platform is co-chaired in 2019 by the OSCE and UN Women, combining the expertise, values and outreach of a regional security organization with that of a UN agency dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Participants reviewed ICAT’s 2019 work in in supporting States’ efforts to tackle human trafficking, including initiating a multi-stakeholder conversation of the intersection of technology and trafficking, launching an innovative partnership with the UN Procurement Network to enhance due diligence in their supply chains, and focusing on victim-centred approaches for those harmed by trafficking. As human trafficking touches upon all aspects of socio-economic issues, ICAT also presented how it supports the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including through its policy recommendations on trafficking-related SDGs.

Discussions during the event illustrated how the OSCE’s engagement in ICAT highlights the organization’s contribution to effective multilateralism – even at the global level through its expertise and innovative approaches to targeted issues like technology, victim protection, and procurement, its ability as a regional organization to bridge the gap between global and local efforts to combat trafficking, and to develop consensus around challenging issues.

In his presentation, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for combating Trafficking in Human Beings Valiant Richey stressed that in its co-chairing role, the OSCE tried to foster exchange, discussion, and consensus. “Trafficking knows no borders and co-operation is vital. This grave global threat requires a holistic response involving a wide range of actors from government to civil society, from international organizations and agencies to the private sector. ICAT—and the OSCE’s co-chairing thereof—has shown it has the potential to support effective multi-agency efforts in combatting human trafficking by capitalizing on each other’s expertise and geographical scope, and by harmonizing our approaches.  The OSCE’s engagement in ICAT demonstrates how we can both advance OSCE goals through ICAT and advance ICAT goals through the OSCE. Multi-lateralism is not a zero-sum game. It can be a win-win”, said Richey.

The side-event was moderated by John Brandolino, Director, Division for Treaty Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. In addition to the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, participants in the panel discussion were: Andrei Bushilo Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus; Katarzyna Gardapkhadze, First Deputy Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR); Grigory Lukiyantsev, Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law and Deputy Director of the Department for Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights; Argentina Szabado, IOM Regional Director for Eastern and South Eastern Europe and Central Asia; and James S. Gilmore III Ambassador of the United States Mission to the OSCE.

441461 Communication and Media Relations Section

On the margins of the 26th OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation of the Principality of Monaco Laurent Anselmi and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger signed an agreement on 5 December 2019 on Monaco’s support for the OSCE project “Combating Human Trafficking along Mediterranean Migration Routes”.

Secretary General Greminger thanked the Principality of Monaco for its continuous support to the OSCE’s work on combating human trafficking, in particular for the support given to the previous on “Combating Human Trafficking along Migration Routes.”

Throughout the seven simulation-based trainings, the OSCE has successfully trained 529 anti-trafficking practitioners from fifty-five participating States and 7 Partners for Co-operation, ranging from law enforcement officers to prosecutors, labour inspectors, social services providers and civil society among others.

“The methodology used in these simulation-based trainings is innovative and effective”, said Greminger. “Practitioners from different stakeholder groups not only have a unique opportunity to practice and master skills in a safe learning environment and a live-action setting, receive immediate feedback from other professionals, but the training also gives them the opportunity to develop real-life closer collaboration among themselves.”

Minister Anselmi said that supporting the OSCE’s work in combating Human Trafficking is part of Monaco’s wider efforts to take an active part in eradicating this heinous crime. “It is an objective present throughout the Principality’s efforts in all international organizations, but also in Monaco itself,” noted Anselmi. 

441320 Communication and Media Relations Section

Government representatives, civil society members, and open data experts from Eastern and South Eastern Europe emphasized the importance of the use of open data and new digital technologies in preventing and combating corruption at an OSCE-organized workshop on 2 and 3 December 2019 in Skopje.

The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) organized the workshop in collaboration with the Southeast European Cooperation Initiative (SECI).

Participants shared examples of good practices on how to leverage digital tools for their anti-corruption and good governance agendas. They discussed different approaches of addressing corruption through digitalization of public services, accessibility of open data, monitoring and evaluation.

They also discussed how to draw on opportunities and address challenges found in the work and projects of public administration agencies and civil society in the region. Case studies and good practices from Ukraine, Moldova, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and others were presented.

“One of the most important aspects in relation to today’s workshop, and how digitalization could contribute to the fight against corruption, is the “Open Finance” platform, which was launched in North Macedonia in November this year,” said Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje Clemens Koja.

“The platform allows citizens and interested stakeholders to freely access all financial transactions from the treasury. The Government’s transparency and openness are not only declarative commitments, but a demonstration of its political will to make progress in this area,” said Koja. Transparency and openness are the first step in fighting corruption, and this is the shift we all want to see.”

Shannon Runyon, the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in North Macedonia, said: “Creating more open and reliable governance will not only advance the country’s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration, but will strengthen the bond with citizens by making government more responsive to the needs of citizens; attracting businesses and investors who are looking to invest in countries with reliable rule of law and more transparent ways of doing business.”

The workshop was organized within the framework of the extra-budgetary project Promoting Good Governance and Enhancing Anti-corruption Efforts in the OSCE Area through the Use of Open Data and New Digital Technologies, funded by the United States Department of State.

BRATISLAVA, 5 December 2019 – The humanitarian aspects of the crisis in and around Ukraine were at the centre of discussion at a side event at the 26th OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava today.

The discussion provided an opportunity to draw attention to the situation of the people on the ground and to exchange experiences among the OSCE and other organizations helping to mitigate the impact of the conflict on everyday life.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák; Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Martin Sajdik; the Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Ukraine, Florence Gillette; Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Antje Grawe; and Braňo Tichý, of the organization “Človek v ohrození, Slovakia” took part in the event.

Speaking on the recent successful repair of the bridge at Stanytsia Luhanska, Lajčák said: “This might sound like a bit of a cliché, but I think this achievement - the repair of a bridge reconnecting the community, which had seemed almost impossible last year - is very symbolic.” He went on to stress that, despite steps forward in the humanitarian sphere, concerted political commitment is the only way to achieve real progress. “Ultimately, we need to see commitment on higher, political levels. A lot hinges on next week’s Normandy Summit. So, we all must do our part to support and maintain the momentum,” he said.

The re-building of the bridge was one of the nine humanitarian confidence-building measures prioritized during the Slovak Chairmanship.

Focusing on those affected by existing conflicts in the OSCE area, and mitigating the humanitarian consequences of the crisis in and around Ukraine in particular, was one of the priorities of the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship. The OSCE contributed to much-needed improvements in the living conditions of the affected population through the work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) and its involvement in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG).

The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Martin Sajdik said:

"Ensuring the safety and security and the most necessary living conditions for the population in the conflict zone has been a relentless task for the TCG and its four working groups."

By reporting on the security situation and facilitating dialogue on the ground to reduce tensions, the OSCE SMM has made a major difference in the lives of the people on the ground. The Mission facilitated local ceasefires, and so-called windows of silence, to allow humanitarian repair works ensuring access to water, electricity and gas for millions of people.

,BRATISLAVA, 5 December 2019 – The OSCE launched today a new toolkit focusing on the Inclusion of Women and Effective Peace Processes at the 26th Ministerial Council in Bratislava. The toolkit responds to the need for practicable measures to increase women’s inclusion in peace processes in the OSCE area.

Its aim is to support the work of OSCE mediators and their teams, the OSCE Chair, and participating States as well as OSCE field operations, institutions, and the Secretariat.

The launch gave participating States an opportunity to discuss ways to close gaps between the Women, Peace and Security framework and its implementation. Almost 20 years after the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1325, and eight years since the last decision on this issue was adopted by the OSCE Ministerial Council, women’s inclusion in official negotiation processes in the OSCE area remains a challenge. The toolkit is a step towards addressing this challenge.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Miroslav Lajčák, focused on the need to accelerate the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325: “When we take a step back, and look at how peace is brokered today, we are still leaving 50% of society behind. The Toolkit on Inclusion of Women and Effective Peace Processes takes a fresh look at how political processes are happening across the OSCE area. And at how different peace actors are complementing each other’s efforts. But tools cannot use themselves. That’s where we come in; that’s why we need to co-operate, among states, international and regional organizations, and civil society”.  

Discussions emphasized the need to integrate a gender perspective in official political and settlement processes. Meaningful inclusion does not merely translate into an increase in the number of women at the table, but also entails stronger linkages between women-led peace initiatives and official negotiations.

Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide said: “The inclusion of women in peace processes is not a women’s rights initiative. It is about making the processes more effective and achieving more lasting results. The OSCE toolkit is a means to this end.”

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger noted: “Studies have shown that diversifying voices in decision-making helps us to solve problems more effectively. The inclusion of women in peace processes is an important way to diversify voices. Women have shown themselves to be crucial actors in processes that aim to resolve conflicts and to build peace in post-conflict environments.”

BRATISLAVA, 5 December 2019 – A high-level side event on “Border Security and Counter-Terrorism” was held today on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava. The panel discussion focused on the long-standing co-operation between the OSCE and INTERPOL and was attended by high-level representatives of the two organizations.

Participants discussed the current threat spectrum and ways to mitigate risks and combat any challenges faced by members of INTERPOL and OSCE participating States. They also exchanged views on how to counter the ever-evolving nature of transnational threats - such as terrorism, organized crime and human trafficking - by amplifying the strength and effectiveness of their actions, from policy to practice.

“We have identified effective multilateralism as one of the priorities of our Slovak OSCE Chairmanship. This meeting proves our engagement in this area. The OSCE and INTERPOL are natural partners,” stressed Lukáš Parízek, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic and Special Representative for the Slovak 2019 OSCE Chairmanship

The threats posed by terrorism-related activities remain a crucial issue for the international community as a whole and for the OSCE region in particular.

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger noted that this collaboration to address many transnational threats serves as “a great model to tackle such complex challenges”. “Countering and preventing terrorism is a shared responsibility and requires a comprehensive, cohesive, and internationally co-ordinated response. We need to utilize all the tools and experience accumulated in both our organizations to muster a co-operative and efficient response to this global threat,” said Greminger.

Addressing the participants, INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said: “INTERPOL is increasingly engaging with its partners to support member countries and create synergies to strengthen global security. This event provides a perfect opportunity for us to showcase how our policing capabilities complement the work of the OSCE.”

INTERPOL and the OSCE adopted a three-year Joint Action Plan in 2017. Key areas for co-operation include: border security, counter-terrorism, forensic and police data management, combating trafficking in human beings, and the smuggling of migrants. The Joint Action plan was preceded by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2014.

BRATISLAVA, 5 December 2019 – On the occasion of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Bratislava, we, the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries (Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Secretary of State to the Minister for European and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs of the United States Phil Reeker) remain strongly committed to mediating a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Co-Chair Heads of Delegation take positive note of the relatively low level of violence along the Line of Contact and international border and credit the sides for utilizing fully the direct communication links between them to reduce the risk of escalation, as the Foreign Ministers agreed during consultations in Washington in June.  We welcome the concrete steps undertaken in the past year to reduce tensions and prepare the populations for peace, as the Co‑Chair countries called for in the Milan statement in December 2018 and as the Ministers agreed to do in Paris in January 2019.  We commend efforts to implement the humanitarian measures discussed by the leaders during their meeting in Vienna in March and elaborated upon by the Foreign Ministers in Moscow in April, in particular the recently concluded exchange of journalists and the simultaneous release of prisoners on 28 June.  Noting that such efforts play an important role in fostering an atmosphere conducive to substantive negotiations to reach a peaceful settlement, the three Heads of Delegation call for additional concrete humanitarian and security measures.

The Co-Chair Heads of Delegation urge the sides to take concrete steps without delay to implement earlier agreements on humanitarian and security measures.  Bearing in mind the terrible human suffering of the bereaved, we call on the sides to redouble efforts to assist the International Committee for the Red Cross to exchange data on missing persons, as the two leaders committed to do during the Paris summit of October 2014.  Recognizing the essential contribution of the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office (PRCIO) in maintaining the ceasefire, we note the need to resume discussions on expanding the PRCIO’s monitoring mission, which the parties agreed in 2016 to do.

We welcome the intention of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia to meet again in early 2020 under Co-Chair auspices to intensify negotiations on the core issues of a peaceful settlement and to facilitate further talks at the highest level.  The Co-Chair Heads of Delegation reiterate that a fair and lasting settlement must be based, in particular, upon the principles of the Helsinki Final Act of non-use of force or threat of force, territorial integrity, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples, recalling the joint statement of the Co-Chair country Heads of Delegation and the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers at the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Athens in 2009, which was subsequently endorsed by the OSCE Ministerial Council.  It should also embrace additional elements proposed by the Presidents of the Co-Chair countries in 2009-2012.

The Co-Chair Heads of Delegation stress once again that the status quo is unacceptable and there can be no military solution to the conflict.  We therefore call on the sides to engage in good faith substantive negotiations without artificial delays or conditions.

The Co-Chair Heads of Delegation express the conviction that the OSCE Minsk Group format remains the indispensable focal point for efforts to reach a sustainable settlement.  We call upon the sides to co-operate with each other and with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, whom we will instruct to continue their mediation efforts.

BRATISLAVA, 5 December 2019 – On the margins of today’s 26th Ministerial Council in Bratislava, the OSCE launched a virtual competency and training centre on the protection of critical energy networks. Chairperson-in-Office and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák, together OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger officially inaugurated the virtual training center.

Given a growing frequency of extreme weather conditions and human-made disasters, the threat to energy networks is becoming ever more urgent. Explosions, major fires, aviation and railway accidents, terrorism, sabotage or cyberattacks have led to blackouts in many OSCE participating States and have posed a major security risk to people. Therefore, providing for safe and uninterrupted energy networks is crucial for the security and stability of all. The virtual centre aims to boost cooperation, and effectively identify and address the challenges of tomorrow in this area.

Inaugurating the Virtual Competency and Training Centre, OSCE Chair Lajčák explained: “This virtual centre offers risk management policies, technical training, capacity building, and other educational tools. Through it, we can share best practices and case studies. It can help us to close the gender gap and make the energy sector more diverse. And, it is an example of how our model of regional cooperative security can be adapted to new and emerging needs – which, given the changes in the environment around us, are more urgent than ever.”

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger said: “Modern economies need safe and reliable energy supplies. With the rapid growth of digitalization, big data and artificial intelligence, energy demand will remain high for decades to come. To meet this high demand, we need to make sure that energy reaches those who need it safely and securely. The OSCE is giving energy experts throughout our region a new tool for exchange and knowledge sharing. This will help create a genuine security community in the energy infrastructure field.”

Vuc Žugič, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, who moderated the event, said: “Making our energy networks more resilient is essential for the security and the economic prosperity throughout the OSCE region. The virtual centre is one of the key initiatives supported by the 2019 OSCE Slovakian Chairmanship.”

At the launch event, participants had the chance to test the new training centre and experience a 3D simulation walk-through of critical energy infrastructure.

In the years to come, the Virtual Competency and Training Centre will contribute to enhancing the capacities of OSCE participating States by raising awareness, building capacity, providing professional education, and training modules on the protection of energy networks from emerging threats, including natural and human-made disasters and cyberattacks.