OSCE

Andrii Dziubenko

For the first time, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine streamed live on the web a meeting of its members on Tuesday, 5 November 2019. This was made possible by the conference system that was provided and installed by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine earlier this year. The streaming was a pilot project with the Commission intending to make its meetings available online on a regular basis.

The system was introduced to streamline the workflow of the Commission. The equipment was installed in two rooms — the press center and the official meeting hall. The Commission’s employees were trained to set it up and use it. The law envisages that all the meetings of the Commission are to be open to public so that civil society representatives, election observers and the broader public are able to watch them online.

“Transparency of the election administration is key to enhancing public confidence in ballot as a tool to influence the government of the country. This, in turn, is very important for cementing social cohesion and improving security of the country,” said Henrik Villadsen, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

The effort is part of the project, implemented by the Co-ordinator to help the Commission enhance cybersecurity of its systems and transparency of its operation. The US Mission to the OSCE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway and the Slovak Republic Mission to the OSCE funded the project.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• The SMM confirmed reports of a man and a woman who died after a grenade exploded inside their apartment in government-controlled Kurakhove.
• The SMM saw damage from shelling to an apartment in non-government-controlled Holmivskyi.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near government-controlled Chermalyk.
• The Mission observed demining activities inside the disengagement area near Zolote.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the Mission continued to observe construction works at the broken section of the bridge.
• The SMM observed an illumination flare fired by the armed formations signalling the readiness to renew disengagement in Petrivske disengagement area. Since there was no reciprocal action, the activities related to withdrawal of forces and hardware did not commence.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• The SMM observed for the first time a piece of unexploded ordnance in Donetsk city.
• The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s freedom of movement continued, including at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Shevchenko, Zaichenko and Novoazovsk.

438044 Marina Živaljević

Protection of cultural heritage by creating cultural property databases to prevent trafficking in cultural property was the focus of the seminar for seven Montenegrin institutions on 5 November 2019 in Podgorica.

The seminar was organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro in co-operation with the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the support of the Italian and Slovak embassies to Montenegro, under the Slovak 2019 OSCE Chairmanship.

Around 30 representatives attended; from the Ministry of Culture, the National Museum, the Museums and Galleries of Podgorica, the Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Property, the Basic Court, Customs Administration, the Police Directorate and Interpol.

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Maryse Daviet said that today’s workshop builds on conclusions of the workshop in May, where participants learned about cultural property databases from Austrian and North Macedonian experiences.

“Montenegro has a rich history and unique cultural heritage and the Mission supports all efforts in preserving it,” said Daviet. “We strongly support the strengthening of institutional co-operation and co-ordination at all levels. As Montenegro continues to enhance its internal capacities and co-ordination, it will be recognized as a valuable regional and international partner.”

Daviet also recalled that the Mission started with activities to combat trafficking in cultural property under the OSCE Italian Chair in 2018 and this has continued under the Slovakian Chairmanship, with continuous co-operation from the OSCE Transnational Threats Department.

The Slovak Ambassador to Montenegro, Roman Hloben, said that in December 2016, the OSCE participating States adopted a Ministerial Declaration on strengthening OSCE efforts to prevent and counter terrorism by undertaking measures for preventing terrorist financing that includes items of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific and religious importance.

“The same Ministerial Declaration calls upon participating States to recognize the importance of information sharing through multilateral and bilateral mechanisms and data exchange systems as a major driver for success in co-operation in fighting terrorism and serious organized crime,” said Hloben.

The Italian Ambassador to Montenegro, Luca Zelioli, said: “I’m sure that today’s seminar will contribute to increasing capabilities in countering illicit activities that do not only damage our countries but also harm our collective memory, that is our common cultural heritage.”

Aleksandar Dajković, Director General of Directorate for Cultural Heritage in the Ministry of Culture said that the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Culture have a clear goal in creating conditions for the implementation of European standards in the fight against illegal acts on cultural property. “Therefore, we support inter-sectoral and international co-operation and actively participate in these processes. We believe that this kind of workshop, through the exchange of proven good practices, contribute to our efforts to act effectively to prevent illegal activities,” said Dajković.

Italian experts Captain Salvatore Rapicavoli, Data Processing Unit Commander and Sergeant Fabio Di Prospero, Data Processing Unit Operator from the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage conducted the seminar.

This report is for the media and the general public

SUMMARY

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a staff member and the Chief of Fund Administration based in Vienna.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border                                                                                                                                                                                          

The profile of persons crossing the border can be categorized as follows:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage;
2. Persons in military-style outfits;
3. Families (often including elderly persons and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits decreased from 11,562 to 11,388 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[1].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 284 per day for both BCPs.

The Donetsk BCP continued to experience much more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs was 37 this week compared to 13 last week: 13 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and 24 into Ukraine (84 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP). They continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed on foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, buses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border, especially since some of the private vehicles had tinted windows, and buses and minivans had drawn curtains.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families, sometimes with elderly persons and/or children, crossing the border at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, two families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and three were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when six families were observed crossing to the Russian Federation and seven to Ukraine.

Bus connections                                         

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses did not state their route; instead they had a sign on the windshield stating “irregular”.

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slight decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (505 compared to 508 observed during the previous week). There were 252 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 253 bound for Ukraine.

On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses did not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region and “LPR” plates. Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” route was noted: Luhansk – Sevastopol.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed 869 trucks (compared to 784 during the previous reporting week) crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs (378 at the Gukovo BCP and 491 at the Donetsk BCP); 490 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 379 crossed to Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, on a daily basis, the OTs also noted trucks registered in Belarus and the Russian Federation and also with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting week, the number of tanker trucks decreased from 72 to 51. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks had hazard signs, indicating that they were transporting propane or a mix of propane and butane.

All trucks underwent systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavourable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.

Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP increased from 110 to 163; 99 trucks (61 per cent) were bound for Ukraine, the remaining 64 trucks (39 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans very slightly increased from 126 to 127 vehicles; 61 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 66 into Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains on the railway tracks located approximately 150m south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 12 occasions; the OTs assessed that seven trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and five to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance” below).

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine was regularly informed about the trains bound for Ukraine.

Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP.

Other observations

The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region, or Russian Federation licence plates. A significant number of vehicles with “LPR” plates were also observed crossing the border in both directions on a daily basis. The OTs also observed cars with licence plates from Georgia and Lithuania.

On 30 October at 23:25, the OT observed an ambulance with Russian Federation licence plates arriving at the Donetsk BCP from the Russian Federation. The vehicle parked in the checking area. Two persons left the vehicle and entered the main building. On 31 October at 00:25, the ambulance returned to the Russian Federation.

On 1 November at 13:55, the OT at Donetsk BCP observed a group of ten small buses entering the BCP from the Russian Federation. The buses were yellow in colour and had the printed inscription  “Children” in Russian on the windshields and on the sides of the vehicles. The buses did not have any licence plates and were empty except for the driver and one passenger in each. At 15:30, all buses crossed the BCP into Ukraine.

On 2 November at 11:55, the OT at Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance entering the BCP from Ukraine and crossing the border into the Russian Federation. The ambulance bore “LPR” plates and the inscription “Urgent medical help” written in Russian. The OT observed two persons inside the vehicle. On the same day at 12:35, the OT observed an ambulance entering the BCP from the Russian Federation. The ambulance underwent border control procedures and left for Ukraine.

On 2 November at 23:15, the OT at Donetsk BCP observed a minivan crossing the BCP from the Russian Federation to Ukraine. The vehicle had Russian Federation licence plates and bore inscription “Ritual service” written in Russian.

Convoy

On 31 October at 06:52 (Moscow time), the eighty-seventh[3] Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk BCP. A total of 13 vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All 13 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 13:39 on 31 October. Ukrainian border guards and custom officers were present during the checking processes.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 1 October to 5 November 2019, please see the attachment here. 

[1] Based on data received from the Regional Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

[2] Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving licence C1).                              

[3]Based on the Observer Mission’s counting, this convoy is considered the eighty-sevenths convoy that has crossed into Ukraine through the “Donetsk” or “Gukovo” BCPs. However, so far all these convoys crossed through the “Donetsk” BCP.

438059 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The protection of people in police custody from torture and other ill-treatment, and ensuring safeguards such as access to a lawyer and effective legal representation during criminal investigations, were the focus of a regional meeting of representatives of national preventive mechanisms (NPMs) and human rights defenders active in the fight against torture, which took place in Strasbourg on 5 November 2019.

Building on the two regional anti-torture conferences for NPMs and civil society organizations in 2016 and 2018, the participants discussed ways to strengthen synergies between NPMs and civil society for the protection of police detainees from torture and other ill-treatment. They looked into existing practices of independent monitoring of police stations, one of the strongest safeguards against torture in the OSCE region. They also discussed the role of lawyers in preventing torture in the first hours of police custody.

Organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Geneva-based Association for the Prevention of Torture and the Council of Europe (CoE), the event brought together about 100 representatives of NPMs and civil society from OSCE participating States and CoE member States. They were joined by international and regional experts from ODIHR, the CoE, the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, OSCE field operations and other international experts.

The meeting took place on the margins of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture’s 30th anniversary celebration. The event was a result of ODIHR's continuous work over the past four years with NPMs, ombuds institutions, national human rights institutions and civil society actors in the field of independent monitoring of places of detention.

VIENNA, 4 November  2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed today’s court decision in Turkey to release the journalists Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak.

Today, the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court ruled to acquit Mehmet Altan due to a lack of evidence against him. Moreover, the court decided to sentence Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak to 10 years and six months, and eight years and nine months in prison, respectively, for “aiding a terrorist group without being its member”. However, taking into account their time already spent in jail, both of them were released on probation.

“I welcome this long-awaited decision to release the Altan brothers and Nazlı Ilıcak from prison. I repeatedly called for their release, including during my official visit to Turkey in June this year. I hope that this ruling will trigger change when it comes to the situation of journalists in the country and the unjustified criminal prosecution faced by many of them,” said Désir.

Both Altan brothers and Nazlı Ilıcak had been handed aggravated life sentences in February 2018, which were reversed by the Court of Cassation in July this year.

“I call on the Turkish authorities to end the criminal prosecution of all journalists, and to ensure that they can work in a free environment. Punishing journalists not only deprives them of their right to freedom of expression but also encourages self-censorship,” said Désir.

Earlier statements by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media regarding Turkey can be found at www.osce.org/fom.

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, between the evenings of 1 and 2 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• Between the evenings of 2 and 3 November, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• The SMM saw damage to a house in non-government-controlled Yasynuvata.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the Mission continued to observe reconstruction works of the broken section of the bridge.
• The Mission observed deminers from government-controlled areas inside the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• The SMM observed anti-tank mines, some for the first time, near non-government-controlled Pikuzy and government-controlled Vodiane.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s freedom of movement continued, including at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske, Zaichenko and Horlivka.

VIENNA, 4 November 2019 –The OSCE Office for the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings will present a paper entitled: “Following the money: Compendium of resources and Step-by-step Guide to Financial Investigations Into trafficking in Human Beings”, on 11 November, 09:30 to 14:00, Hofburg in Vienna.

After analysing all the existing resources, “Following the money” catalogues more than 600 indicators and typologies of trafficking in human beings (THB) and provides a step-by-step guide outlining a list of practical steps to follow in order to initiate successful financial investigations into THB, thus providing a unique toolkit for practitioners from both the public and private sectors.

Two panels of experts will present the paper and discuss the role of financial investigations in combating THB.

The event will feature some of the leading global experts on financial aspects of human trafficking, including: Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating trafficking in Human Beings, James Cockayne, Director of the Centre for Policy Research at United Nation University, Secretariat, Financial Sector Commission on Modern Slavery and Human trafficking, and Timea Nagy Payne, Financial Sector Commissioner and a human trafficking survivor.

All the experts and keynote speakers may be available for interviews subject to constraints.

Journalists wishing to attend and report on the event and the paper are required to register by sending an email to Szilvia Okolicsanyi Szilvia.Okolicsanyi@osce.org by 8 November, Friday, 17:00.    

For more details, please contact Lilia.Rotoloni@osce.org, OSCE Associate Public Information Officer. 

437648 Anna Vorobeva OSCE Mission to Moldova

OSCE supported a workshop on the use of a methodological guide for an optional high school course “Holocaust: the History and Lessons of Life”. Over 30 history and civil education teachers attended the training course on 31 October and 1 November 2019 in Chisinau.

Thirty-five schools in 15 Moldovan raions have offered high school students this new optional course since the academic year 2019/2020. The course aims to promote tolerance, humanity and mutual respect.

“The workshop helped me to learn new facts about the history of Jewish people and provided me with a hands-on experience in designing lesson plans and curriculum. The tour of Jewish monuments and a museum was the highlight of these two days,” said Romaniuc Marina, history teacher from Mihai Greku theoretical lyceum in Chisinau.

The course was designed in 2018 by the Moldovan Ministry of Education, Culture and Research in co-operation with the Jewish community of Moldova. The OSCE Mission provided expert support throughout the process. This year the Mission further assisted the Ministry with the production of the methodological guide for teachers. “Holocaust: the History and Lessons of Life” explores the history and culture of the Jewish community explores the history and culture of the Jewish community in the local Moldovan context and introduces the younger generation to the danger of intolerance and exclusion.

“This optional course focuses on universal democratic and moral values and its parts can be safely presented during other classes, including history or personal development,” said Eugenia Ciutac, history teacher at the Gaudeamus Theoretical Lyceum in Chisinau.

In recent years, the Moldovan authorities took steps to raise awareness and understanding of the Holocaust in the local context. Development of the optional course is a measure to promote an open and healing discussion of painful periods of the country’s history before, during and after World War II. Inclusion of the subject in schools was one of a number of important measures foreseen action plan for 2017-2019 in the field of the Holocaust remembrance and education; adopted by the government in 2017. The plan seeks to support the process of building an inclusive and tolerant society, which is an important precondition for advancing the Transdniestrian settlement process.

KYIV, 4 November 2019 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made today the following statement to the press:

“I welcome the completion of the withdrawal of forces and hardware from the disengagement area of Zolote and the start of demining activities.

Encouraged by the progress in Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote, I urge the sides to do everything necessary for re-launching the process of disengagement in the area of Petrivske as soon as possible.

I am convinced that the fulfillment of obligations foreseen in the Framework decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware will contribute to building confidence between the sides and to the peaceful solution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.”

437777 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) concluded its 25th Border Management Staff Course in Dushanbe on 1 November 2019.

The one-month course focused on the OSCE principles and standards of the OSCE Border Security and Management Concept, which covers all three dimensions of security: the politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects.

It covered seven overarching modules presented through a variety of training and learning methods, reflecting the success stories and best practices from the 57 OSCE participating States and 11 Partners for Co-operation.

Jonathan Holland, Director of the BMSC, said: “It is symbolic for us at the BMSC to host the 25th Staff Course during the 25th year of the OSCE’s presence in Tajikistan”. We have a group of 25 individuals from 15 different countries, representing a multitude of different agencies. This represents a distinct blend of different cultures and levels of experience”.

The participants included mid-to-senior ranking border security and management officials from Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Portugal and Tajikistan.

Evangelos Anastasiou, a graduate of this Staff Course from Greece, said that he especially enjoyed the diverse representation in the course noting that: “The multinational group enabled me to engage in networking and exchange experiences and views on various important border-related issues with my peers from fifteen different countries”.

Within the framework of the Staff Course, the participants had an opportunity to partake in a roundtable discussion to exchange views on gender-related issues in border security and management. Subject area experts, representatives of relevant governmental agencies as well as international organizations and diplomatic missions working in this field participated in the discussion.

Nadzeya Masevich, a participant of this Staff Course from Belarus, underlined that the experience and knowledge she gained during the course is invaluable: “I particularly liked doing the group research project, which involved all of us debating, analyzing, and exchanging opinions. We learned how to work in a team and produce a well-developed paper,” she said.

As a part of the Staff Course curriculum, participants visited the Tajik-Uzbek and Tajik-Afghan borders to gain a practical understanding of the routine activities and procedures followed by the related border security and management agencies.   

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

Border officials from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan completed a one-week workshop on analytical research and information sharing practices on 25 October 2019 in Dushanbe. The training provided the 15 participants with skills for efficient analysis of risks and threats, and tools for information sharing between border protection agencies to better prevent border incidents in the region. The training was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

Instructors from the Hungarian Police and the Russian Border Advisory Group conducted the sessions.

Addressing the participants at the programme’s graduation ceremony, Valeriu Chiveri, the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, commended them for their co-operation on border security operations. “Accurate analytical research and evidence-based information help to better protect borders and promote regional co-operation,” noted Chiveri. “This workshop aimed at enhancing skills of border officials and improving mutual understanding between border agencies in the region,” he said.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

This report is for the media and the general public.

On 1 November, the SMM received a letter from the armed formations in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region, notifying that they had completed the withdrawal of forces and hardware in the agreed disengagement area near Zolote.

On 2 November, the SMM received two Notes Verbales from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, notifying that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had completed the withdrawal of forces and hardware in the agreed disengagement area near Zolote.

The Mission had observed the beginning of the disengagement process at the disengagement area near Zolote shortly after 12:00 (Eastern European Time) on 29 October when Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and members of the armed formations began leaving their positions, together with their weapons, and exiting the disengagement area (see SMM Spot Report 29 October 2019).

The SMM was present throughout the process of disengagement on the following days (see SMM Daily Reports of 29 October, 30 October, 31 October and 1 November 2019 for further information).

The Notes Verbales from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the letter from the armed formations also contained notifications of readiness to begin the removal of fortifications and other installations of military value from the disengagement area, together with baseline information and geographical co-ordinates of these fortifications, and other installations of military value.

These notifications were provided to the SMM in accordance with a timeline, endorsed by the Trilateral Contact Group on 1 October 2019, regulating activities in the disengagement areas concerning the withdrawal of forces and hardware, the removal of fortifications and demining.

The Notes Verbales and the letter also notified that the removal of fortifications and other installations of military value would begin in line with the agreed timeline.

The Mission continues to actively monitor and will report on the situation.

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.
• A boy was injured due to small-arms fire in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka.
• The SMM saw damage to a house in Oleksandrivka.
• The Mission observed further withdrawal of forces and hardware from the Zolote disengagement area.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, it continued to observe construction works at the broken section of the bridge.
• The SMM observed 12 weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement continued, including at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Bezimenne and Boikivske.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. It recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM saw a crater in the yard of a residential house in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka.
• The SMM observed further withdrawal of forces and hardware from the Zolote disengagement area.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the Mission continued to observe construction works at the broken section of the bridge.
• The Mission recorded no violations inside all three disengagement areas.
• The SMM observed two weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in government-controlled and non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
• The Mission observed two convoys consisting of trucks with Russian Federation licence plates in non-government-controlled of Donetsk city and Luhansk city.
• The SMM continued to observe long queues of civilians travelling across the contact line in Donetsk region.
• The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the operation of and repairs to critical civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement continued, including at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Zaichenko and Novoazovsk.*

VIENNA, 1 November 2019 - More than 170 experts from OSCE participating States and the Partners for Co-operation gathered in Vienna on 31 October and 1 November 2019 for the Third OSCE-wide Seminar on Passenger Data Exchange. The event, which this year focuses on how to counter the risks posed by returned foreign terrorist fighters, was organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Border Security and Management Unit and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).

The experts explored how to better support States in implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 2396 and to help them identify needs for technical assistance.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2396 focuses on preventing the return of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) by mandating States to strengthen border security through the establishment, among other measures, of passenger data exchange systems and sharing the information “through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, in compliance with domestic and international human rights law.” In particular, the Resolution mandates all States to collect both Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data. The UN has launched a Countering Terrorist Travel Programme in order to support States in implementing these commitments.

“United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2178, 2396 and 2482 stress the need to strengthen national detention capacities using travel information,” said Under-Secretary-General and Head of the UNOCT Vladimir Voronkov in a video message to all Seminar participants “Rest assured, Member States are not alone in addressing the threat of terrorist travel. The United Nations through an all-of-UN approach and key regional and international organizations, like the OSCE, will be there for you and continue to collaborate with UNOCT,” he added.

Paul Bekkers, Director of the Office of the OSCE Secretary General, said: “Our goal is to help you, the OSCE participating States, to implement this Resolution, and to turn these promises into action. The UN Security Council mandated the collection of Advance Passenger Information more than five years ago. However, still less than half of OSCE participating States are collecting API data. This means that known terrorists and organized criminals may be crossing our borders without detection.”

In his opening address, the Chair’s Special Representative of the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship 2019, State Secretary of Slovakia’s Foreign Ministry, Lukáš Parízek stressed the need for effective multilateral co-operation in passenger data exchange.

“We must think beyond the national levels for solutions. As the OSCE Chair, it is our role to promote dialogue and co-operation when and where it is most needed. In order to have the most efficient and effective border security management, we need real information sharing. We need to bring together countries already using passenger data exchange systems and those who are in the developing phase,” he said.

Experts from participating States and international organizations delivered presentations on the importance of having the proper legislation in place and respecting human rights, including the right to privacy, when dealing with passenger data. They highlighted available technical and financial support in implementing these systems. The participants also discussed the benefits of engaging with airlines from a very early stage and looked at how passenger data can be used for analyzing and profiling, without basing it “on any discriminatory ground prohibited by international law,” as Security Council 2396 specifies. Key IT service providers presented alternate API/PNR solutions and their analytical capabilities for consideration of States.  

437669 Marina Živaljević

The safety of journalists is of utmost importance for the work of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and it fully endorses the commitments made by Montenegro and other OSCE participating States at the OSCE Ministerial Council on the Safety of Journalists in December 2018.  

To mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (2 November), the Mission delivered the final package of vests and jackets with the “PRESS” insignia to the local public broadcaster in Cetinje on 30 October. Three-hundred vests, ensuring additional visibility while reporting on live events, were distributed to 13 commercial and public service media houses throughout Montenegro over the last 2 years.

The Mission also launched a public awareness campaign on the importance of the safety of journalists and their right to work without fear and under safe conditions. A one-minute video will be broadcast on national television in Montenegro for several days.

As Daniel Blank, the OSCE Mission’s Media Programme Manager said, there are many ways in which crimes against journalists and the impunity of perpetrators can be prevented: “but the most important thing is the understanding and support by the general public, political actors and law enforcement institutions of the indispensable and valuable service journalists are providing to our democratic and open societies.”

This work complements the Mission’s commitment to support professionalism of the media in Montenegro.

437636 Kunduz Rysbek

Some 230 representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, press services of government bodies, independent media, academia, and international organizations took part in the second Annual Partnership Media Conference on 31 October 2019 in Bishkek.

The event marked Information and Press Day in Kyrgyzstan and was jointly organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in co-operation with Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Culture, Information, and Tourism. The attendees discussed mechanisms of modernizing the media industry as well as creating state-of-the-art multimedia centres in Kyrgyzstan. Media participation in elections, information security and countering cyber threat were also debated at the conference. The discussion is especially relevant in light of the implementation of the 2019 Decree of the Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Zheenbekov on “Digitalization of the Country and Regional Development”.

Azamat Kasybekov, Chairperson of the Independent Union of Journalists of Kyrgyzstan, noted: “This media conference has become a traditional platform that unites journalists to address challenges arising due to modernization of technologies and changing trends in the consumption of information. Therefore, it is of high importance to have such dialogue between the government, the media, and civil society to address these issues".

Kyrgyzstan has celebrated Information and Press Day since the publication of its first national newspaper “Erkin Too” on 7 November in 1924.

Communication and Media Relations Section

The second training course on good practices in interviewing victims of human trafficking, organized as part of an OSCE project, was held from 28 to 31 October 2019 in Kyiv for Ukrainian officials working in this area.

The training, led by two international experts, was delivered to 24 representatives of Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the State Service for Labour Issues, the National Police, the Supreme Court, the Free Legal Aid Centres, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Migration Service.

The course was held within the framework of an OSCE project of training courses to counter human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants in Ukraine, which is being implemented in co-operation with INTERPOL and Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy.

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A four-day training course on "Combatting Cybercrime and Conducting Digital Investigations" for professionals concluded on 31 October 2019 in Tashkent. The seminar was organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the Academy of the General Prosecutor's Office of the country with the support of the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Secretariat.

The course targets law enforcement officers who  may be the first to appear at the scene of the crime, but do not possess the necessary skills to respond effectively to cybercrime 35 law enforcement officers from the Ministry of Interior, the General Prosecutor's Office and the State Security Service of Uzbekistan attended the event, which covered all aspects of rapid response, from planning and preparation before  examining the crime scene and preserving digital evidence, to the compilation of an incident report and follow-up.

This course was developed for the OSCE by the University College Dublin Centre for Cybersecurity & Cybercrime Investigation. The Centre was established in 2006 with the specific purpose to support law enforcement agencies in the fight against cybercrime.

The seminar was delivered by Anna Illamaa, who has   more than 16 years of experience as a police officer in Estonia, and Alexander Donchu, with 11 years of experience in the Office for the Prevention and Countering Money Laundering under the Moldovan Government.