OSCE

406403 Kunduz Rysbek

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek organized a series of lectures aimed at raising awareness about the consequences and criminal liability of bride kidnapping within the worldwide campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence. 

The lectures started on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and concluded on 10 December, the International Human Rights Day.

Over a thousand young boys and girls from universities across the country participated in these lectures, which helped them deepen their understanding of the impact bride kidnapping has on the lives of victims and raised their awareness about punishment for this crime. The lectures were conducted by gender experts in five cities of Karakol, Naryn, Osh, Djalal-Abad and Talas.

“After listening to your lecture on ala kachuu [bride kidnapping] I think that it is the men that should get together and decide not to kidnap women for marriage anymore,” said Bakyt, a 19-year-old male student from the northern city of Karakol adding.

The Programme Office in Bishkek’s participation in the 16 Days of Activism also included distribution of information on gender-based violence in schools, health centres, post offices, markets, shops, beauty salons, throughout Kyrgyzstan, particularly in rural areas.

406361 Czech and ODIHR officials participate in the seminar (left to right): Jakub Machačka, Head of Secretariat of the Government Council for Human Rights, Martina Štěpánková, Government Agent for Human Rights, Christie Edwards, Deputy Head of the ODIHR Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department, Igor Stříž, Deputy Prosecutor General, and Anna Šabatová, Public Defender of Rights. Prague, 11 December 2018. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Raising awareness about the specific nature of hate crime in the Czech Republic was the purpose of a seminar organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Czech Republic’s Government Agent for Human Rights in Prague on 11 December 2018.

The participants – over 40 experts from various state authorities and civil society organizations (22 men and 21 women) – discussed methods for countering hate crime in a comprehensive way.

Experts from the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Police, the General Inspection of Security Forces, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice participated.

“States recognize that hate crimes pose a significant problem for our societies and have committed to addressing them by improving data collection, investigation and prosecution of these crimes and by supporting victims,” said Christie Edwards, Deputy Head of ODIHR’s Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department. “Today is an opportunity for ODIHR to engage in constructive dialogue with the Czech Republic and identify areas in which we can provide assistance and develop further co-operation.”

Igor Stříž, the Czech Republic's First Deputy Prosecutor General, said: “We are fully aware of both the impact of hate crimes and the importance of building the capacities of prosecutors in this field. Such criminal offences motivated by bias interfere with the very substance of the victim’s dignity. They must be prosecuted effectively and in line with the international obligations of the Czech Republic. Full knowledge of the issue is the first step to meet this goal.”

ODIHR's Prosecutors and Hate Crime Training (PAHCT) and Training Against Hate Crimes for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programmes, as well as good practices for inter-agency co-operation and hate crime recording were discussed. Participants also identified ways to strengthen support to victims of hate crimes and co-operation between state authorities and civil society.

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• The Mission recorded ceasefire violations inside the Zolote disengagement area.
• SMM unmanned aerial vehicles spotted destroyed houses in the south-eastern part of Pivdenne in Donetsk region and fresh craters in residential areas of Zolote-4/Rodina and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, in Luhansk region
• The SMM saw a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines in Oleksandro-Kalynove.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water and electric infrastructure on both sides of the contact line and to damaged houses in Marinka. It continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The SMM was also restricted near Siedove and Dovzhanske – close to the border with the Russian Federation – and near Popasne.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 400 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours (about 250 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-east and south-west of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), including about 300 explosions, in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area and in areas east and south-east of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol).

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including one explosion, compared with the previous 24 hours (about 470 explosions).

Disengagement areas[2]

On the afternoon of 10 December, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded two projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 2-4km south-east, assessed as inside the disengagement area.

Positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) and close to the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM observed a calm situation.[3]

Destroyed houses in Pivdenne

On 9 December, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted at least eight destroyed houses (no roofs, only outer walls remaining) located on a 150m stretch of a street in the Chyhari area of Pivdenne (formerly Leninske, government-controlled, 40km north-east of Donetsk). The UAV also spotted 12 houses on the southern end of the above-mentioned street and two houses about 250m east destroyed in a similar fashion. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by artillery rounds, however it could not assess the direction of fire. All of the above-mentioned damage was not seen in imagery from 28 April 2018. (For previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 16 August 2018.)

Fresh impact craters

On 9 December, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted seven new craters in the ground and two holes in the roofs of two houses, all assessed as caused by 82mm mortar rounds (the SMM could not assess the direction of fire), on the eastern edge of Zolote-4/Rodina (government-controlled, 59km west of Luhansk). In a field on the north-western edge of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the UAV spotted six new craters assessed as caused by 120mm mortar rounds (the Mission could not assess the direction of fire) and a crater assessed as caused by a 122mm artillery round fired from a northerly direction. In a field south of the Vilnyi neighbourhood of Zolote-4/Rodina, the same UAV spotted 14 new craters assessed as caused by 82mm and 120mm mortar rounds (the SMM could not assess the direction of fire). All of the above-mentioned damage was not seen in imagery from 23 November 2018.

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

In violation of the withdrawal lines

Government-controlled areas

9 December

An SMM long-range UAV spotted:

• an anti-tank gun (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) in Oleksandro-Kalynove (47km north of Donetsk).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites

Government-controlled areas

10 December

• Three surface-to-air-missile systems (9K33 Osa) in the yard of a non-functional school in Pobieda (55km north of Luhansk)

Permanent storages sites beyond the respective withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region

10 December

• 23 tanks (nine T-64 and 14 T-72), nine mortars (2B14 Podnos, 82mm) and 15 anti-tank guns (MT-12) remained missing. Two tanks (T-72) were missing for the first time.

Weapons that the SMM was unable to verify as withdrawn[4]

Weapons storage sites beyond the respective withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region

10 December

• Seven towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) and nine self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) were missing, including five self-propelled howitzers (2S1) missing for the first time.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[5]

Government-controlled areas

9 December

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted:

• an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk).

10 December

• An armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR variant) and two armoured combat vehicles in Malynove (19km north-east of Luhansk)
• An armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) in Zolote
• An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) near Zolote
• An IFV (BMP-1) near Heorhiievka (27km south-west of Donetsk)
• Three IFVs (BMP-2) in Svitlodarsk
• Four APCs (MT-LB) in Klynove (68km north-east of Donetsk)

Non-government-controlled areas

9 December

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• 17 IFVs (BMP-1) near Kruhlyk (65km south-west of Luhansk)

10 December

• An APC (BTR-80) in Starolaspa (51km south of Donetsk)

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), to water pipelines near Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), to power lines in Zolote-4/Rodina, as well as to damaged houses in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the Mission facilitated and monitored a transfer of funds from non-government to government-controlled areas across the bridge in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk), reportedly in relation to a water payment.

Mine hazard signs

The SMM saw for the first time at least eight mine hazard signs (red background with a skull and crossbones and “Stop Mine” written in Russian and “Danger Mine” written in English) along the western side of a road in the southern outskirts of Hirske (government-controlled, 63km west of Luhansk). The Mission also saw a white-and-red vehicle parked on the side of the road and eight representatives of the State Emergency Services areas next to it.

The SMM saw for the first time at least ten mine hazard signs (red background with a skull and crossbones and “Stop Mines” written in Cyrillic) on the southern edge of Malynove.

Border areas not under government control

At a border crossing point near Dovzhanske (84km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw seven cars (four with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates and one with “DPR” plates), three buses and four covered cargo trucks (all with Ukrainian licence plates) exiting Ukraine. After about 50 minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

While at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw nine cars (five with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation license plates, and two with “DPR” plates), a bus with Russian Federation licence plates and ten passengers on board and a covered cargo truck with Ukrainian licence plates exiting Ukraine.

While at a border crossing point near Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) for about ten minutes, the SMM saw two cars and a covered cargo truck entering Ukraine and three cars exiting Ukraine.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denial of access:

• At a checkpoint near Popasne (government-controlled, 60km north-west of Luhansk), Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied the SMM access to the settlement.
• At a border crossing point near Dovzhanske, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.
• At a checkpoint near Siedove (non-government-controlled, 33km north-east of Mariupol), near the border with the Russian Federation, two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage, citing “a special operation in the area.”

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

[1] Please see the annexed table for a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as a map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report. During the reporting period, the SMM cameras in Hranitne and Krasnohorivka were not operational.

[2] Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] Due to the presence of mines, including a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The SMM visited areas previously holding weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons. The SMM noted that one such site continued to be abandoned.

[5] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

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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 increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 21 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border                                                                                                                                                                                        

The profile of the people 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 people and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits increased from 8,264 to 8,583 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[1].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to the Russian Federation, with an average net flow of 47 for both BCPs.

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

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits noted crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs was 26 this week (compared to 29 last week); 14 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and 12 into Ukraine (54 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 have tinted windows, and buses and minivans have drawn curtains.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families crossing the border, sometimes with elderly people and/or children, at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, four families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and four were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when one family was observed crossing into Russian Federation and eleven into 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 do not state their route; instead they have a sign on the windshield stating “irregular”.

During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (365 compared to 332 observed during the previous week). There were 186 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 179 bound for Ukraine.

Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” route or destination was noted: Luhansk –Sevastopol.

On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses do not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OM observed a decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the total number of trucks went from 748 to 713 (246 at the Gukovo BCP and 467 at the Donetsk BCP); 393 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 320 crossed into 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 the Russian Federation, Lithuania and in Belarus.

Among them, the OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting week, the number of tanker trucks increased to 62 (compared to 46 during the previous reporting period). 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 undergo systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which may 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 157 to 189: of the total number of trucks scanned, 108 trucks (57 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 81 trucks (43 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 increased from 131 to 173 vehicles; 96 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 77 into Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains running on the railway tracks located approximately 150 metres south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 19 occasions, compared to 17 last week; the OTs assessed that ten trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and nine to Ukraine. 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, as were vehicles with “DPR” plates. The OM also noticed vehicles with Belarusian and Lithuanian licence plates.

During the reporting period, the OT noted one ambulance with a licence plate issued in the Russian Federation that arrived at the Donetsk BCP on 8 December at 13:55. The vehicle drove behind the main building and was not visible from the OT’s position. At 14:16 the same day, the vehicle returned to the Russian Federation.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 6 November to 11 December 2018, 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).

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406295 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Third Status Report: Implementation of the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area For Roma, with Roma: Enhancing Participation in Public and Political Life

OSCE participating States should act more decisively to enhance the participation of Roma and Sinti in public and political life, participants said at an event in Vienna on 11 December 2018. The event was organized to present a report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) assessing the status of implementation of the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area.

ODIHR presented its 2018 Status Report For Roma, with Roma, the third since the Action Plan’s adoption in 2003, to representatives of OSCE participating States and Roma civil society. The discussion that followed focused on the progress made by participating States in implementing commitments in the area of public and political participation of Roma and Sinti, and on the remaining challenges.

The meeting was organized by ODIHR in co-operation with the OSCE’s Italian Chairmanship.

Introducing the report’s main findings and recommendations, Dan Pavel Doghi, Chief of ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, noted with concern that “Roma and Sinti continue to be significantly under-represented in public and political life in the OSCE area”. He strongly urged participating States to “scale up efforts and pro-actively promote effective participation of Roma and Sinti as voters and candidates in elections, as well as in all policy and decision-making processes affecting them.”

Speaking on behalf of the Chairmanship, Ambassador Luca Fratini highlighted the essential role of public and political participation as a prerequisite for improving the situation of Roma and Sinti.

“Today’s event gives us all, participating States and civil society, the opportunity to reflect on progress so far, remaining challenges and most importantly, areas for follow-up to enhance the public and political participation of Roma and Sinti,” Fratini said. “Despite some progress reported, 15 years after the adoption of the OSCE Action Plan, we need to intensify efforts to ensure equal access and opportunities for the participation of Roma and Sinti and work towards their full social inclusion.”    

Describing ways to achieve meaningful participation, Carmen Gheorghe, President of the E-Romnja association promoting Roma women’s rights, said: “Broad-based inclusive politics has to be promoted in all societies to address under-representation and exclusion. Politicians must publicly condemn all manifestations of racism, discrimination and violence against Roma and Sinti, and they should also include more Roma and Sinti, both men and women, as party members and candidates.”

406163 Marina Živaljević

Strong democracy and good governance are necessary prerequisites to ensure adequate protection of human rights, affirmed participants in an OSCE-supported conference held on the occasion of International Human Rights Day on 10 December in Podgorica.

Courts along with other national institutions play a crucial role in protecting human rights together with civil society organizations and other national and international stakeholders, they concluded.

Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Maryse Daviet said that human rights and democracy are inseparable, as human rights are an essential element of every democracy.

“The OSCE Mission remains committed to strengthening the Montenegrin democratic institutions and giving support to create better conditions for human rights,” said Daviet, adding that 10 December also marked the end of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign in which the OSCE was actively engaged.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Zoran Pažin, Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms Šućko Baković, Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro Aivo Orav, and Acting Co-ordinator of the UN System in Montenegro and Permanent Representative of UNHCR Roberta Montevecchi, also participated in the opening panel.

The OSCE Mission also took a part in a charity basketball tournament, competing with 13 teams. The tournament winner donated EUR 637 in prize money to the Sports Equestrian Club Budućnost for hypo-rehabilitation treatment for children with disabilities.

406100 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Astana

An OSCE-supported seminar on assessing and managing the risks of violent extremist prisoners, including the rehabilitation of returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters, concluded on 7 December 2018 in Astana.

The two-day workshop was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana together with the joint United Nations System and European Union programme on the prevention of violent extremism in prisons.

Some 70 participants gathered to discuss methods and practices applied in penitentiary systems in the treatment of prisoners convicted of violent extremist crimes. Officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs Prison Committee and National Security Committee as well as representatives of academia and civil society exchanged ideas with experts from Austria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the United States and United Kingdom.  

Presentations included case studies and examples of methods that had been successful in rehabilitation programmes for those convicted of violent extremist crimes. Special attention was paid to ways of working with civil society, management of prison staff, risk assessment and management of violent extremist prisoners, managing prison-based disengagement interventions and prison-based disengagement interventions.

The event was part of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana’s long-term support of projects to counter violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism.

The joint UN and EU programme which co-organized the event is implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNCCT) and the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). It is co-funded by the European Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the UNCCT.

406088 Andrii Dziubenko

Ukraine’s Mine Action Law was adopted by the parliament on 6 December 2018, after consultations with the Project Co-ordinator, who provided advice on the content. It establishes a framework for humanitarian demining, divides responsibilities among state institutions, and envisages the creation of a mine action centre.

Since 2015, the Project Co-ordinator has focused its efforts on providing access to international best practices and experiences in regulating response to mines and unexploded ordnances (UXO) contamination to officials and Members of Parliament. 

“The legislation  is an impetus for strengthening co-ordinated efforts from all actors, governmental and non-governmental, to minimize the risks for people living in mine-affected communities in the eastern part of the country,” said Jeffrey Erlich, Senior Project Officer of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine. “The law should also make Ukraine more eligible for international assistance by creating a civilian-led mine action system that will enable transparency, accountability and better priority settings.”

The law also refers to National Mine Action Standards, finalized this year and to be published by standardization authorities. The Standards document is an outcome of a multi-year dialogue facilitated by the Project Co-ordinator, including interagency discussions and meetings with communities affected by explosive contamination in eastern Ukraine.  The document is based on the UN International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), but provides adaptations with regard to country specifics, and establishes requirements for all aspects of mine action, including information management, equipment, personnel, area examination and clearing, quality control and risk education.

VIENNA, 10 December 2018 – The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM), together with the International Press Institute, are organizing the world premiere today in Vienna of their film, A Dark Place – a documentary highlighting the experiences of female journalists who have been targeted by online harassment.

The event, part of the RFOM’s Safety of Female Journalists Online (SOFJO) project, is being held at the city’s Stadtkino on International Human Rights Day, as part of the This Human World film festival.

A Dark Place focuses on the stories of women journalists as well as experts on gender and media from a number of OSCE participating States – Finland, Serbia, Spain, the Russian Federation, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The documentary, the first of its kind, explores the phenomenon of online harassment of female journalists, and how the issues this raises go beyond gender equality by directly impacting the freedom of the media and the fundamental human right of members of society to access a plurality of information. 

The screening of the film will be followed by a panel discussion with the film’s main protagonists, Banu Güven, Linda Pelkonen, Marija Vučić, Evdokia Moskvina and Arzu Geybullayeva. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, the director of the film, Javier Luque, and OSCE Media Freedom Project Officer Jennifer Adams will also join the panel.

For further information about the SOFJO project, please visit: www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/safety-female-journalists-onlineFollow @OSCE_RFOM to join the discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #SOFJO.

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

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406022 Marina Živaljević

Montenegro’s draft National Strategy on preventing and combating terrorism, money laundering and terrorist financing 2019-2022 and the related Action Plan were reviewed at a workshop organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the country’s National Security Council on 10 December 2018 in Podgorica.

Opening the workshop, Maryse Daviet, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, said the Mission remains committed to enhancing the capacity of the national and regional institutions in preventing and combating terrorism. “The OSCE is also a primary contributor to providing a framework for multi-stakeholder dialogue, awareness-raising, the exchange of expertise and networking,” she said.

Slavko Stojanović, Secretary of the National Security Council, said that preventing and suppressing terrorism, money laundering and the financing of terrorism is a priority.

“Our efforts to preserve and improve the safety of our citizens and their property, and all those who reside in Montenegro, are confirmed by the joint efforts that are invested in the prevention and fight against violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism,” he said.

Expert Albert Cernigoj, who reviewed the draft documents, said that shifting trends in security, defence, the economy and society require that national capacities and capabilities, security policies, systems, mechanisms and tools be adapted to new challenges.

“Montenegro still enjoys a relatively high level of security in a relatively unstable regional and international environment,” he said. “Yet along with other countries it is increasingly exposed to different security risks and threats.”

This workshop was a follow-up to an earlier workshop organized by the OSCE Mission in April this year which focused on developing a draft National Strategy and Action Plan.

KYIV, 10 December 2018 - A draft roadmap to enhance democratic control over the armed forces through the protection of military personnel rights, ensuring equal opportunities for women and men, and strengthening interaction between the military and civil society, is to be presented and discussed at a roundtable event organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and the country’s Defence Ministry in Kyiv, on Wednesday, 12 December.

The event will bring together officials as well as local and international experts. Among them will be Jeffrey Erlich, Senior Project Officer of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator, Kateryna Levchenko, Governmental Commissioner for Gender Policy, Philip Fluri, Deputy Director of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, Valeri Ratchev of the Centre for Security and Defence Management (Bulgaria) and Farangiz Zikryaieva of the NGO Human Rights Matter (Germany).

Journalists are invited to attend the roundtable discussion from 09:00 at the conference hall of the Rus Hotel (4 Hospitalna St, Kyiv, Ukraine), with registration starting at 08:30. They should confirm their attendance by sending an e-mail to Andrii Dziubenko, Programme Co-ordinator of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator, at andrii.dziubenko@osce.org by 17:00 on Tuesday, 11 December.

For more information about the event please contact Andrii Dziubenko at +38 050 676 77 34.

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This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 7 and 8 December, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Between the evenings of 8 and 9 December, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Bila Hora.*
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The SMM was also restricted at a checkpoint in Novolaspa and close to Voznesenivka, a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region near the border with the Russian Federation.*
• The Mission observed a calm situation at the crossing point in Chonhar and other areas in the south-eastern part of Kherson region.

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 7 and 8 December, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 50 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 30 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-east, east and south-east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) and north-west of the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).

Between the evenings of 8 and 9 December, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 250 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south and south-west of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), south-west of Dokuchaievsk (non-government-controlled, 30km south-west of Donetsk) and, again, north-east, east and south-east of Hnutove. 

On 8 December, while conducting a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight in Bila Hora (government-controlled, 54km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 12 shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 400-500m north-east, assessed as aimed at its UAV. The SMM recalled the UAV, which landed safely.*

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 7 and 8 December, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including two explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (no explosions). Between the evenings of 8 and 9 December, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 470 explosions, compared with the previous 24 hours. The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas west of Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, non-government-controlled, 44km west of Luhansk) as well as in areas south of Orikhove-Donetske (government-controlled, 44km north-west of Luhansk) and south-south-east of Toshkivka (government-controlled, 60km north-west of Luhansk), including about 130 explosions of artillery rounds. 

Disengagement areas[2]

During the day on 8 December, positioned near all three disengagement areas, the SMM observed a calm situation.

During the day on 9 December, positioned on the eastern edge of Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 36 undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 3-7km south-east (assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area).

During the day on 9 December, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions and about 40 shots and bursts of small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 2-3km south-south-east (all assessed as outside the Petrivske disengagement area). [3]  

On the same day, positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed a calm situation.

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

In violation of the withdrawal lines

Non-government-controlled areas

8 December

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
  • three tanks (T-72) in Novohryhorivka (33km west of Luhansk); and
  • a mortar (type undetermined, 82mm) south of Donetskyi (49km west of Luhansk).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites

Government-controlled areas

9 December

• Two surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa) in Kasianivka (22km north of Mariupol), on road H-20 heading south
• 24 tanks (T-72) in a compound near Andriivka (61km south of Donetsk)

Non-government-controlled areas

9 December

• Five stationary tanks (type undetermined) at a training area near Myrne (28km south-west of Luhansk)

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]

Government-controlled areas

8 December

• An armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) near Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk)
• An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) in Orikhove-Donetske
• An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
  • an IFV (BMP-1), four armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) in a residential area of Bila Hora.
  • Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and trenches within yards of houses in a residential area of Bila Hora.

9 December

•  An IFV (BTR-4) near Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk)

Non-government-controlled areas

9 December

• An armoured personnel carrier (probable MT-LB) near the central railway station in Donetsk city (6km north-west of the city centre)

Unexploded ordnance

On 7 December, on Stratonavtiv Street, in the Kyivskyi district of Donetsk city, the SMM saw for the first time a piece of unexploded ordnance (UXO) embedded in the tarmac, assessed as the tail section of a multiple launch rocket system (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) rocket (see SMM Daily Report 8 December 2018).  

SMM facilitation of operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station

On 8 and 9 December, the Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (15km north of Donetsk).

Border areas not under government control

On 8 December, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for about one and a half hours, the SMM saw six container trucks (four with Ukrainian, one with Russian Federation and one with Belarusian licence plates), a fuel tanker with Russian Federation licence plates, 54 cars (12 with Ukrainian, 26 with Russian Federation and one with Lithuanian licence plates, as well as 15 with “DPR” plates) and a bus (with a destination sign “Donetsk-Rostov” on it) exiting Ukraine. The SMM saw seven container trucks (five with Ukrainian licence plates and two with “DPR” plates), two buses (one with Ukrainian licence plates, a destination sign “Rostov-Donetsk” on it and about 40 passengers on board; the other with Russian Federation licence plates, a destination sign “Piatyhorsk-Donetsk” on it and about 40 passengers on board) and four cars (two with Ukrainian and two with Russian Federation licence plates) entering Ukraine.

On 8 December, while at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk, 65km south-east of Luhansk) for about ten minutes, the SMM saw nine cars (six with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates) and a covered-cargo truck with Ukrainian licence plates in a queue to exit Ukraine. The SMM saw two pedestrians (males, aged 40-50) exiting Ukraine and five pedestrians (three females, aged 25-40 and two males aged 30-40) entering Ukraine. About ten minutes after the SMM’s arrival, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

On the same day, at the Chervona Mohyla railway station in Voznesenivka, the SMM saw about 80 stationary bulk cargo wagons and five tank wagons in front of the railway station (their spring suspensions were compressed and they were marked with a sign “Benzin”).   

The SMM observed a calm situation in Chonhar, south-east of Kherson

The SMM observed a calm situation at the crossing point in Chonhar (163km south-east of Kherson) and other areas in the south-eastern part of Kherson region.

The SMM continued monitoring in Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, UXO and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denial of access:

• On 8 December, at a checkpoint on the eastern edge of Novolaspa (non-government-controlled, 50km south of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations denied again the SMM passage.  
• On 8 December, at a border crossing point near Voznesenivka, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

Other impediments:

• On 8 December, while conducting a mini-UAV flight in Bila Hora, the SMM heard 12 shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 400-500m north-east, assessed as aimed at its UAV.
• On 8 December, while the SMM was following up on reports of a woman injured by shelling, medical staff at a hospital in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) told the SMM that it could not provide information without the permission of those in effective control in Horlivka.
• On 9 December, an SMM long range-UAV lost its GPS signal due to signal interference while flying over areas near Pivdenne (formerly Leninske, government-controlled, 40km north-east of Donetsk) and Kurdiumivka (government-controlled, 54km north of Donetsk).[5]

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera in Hranitne and Krasnohorivka were not operational and mist and fog limited the observation capabilities of the majority of other SMM cameras.

[2] Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] Due to the presence of mines, including a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM’s access to its camera in Petrivske remains limited, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[5] The interference could have originated from anywhere within the radius of several kilometres of the SMM UAV’s position. 

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WARSAW, 10 December 2018 – The fundamental rights set out in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights 70 years ago are vital not only to the equal dignity and worth of every person, but also to achieving and maintaining peace and security, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said on today’s Human Rights Day.

“As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration, the promotion and protection of the rights and fundamental freedoms it enumerates are crucial not only as core duties of states to every person inside their borders, but also to preventing violence and promoting peace within and across those borders,” Gísladóttir said. “The principles of equality, justice and freedom expressed in the Declaration match the commitments that OSCE participating States have made a pillar of the Organization’s concept of security.”

The ODIHR Director raised concern about instances across the OSCE region where governments have unduly used security concerns as justification to curb human rights and fundamental freedoms, including democratic rights and the freedom from discrimination.

“We’ve seen states limit these rights and freedoms on the basis of security concerns – whether ostensibly to prevent crimes, including terrorism, or in times of internal unrest or conflicts between countries. Whether or not these concerns were genuine, time and again the result has been an increase in the security challenges that states face in these areas,” she said. “The choice between security and human rights is a false choice, as the two are inextricably linked.”

Gísladóttir highlighted that her Office provides support to governments and civil society across the OSCE region in protecting and promoting human rights, including the equal rights of men and women, while ensuring security. This work includes efforts to improve the protection of human rights in the security sector, to support women’s participation in promoting peace and security, to strengthen democratic institutions and practices, including elections, and to bolster the rule of law.

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Marina Živaljević

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized two workshops on gender-responsive budgeting in Kolašin and Tivat, on 29 and 30 November and 3 and 4 December, respectively. The Mission engaged experts who delivered the training sessions and conducted a gender budgeting analysis for 14 participants representing municipalities in Kolasin and Tivat. The aim of the events was to help municipal institutions with gender mainstreaming. They were organized in partnership with the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and its Department for Gender Equality.

The participants were familiarized with the concept of gender responsive budgeting, which ensures that gender equality obligations are reflected in the public budgets. The experts discussed concepts and principles related to gender responsive budgeting and explained how to apply gender mainstreaming to planning and budgeting processes at the municipal level.

They also discussed concrete initiatives relating to gender-responsive budgeting in their municipalities. The initiatives included creating additional funds for women’s sports clubs, providing financial support for a day care centre for school children and a health care facility with a gynecology chair for women with disabilities.

“Gender-responsive budgeting is taking into consideration social differences and structural inequalities for women and men and finding opportunities to eliminate them,” said Goran Ojdanić, Senior Programme Support Assistant at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

The Mission will continue to support capacity-building and awareness-raising activities in this area, both at the local and central levels, in the upcoming year.

Marina Živaljević

Maintaining international standards on identifying, collecting, handling, protecting and preserving electronic evidence is crucial for its admission in trials, was the conclusion from a two-day workshop organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro from 5 to 6 December in Danilovgrad.

The workshop, titled Handling Digital Evidence, gathered 18 digital forensics experts from  Danilovgrad, Sarajevo and Zagreb. Digital forensic evidence can be gathered from any electronic storage or communications media such as cellphones and computers.

The participants shared their experiences in the examination of mobile phones and the application of forensic techniques in digital imaging. They raised concerns on digital forensic evidence fragility: it can be easily damaged or changed due to improper handling, whether by accident or on purpose.

The participants in the event concluded that standardization of forensic examination approaches should be applied throughout the region, to enable more efficient comparison of results from cross-border investigations. They recognized the need to strengthen research and practice in the collection of digital evidence, and to address the increased demand for forensic analysis and reduce the growing backlog in processing of evidence. The participants also emphasized the need to update equipment and provide investigators with ongoing training.

The event closed with the Forensic Center from Sarajevo awarding a Certificate of Appreciation to the Forensic Center in Danilovgrad for the mentoring they provided in 2017 and 2018, which led to the accreditation of Sarajevo’s laboratory in 2018.

The workshop was part of the Mission’s long-term support to the Ministry of Interior and Police Directorate in implementing criminal justice reform and establishing the Forensic Center in 2008.  Since then, the Centre has worked with the Mission to enhance its institutional capacity, enabling it to obtain its International Standard of Quality ISO 17025 and membership in the European Network of Forensic Science Institutions (ENFSI).

YEREVAN, 10 December 2018 – The 9 December early parliamentary elections in Armenia were held with respect for fundamental freedoms and enjoyed broad public trust that needs to be preserved through further electoral reforms, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. Open political debate, including in the media, contributed to a vibrant campaign, although cases of inflammatory rhetoric online were of concern, the statement says.

The general absence of electoral malfeasance, including of vote buying and pressure on voters, allowed for genuine competition, the observers said. Despite the shortened timeframe, the elections were well administered, although the integrity of campaign finance was undermined by a lack of regulation, accountability and transparency.

“Democracy cannot proceed without trust, so I am pleased that broad public trust was the central characteristic of this election,” said Peter Osusky, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission. “Now that voters have delivered their message, it is up to the political leadership of Armenia to ensure that this momentum is maintained, and that further reforms are implemented to fully consolidate the positive assessment we are making today.”

Contestants were able to campaign freely, and fundamental freedoms of association, assembly, expression and movement were fully respected, the statement says. The official campaign period was very short, but campaigning started earlier, which is not prohibited by law. Election day proceeded calmly and free of pressure on or intimidation of voters, and voting, counting and tabulation were assessed positively by almost all observers.

“I congratulate the Armenian people. The 2018 peaceful so-called ‘Velvet’ revolution, in conjunction with the political will of the current authorities, enabled the holding of democratic elections,” said Aleksander Pociej, Head of the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. “PACE has observed every election in Armenia since 1995 and, despite the complex electoral system and reported instances of intimidation via social media, the recurring electoral irregularities, which tainted many elections in the past, were absent. It is up to Armenia’s elected representatives to launch legal reforms to consolidate the democratic process in the country.”

The CEC conducted a comprehensive voter education campaign to encourage voting, explain voting procedures and warn against vote-buying. To prevent pressure on public employees and the misuse of state resources, the authorities ran an awareness-raising campaign on these issues for local officials, school principals, health workers and others. Officials, contestants and voters themselves expressed their commitment to discouraging the selling and buying of votes.

“These elections were very well organized, with minimum irregularities and free of pressure on voters. I am very happy that, as a result, public trust in the electoral process was high,” said Heidi Hautala, Head of the delegation from the European Parliament. “We congratulate the Armenian authorities and participants in these elections and encourage the government and the National Assembly to further improve the legislation ahead of future elections. The European Union, including the European Parliament, will continue to assist in this process.”

Amendments to the Election Code in May expanded the list of those prohibited from active campaigning, lifted restrictions on media observers, and increased penalties for electoral offences, including by making it a crime to force individuals to take part in campaigns or to facilitate vote-buying. While this addressed previous recommendations, others related to campaign finance, the submission of complaints, candidacy requirements and the threshold alliances must reach to win seats remain unaddressed, the observers said.

The media environment is diverse and the freedom of expression, guaranteed by the Constitution, was respected. Television is the primary source of political information, while the use of online media and social networks is also significant. Media monitoring showed that the broadcasters made an effort to cover all contestants, contributing to a diversity of information allowing voters to make an informed choice. Many private outlets appear to be strongly associated with political parties, with some demonstrating a clear preference, while public television provided reasonably balanced coverage, the statement says. Public television organized genuine debates that included candidates from all the contestants.

Despite the limited timeframe, the Central Election Commission (CEC) conducted its work professionally and met all legal deadlines, and there was general confidence in it and in territorial commissions. Voters were identified on election day by devices containing electronic copies of voter lists. The devices scanned their IDs to confirm they were registered at the polling station and to prevent multiple voting. Despite data privacy concerns, the CEC is required to scan and publish online lists of those who have voted that contain personal data and their signatures, in order to prevent impersonation.

Campaign funds may include contributions from voters, candidates and political parties, with limits set on the levels of both contributions and spending. Reporting requirements for contributions and spending prior to the official start of the campaign are ambiguous. In addition, some candidates confirmed they were directly financing their campaigns, which bypasses official campaign funds, in contravention of the law. Organizational expenses such as office space, communications, transportation and staff are not considered election related and may, therefore, remain unreported, undermining transparency, the observers said.

All candidate lists met the 25 per cent gender quota requirement and 32 per cent of the 1,444 candidates were women. This quota does not, however, ensure the same proportion of women’s representation in parliament, partly because half of the seats are distributed according to preferential votes. Parties rarely featured women candidates in their campaign – women only occasionally campaigned on their own and rarely appeared as speakers in rallies observed. Some women candidates were targets of disparaging gender-based rhetoric.

“Politics has historically been a man’s world but, as women are more than half of the population, this should be reflected in politics as well,” said Nahima Lanjri, Head of the delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. “I hope to see reforms that will encourage more women in politics and to ensure that the next elections are fully representative of both men and women.”

The statement also highlights that, while there was general confidence in the accuracy of voter lists, those declared incapacitated by courts are not entitled to vote, contrary to international standards on the political rights of persons with disabilities. Contrary to previous recommendations, the right to file election-related complaints is largely limited to party proxies and commission members. The statement also notes that the prohibition of those holding multiple citizenship from being candidates is in contradiction to OSCE commitments and case law of the European Court of Human Rights.

“Our assessment of these elections highlights that fundamental freedoms were respected, along with many other positives,” said Ambassador Urszula Gacek, Head of the election observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights: “The confidence invested in the authorities brings responsibility to ensure that these positives are safeguarded. ODIHR stands ready to help Armenia address remaining shortcomings so that good elections become the norm."

For further information, contact:

Andreas Baker, OSCE PA, +45 60 10 81 26 or +374 (0)99 903 713, andreas@oscepa.dk

Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR, +374 (0)99 903 832 or +48 609 522 266, thomas.rymer@odihr.pl

Bogdan Torcatoriu, PACE, +374 (0)44 999 075 or +33 6 50 39 29 40, bogdan.torcatoriu@coe.int

Julien Crampes, EP, +374 (0)43 062 570, julien.crampes@ep.europa.eu

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405860 Anna Vorobeva OSCE Mission to Moldova

The OSCE Mission to Moldova enhanced the capacities of 100 legal professionals to effectively defend the rights of minorities and contribute to a more inclusive society at four training sessions from 14 November to 7 December 2018. The events took place in four different regions of Moldova, including the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. They were organized in co-operation with the Lawyers’ Training Centre of the Moldovan Bar Association.

During the training, the participants learned about international and national legal standards in the area of national minorities’ rights. They also enhanced their capacity to deal with complainants and provide effective remedies for persons belonging to minority groups. 

The lawyers worked on case law and gained practical experience in promoting and protecting rights related to minorities’ access to justice, information and employment. They were familiarized with the competences, practices and decisions of the key National Human Rights Institutions. These included the OSCE-facilitated Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Agency for Interethnic Relations, the People’s Advocate (Office of the Ombudsperson) and the Council for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Ensuring Equality on 15 November 2018.

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

COPENHAGEN, 9 December 2018 - Parliamentarians from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly have expressed their sorrow over the death of Lyudmila Alekseyeva of Russia, who died today at the age of 91. President George Tsereteli (Georgia) and human rights committee Chair Margareta Kiener Nellen (Switzerland) and Vice-Chair Michael Link (Germany) praised Alekseyeva as an inspirational figure for human rights advocates world-wide.

“Alekseyeva spent her life fighting for principled and respectful treatment for all people and I hope her legacy will serve as a reminder to all that we need to continue this work,” said President Tsereteli. “Her continuous struggle for justice and against repression, first in the Soviet Union and more recently in Russia, should inspire us all.”

Alekseyeva co-founded the Moscow Helsinki Group human rights organization in 1976, which Tsereteli noted was closely linked to the OSCE process.

Margareta Kiener Nellen noted that Alekseyeva’s work with the Moscow Helsinki Group had served as model for modern human rights advocates globally. “As we celebrate International Human Rights Day tomorrow, we will particularly honour Alekseyeva and her strength, which have been inspiring so many people for decades now.”

“At this time of serious challenges to human rights principles, Alekseyeva's courage to challenge the powerful Soviet government reminds us of the power of strong will and determination,” said Michael Link, Vice-Chair of the OSCE PA General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions. “We can best honour her by continuing to fight for the vital human rights principles that she championed throughout her life.”

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405593 Kunduz Rysbek

Young policy advisers from Central Asian ministries, state administrations, parliaments and academic and research institutions completed an OSCE-organized intensive four-day Young Policy Advisers Course on 30 November 2018 in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul. The course aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the role of policy professionals, while facilitating networking of young officials from Central Asia.

Organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in close co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and with the support of other OSCE field operations in Central Asia, the course brought together 26 participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to enhance their skills in policy advising and planning by applying techniques of analysis, negotiation, communication and public speaking.

“This training course contributed to enhancing the capacity of young policy advisers from Central Asian states in decision-making processes and facilitating their professional networking and communication”, noted Yuri Fenopetov, Senior Policy Adviser of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The course built on the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) Political Adviser’s Handbook which was used as the main reference material. The training was delivered by three prominent international mentors from Poland and Russia, and was based on active participation, engagement and practical exercises.

“This was a very interesting and useful course for professional growth and development”, said Mr. Azizjon Karimov, one of the participants in the course. “Also noteworthy is the active participation of young advisers from all Central Asian states, which helped to improve mutual understanding and constructive dialogue among them.”

The training course was conducted within the framework of the implementation of the OSCE project “Enhancing the awareness and capacity of young men and women to address issues of CVE.”

Communication and Media Relations Section

Recent advances in the OSCE’s pioneering preventive work against violent extremism and terrorism (VERLT) was the topic of a side event at the 2018 OSCE Ministerial Council in Milan on Tuesday, 6 December 2018.

Speakers at the event were Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák and representatives of the OSCE Secretariat and field operations.

Foreign Minister Kneissl stressed the importance of taking a whole of society approach to countering VERLT. “No country is immune to this threat, and people who are radicalized are not necessarily the losers in our societies,” she said. “Human rights and rule of law have to be at the forefront of any strategy against VERLT.”

Foreign Minister Lajčák likened VERLT to a virus that attacks societies from within. This makes the preventive work of the OSCE all the more valuable, he said, citing the Organization’s convening power and the expertise of its Transnational Threats Department and field operations.

The work of the OSCE in preventing and countering VERLT has shifted in recent years from a policy agenda to a growing community of practice, said Georgia Holmer, Senior Adviser on Anti-terrorism Issues in the Action against Terrorism Unit (ATU) of the TNT Department. She noted an increase among participating States in political appetite to embrace preventive measures, the development of national action plans, the co-ordination of governmental and non-governmental actors and demand for OSCE support.

Holmer highlighted the OSCE’s Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism (LIVE) Initiative, a comprehensive training and coaching programme for youth, women and community leaders designed to enable civil society actors to take action against VERLT. A regional LIVE train-the-trainers programme for Youth Leaders will be launched next week in South-Eastern Europe, she said.

She also introduced the audience to a series of technical guidebooks being developed by the ATU to address specific challenges in the implementation of P/C VERLT policies. The Role of Civil Society in Preventing and Countering VERLT was published this year and three further publications are scheduled for 2019.

Innovative practices

The work of two OSCE field operations in assisting their host countries with the prevention of VERLT were highlighted at the event. Fejzo Numanaj, Head of the Politico-Military Department at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, spoke about the support his Office provides to Tajikistan in the implementation of its national action plan against VERLT and the training courses it organizes for parents and teachers in communities throughout the country.

Numanaj stressed the usefulness of conducting gender-disaggregated analysis of the feedback received from the training, revealing different ways in which the dangers of VERLT affect mothers and fathers. Women typically cite the lack of adequate knowledge of the Internet, where much of the recruitment to violent extremism takes place, as well as labour migration to the Russian Federation, where their children are vulnerable to recruiters, as their top concerns, he said. 

Selma Zekovic, Acting Head of Security Co-operation at the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, outlined the Mission’s longstanding partnership with the BiH government in the fight against VERLT and its work in communities, including a project assisting over 1,000 Muslim imams in delivering counter narratives to violent extremism.

Young people are highly vulnerable to recruitment to radicalization; at the same time, they can offer unique insights from the perspective of their particular groups, Zekovic said. She presented a video documentary shot as part of an innovative project in which education students created a theatre play about the radicalization of a young woman.  The students are performing the play in the hope that it will help others in similar situations to recognize the dangers of being drawn into violent extremist groups.

Effective prevention of VERLT requires sensitivity to the uniqueness of the local context, participants concluded during the discussion at the event. At the same time, sharing of ideas is important. The OSCE’s successful social media campaign #UnitedCVE, launched in 2016, serves as a platform for sharing ideas and reinforcing good initiatives across the OSCE region.