OSCE

The critical role of the security sector in countering trafficking in human beings and strengthening the rule of law was the focus of the first of four two-day workshops organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Montenegrin National Coordinator’s Office in Berane on 23 and 24 October.

Additional workshops are planned in Bijelo Polje on 25 and 26 October, Budva on 30 and 31 October and Podgorica on 1 and 2 November.

Some 50 practitioners, representatives of the State Prosecutor’s Office, the Police Directorate, and the judiciary will participate in the four workshops. They will strengthen their capacities to ensure that the rights of human trafficking victims are respected by exploring mechanisms to identify victims and investigate and process cases, including by examining relevant case studies.

These workshops are a part of the Mission’s ongoing efforts to support the government in the area of protecting, identifying, and/or assisting potential victims of trafficking in human beings. It is currently supporting the development of the Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2019-2024 and the Action Plan for 2019.

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The critical role of the security sector in countering trafficking in human beings and strengthening the rule of law was the focus of the first of four two-day workshops organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Montenegrin National Coordinator’s Office in Berane on 23 and 24 October.

Additional workshops are planned in Bijelo Polje on 25 and 26 October, Budva on 30 and 31 October and Podgorica on 1 and 2 November.

Some 50 practitioners, representatives of the State Prosecutor’s Office, the Police Directorate, and the judiciary will participate in the four workshops. They will strengthen their capacities to ensure that the rights of human trafficking victims are respected by exploring mechanisms to identify victims and investigate and process cases, including by examining relevant case studies.

These workshops are a part of the Mission’s ongoing efforts to support the government in the area of protecting, identifying, and/or assisting potential victims of trafficking in human beings. It is currently supporting the development of the Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2019-2024 and the Action Plan for 2019.

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The critical role of the security sector in countering trafficking in human beings and strengthening the rule of law was the focus of the first of four two-day workshops organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Montenegrin National Coordinator’s Office in Berane on 23 and 24 October.

Additional workshops are planned in Bijelo Polje on 25 and 26 October, Budva on 30 and 31 October and Podgorica on 1 and 2 November.

Some 50 practitioners, representatives of the State Prosecutor’s Office, the Police Directorate, and the judiciary will participate in the four workshops. They will strengthen their capacities to ensure that the rights of human trafficking victims are respected by exploring mechanisms to identify victims and investigate and process cases, including by examining relevant case studies.

These workshops are a part of the Mission’s ongoing efforts to support the government in the area of protecting, identifying, and/or assisting potential victims of trafficking in human beings. It is currently supporting the development of the Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2019-2024 and the Action Plan for 2019.

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400973 Communication and Media Relations Section

Members of the OSCE Mediterranean Points of Contact Network on border security and management completed an intensive and interactive five-day training course on various topics related to migration and border security. The course was held from 22 to 26 October 2018 at the premises of the International Co-operation Division of the Spanish National Police in Madrid.

Organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in close co-operation with the Spanish National Police (La Policia Nacional), the training course brought together 22 members of the Network, which was created in 2017. The high-level participants represented the border and customs services of Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.

Due to their long-standing and successful co-operation with the OSCE and the central role of Spain in the Mediterranean region in the field of border security and management, experts from the Spanish National Police shared their good practices on how to address challenges regarding migration flows at the borders as well as cross-border threats linked to terrorism and organized crime.  

The participants covered differences between the smuggling and trafficking of human beings, the respective legal frameworks in the Mediterranean region and interviewing techniques to be used when working with human trafficking victims. They also engaged in practical exercises on maritime border protection, the identification of potential foreign terrorist fighters at border crossings, the international protection of migrant children, and mainstreaming gender in the security sector.

Experts from FRONTEX, Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, the International Organization for Migration, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Spanish Red Cross, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime together with staff from the OSCE’s Border Security and Management Unit conducted the course.

This training course was the fifth activity of a multi-year OSCE initiative aimed at strengthening co-operation mechanisms between the border security and management agencies of the OSCE participating States and the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation.

LVIV, 23 November 2018 - A regional workshop to foster dialogue and encourage international co-ordination and co-operation in combating illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives among border security and management agencies and international stakeholders was organized in Lviv, Ukraine, from 23 to 25 November 2018.

The event, hosted by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, gathered some 35 national representatives from Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland and Ukraine as well as from the international organizations such as Europol, Interpol, OSCE and UNODC.

“Only effective co-operation among border and law enforcement agencies of neighboring states together with international institutions ensures a common security space and proper response to cross-border organized crime and terrorist activities,” stressed Lieutenant-General Vasyl Servatiuk, First Deputy Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

Robin Mossinkoff, Head of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre’s Forum for Security Support Section, underlined that combating the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in all its aspects needs to constitute a major element of any action addressing the problem of their destabilizing accumulation and uncontrolled spread.

“Germany considers the proliferation of weapons, ammunition and explosives to be a serious threat to national and regional security and prosperity,” noted Uwe Koch, Desk Officer at the Disarmament and Arms Control Directorate General, Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany. He continued: “The presence of representatives from numerous countries and international organizations reaffirms the importance of the subject.”

The regional workshop was financially supported by Germany and France and organized jointly by the OSCE Secretariat’s Conflict Prevention Centre and Transnational Threats Department.

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This report is for the general public and the media. 

SUMMARY

On 25 October at 07:02 (Moscow time), the eightieth[1] Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 25 vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All 25 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 15:27 on 25 October.

DETAIL

Leaving the Russian Federation

On 25 October at 07:02, the Observer Mission observed the arrival of a Russian convoy at the gate of the Donetsk BCP. A Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) team co-ordinated and led the movements of the convoy. The convoy consisted of 19 cargo trucks and six support vehicles, including one ambulance. Four cargo trucks bore the inscription “Humanitarian aid from the Russian Federation” (in Russian) and three trucks, like the support vehicles, had the sign of MES on the side doors. The majority of the drivers had a MES logo on their t-shirts. At 07:02 the vehicles entered the customs control area and queued in three lines. Once the convoy arrived, the vehicles were visually checked from the outside by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers. The Russian MES staff rolled up/opened the tarpaulins of the trucks and the border guards and customs officials performed a visual observation from the outside.

Three Ukrainian border guards and two customs officers were observed accompanying their Russian counterparts; they also performed a visual observation of the vehicles from the outside (without entering the trucks’ cargo space). They had clipboards in their hands and were taking notes. One service dog was present during the procedure. By 07:35 all of the vehicles had left the BCP towards Ukraine.

Returning to the Russian Federation

At 15:06, the convoy returned and queued in the customs area. The tarpaulins of the trucks were opened and Russian Federation border guards and customs officers visually checked the returning convoy from the outside. Ukrainian representatives – three border guards and two customs officers – were present during this check. The Ukrainian officials also performed visual checks of the opened trucks from the outside. By 15:27 all 25 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation.

[1] According to the statement of the Russian Federation officials, this convoy is considered to be the eighty-second Russian convoy which was sent to Ukraine. As two of these convoys did not cross through the “Donetsk” or “Gukovo” BCPs, the Observer Mission did not record them. Hence, based on the Observer Mission’s counting, this convoy is considered the eightieth convoy that has crossed into Ukraine.

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401291 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

One hundred women leaders gathered to explore challenges and ways forward towards women’s empowerment and leadership at the second International Forum of Women Leaders in Minsk on 25 and 26 October 2018.

The event to help advance gender equality in the OSCE region was co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The Forum was part of the Office’s Promoting Democratization and Human Rights in Belarus project, funded by the European Union.

Women state officials, parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, academics, civil society activists and gender experts from 21 OSCE participating States, including all member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States, took part in the event. Discussions focused on topics such as women’s participation in politics and the economic sphere, combating violence against women, strengthening women's networks and coalition building, and equal opportunities at universities.

“In the 21st century, women from all backgrounds should live a life free from violence at home and in the community. They should be able to participate on an equal footing with men in politics, business, education, family or non-family life. They should have every opportunity to achieve their goals. Equality is all we are asking for – is that too much?” said Katarzyna Gardapkhadze, First Deputy Director of ODIHR.

Irina Kostevich, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Belarus, said: “Gender policy is not a policy in the interest of one socio-demographic group, such as women. It is a policy that aims for equality, an equal balance of rights and responsibilities of both women and men. And we should be moving forward along this path together in the interest of present and future generations.”

Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Belarus, said: “The EU's strategic engagement for gender equality focuses on five priority areas: equal market participation and economic independence; reduction of pay and pension gaps; equality in decision-making; combating gender-based violence; and promoting gender equality across the world. The EU has made significant progress in gender equality over the decades and stands ready to support Belarus in this regard."

The Forum was co-organized with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Belarusian State University, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Belarus, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Belarus.

SDGs SDGs:  7 - Affordable and clean energy 17 - Partnerships for the goals

MALAGA, Spain, 25 October 2018 – Energy is the fuel that powers economic growth, and as such plays a vital role in the national security of each OSCE participating State and Mediterranean Partner for Co-operation, said participants at today’s opening of the OSCE Mediterranean Conference in Malaga, Spain.

The conference is hosted by Spain, in co-operation with Slovakia as Chairmanship of the Mediterranean Contact Group and the OSCE Secretariat.

Representatives of the OSCE participating States, the six OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco,Tunisia) and several international organizations are meeting in Malaga on 25 and 26 October to discuss the importance of energy for economic growth and co-operation.

Secure and affordable energy is essential for growth that will allow the region to prosper and meet challenges such as jobs creation.

“Only by establishing open and competitive energy markets can prices be lowered, the security of supply improved, and competitiveness increased,” said Lukáš Parízek, Slovak State Secretary of Foreign and European Affairs and Special Representative of the Slovak Foreign Minister for the OSCE Chairmanship of 2019. “It is important to develop new routes for transporting energy, improve integration of the Mediterranean energy markets, and strengthen regional co-operation between companies, regulatory bodies, public authorities and financial institutions,” he said. 

Lukáš Parízeksaid that the objective of the Slovak Chairmanship of the Mediterranean Contact Group wasto help the OSCE’s Mediterranean Partners find ways to ensure secure energy supplies, a competitive energy industry and improved energy efficiency, while maintaining environmentally sound conditions and protecting their energy infrastructure.

Fernando Valenzuela, Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, said that the promotion of multilateralism, co-operation and dialogue and strong focus on Mediterranean co-operation regarding energy issues, are foreign policy priorities for the Spanish Government.  “Enhanced energy co-operation with our Mediterranean Partners on the south bank is crucial not only to ensure the supplies, transit and connections that we all need but to foster and further develop European and Mediterranean energy security,” said State Secretary Valenzuela.

Vuk Žugić,Co-ordinator for OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, said that energy is a critical topic that deserves the widest and most comprehensive dialogue possible: “Guaranteeing sustainable and reliable energy at affordable prices is an indispensable condition for prospering economies, peace and security, throughout the OSCE area and beyond.” 

Žugić noted that renewable energy is playing an increasingly important role in the energy mix of many countries in the region, which are making an effort to reduce their CO2 emissions.

“By reinforcing the connection between peace, security and development, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides an overarching framework for action; it also has clearly defined goals [Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)] that are in sync with the energy-related political commitments of OSCE participating States – in particular SDG 7, which is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all,” said Žugić.

Held since 1994, the OSCE Mediterranean Conference, has become an important high-level exercise for strengthening long-term co-operation between the OSCE and its Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, offering a unique platform to address issues of common interest for joint security. 

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This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. It followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Marinka. An explosion occurred 100m from an SMM patrol, assessed as inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. The Mission also recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske disengagement area. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as near Zaichenko, Bezimenne, Kozatske and Novolaspa.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to critical civilian infrastructure in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as to enable demining in Zolote-2/Karbonit and Nyzhnoteple. In Kyiv and Dnipro, the SMM monitored public gatherings against rising gas costs.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations,[1] including 140 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 150 explosions).

On the evening of 23 October, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 35 undetermined explosions 3-12km at directions ranging from east to west-south-west and about 160 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 3-7km at directions ranging from south-east to west-south-west.

On the evening and night of 23-24 October, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded 13 explosions (one assessed as an airburst and the remainder undetermined) and 34 projectiles in flight (mostly from north-east to south-west and from west to east), all 0.5-4km at southerly directions.

On the evening and night of 23-24 October, the SMM camera 1.5km north-east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) recorded four undetermined explosions and about 55 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south), all 2-4km at directions ranging from north-east to east-south-east.

During the day on 24 October, positioned about 1km north-west of the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 23 undetermined explosions and about 290 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small arms fire, all 1-4km at southerly and westerly directions.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 45 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (one explosion).

On the afternoon of 24 October, positioned in Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 42 explosions assessed as artillery rounds and uncountable bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun, automatic grenade launcher and infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) cannon fire, all 3-8km south-east.

The SMM followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk). On 22 October, at the Marinka District Hospital in Kurakhove (government-controlled, 40km west of Donetsk), accompanied by a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), the SMM saw a man (aged 40) with a bandage on his right thigh. He told the SMM that during the day on 21 October, while repairing the roof of his house at 28 Matrosova Street in Marinka, he had heard a burst of small-arms fire and then felt pain in his right thigh. On 24 October, medical staff at the same hospital told the SMM that the man had been admitted to the hospital on the evening of 21 October with a wound in his right thigh caused by a bullet.

The SMM continued to monitor and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske[2] (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted, but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

On the evening and night of 23-24 October, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 4-5km south-south-east and 34 shots of small-arms fire 3-5km south-west, all assessed as outside the disengagement area. In the morning of 24 October, positioned about 300m north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), inside the disengagement area, the SMM heard an explosion approximately 100m west, assessed as probably caused by a mine or unexploded ordnance (UXO) inside the disengagement area.

On the morning of 24 October, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske for about 60 minutes, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 5-6km south and two bursts of small-arms fire 2-3km south, all assessed as outside the disengagement area.

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 withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas, on 23 October, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) near Novoluhanske (53km north-east of Donetsk).

In violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, on 23 October, an SMM long-range UAV spotted two surface-to-air-missile systems (9K35) in Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk).

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 23 October, an SMM long-range UAV spotted six tanks (T-72) near Siversk (99km north of Donetsk), six anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm) near Vyimka (93km north of Donetsk), 19 tanks (T-64), three surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) and two self-propelled anti-aircraft systems (2K22 Tunguska) near Spirne (96km north of Donetsk) and three surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa) near Verkhnokamianka (84km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles and an anti-aircraft gun [3] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 23 October, an SMM long-range UAV spotted eight IFVs (BMP-1) and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) near Troitske (69km west of Luhansk), and four IFVs (BMP-1) and an APC (BTR-70 or BTR-80) near Novoluhanske. On 23 October, the SMM saw an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) mounted on a truck near Zalizne (formerly Artemove, 42km north-east of Donetsk). On 24 October, the SMM saw two APCs (BTR-80) near Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas, on 23 October, an SMM long-range UAV spotted five APC (MT-LB) in Pervomaisk and two IFVs (BMP-1) near Sanzharivka (67km north-east of Donetsk). On 24 October, the SMM saw an IFV (BMP-1) near Starolaspa (51km south of Donetsk). 

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to water wells near Krasnyi Lyman (non-government-controlled, 30km north-west of Luhansk), to water pipelines and the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne and to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk). The SMM continued to monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining in Zolote-2/Karbonit and in Nyzhnoteple (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk). The SMM also continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS.

The SMM monitored two public gatherings in Kyiv and one in Dnipro against rising gas costs. In Kyiv, the SMM saw about 500 people (mostly aged 60-80; 70 per cent women and 30 per cent men) near the building of the Presidential Administration at 11 Bankova Street. Participants were holding dozens of flags of a political movement and banners with messages critical of the increase of gas prices. In front of the building of the Cabinet of Ministers at 12/2 Mykhaila Hrushevskoho Street, the SMM saw about 100 people (aged 40-60, 60 per cent men and 40 per cent women), many of whom were holding flags of a political movement and similar banners. In Dnipro, the SMM observed about 450 people (mixed genders and ages) gathered in front of the building of the Regional State Administration at 1 Oleksandra Polia Avenue, some of them carrying national Ukrainian flags and flags of a political movement. Some participants held speeches critical of the Government’s decision to increase the cost of gas from 1 November. All three protests ended peacefully.

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

*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 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, SMM Daily Report 22 October 2018). 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.

Denials of access:

• At a checkpoint about 1km north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage southward to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), citing “ongoing kinetic events”.
• At a checkpoint 2.5km west of Bezimenne (non-government-controlled, 30km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage to road E58.
• At a checkpoint in Kozatske (non-government-controlled, 36km north-east of Mariupol), an armed member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage towards Porokhnia (non-government-controlled, 40km north-east of Mariupol), citing “orders from superiors”.
• At a checkpoint on the eastern edge of Novolaspa (non-government-controlled, 50km south of Donetsk), two armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage, citing “the security risk for the SMM”.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The SMM was prevented from accessing parts of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, with the exception of the main road, due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.[4]
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC. [4]
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A member of the armed formations informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.

[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.

[2] Due to the presence of mines, including on 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.

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

[4] The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC withdrew from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.

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400997 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

Delegations from Tajikistan and Afghanistan led, respectively, by the Commander of the Border Troops of Tajikistan, Colonel-General Rajabali Rahmonali, and the Head of the Afghan Border Police of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Brigadier General Abdullah Stanakzai, paid a visit to Tokyo, Japan, from 22 to 30 September 2018. The visit was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

The purpose of the visit was to foster cross-border and regional co-operation among the OSCE participating States and the Asian Partners for Co-operation and strengthen their security dialogue.

During the visit, Ambassador Tuula Yrjölä, the then Head of the Programme Office in Dushanbe, introduced the work of the Office, emphasizing OSCE-Japan co-operation. The Tajik and Afghan commanders briefed their Japanese hosts on the achievements in their respective border agencies, as well as present and future prospects for co-operation with Japan on border security and management.

The delegations met with Hideki Uyama, Deputy Assistant Minister, Deputy Director-General from European Affairs Bureau; Rear Admiral Hiroshi Ito, Deputy Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretariat, National Security Secretariat from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan;  Hideharu Maruyama, Director, Entry and Status Division of the Immigration Bureau of Japan; and Hideo Tsuda, Director of the Customs Branch of Haneda International Airport.

VIENNA, 25 October 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed his alarm and strong condemnation after an explosive device was sent to CNN’s offices in New York, in the United States of America.

“I am deeply outraged by this attempted attack targeting the media in the United States. This latest incident highlights an alarming trend of threats and attacks targeting the media," said Désir. 

On 24 October, at around 10:00am local time, CNN staff were evacuated after a homemade explosive device was found at their offices in New York. 

The Representative welcomed the swift response and condemnation by the authorities and that an investigation is underway.

“It is imperative that journalists are protected and able to work in a safe environment, and that those responsible for this act of terror are brought to justice,” he said.

“I urgently call on all political officials to do their utmost to support the media at this difficult time, to strongly condemn these incidents, and to defend the media as an indispensable and vital cornerstone of democracy,” concluded Désir.

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.

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YEREVAN, 25 October 2018 – Concluding a two-day visit to Yerevan yesterday, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed the commitment of the Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to strengthen freedom of the media, and encouraged the authorities to undertake additional initiatives.

During his visit to Yerevan, in addition to meeting the Acting Prime Minister, Désir met with Acting Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, and Acting Justice Minister Artak Zeynalyan to discuss challenges to, and the promotion of, media freedom and other areas where the OSCE Representative may offer legal expertise and assistance.

“I welcome the commitment expressed by the authorities to strengthen media freedom as a cornerstone of democracy. This is especially important in the context of the country’s current political developments,” said Désir. “I encourage the government to vigorously promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists, and to consider steps to strengthen media pluralism, independence of the public broadcaster, transparency of media ownership and access to information.”  

The Representative called on the authorities to prioritize the safety of journalists and to act against any threats and intimidation media workers may face. He underlined the importance of measures to further facilitate public access to information. In the meetings, Désir discussed the need for reforms that would guarantee the independence and accountability of public service media and of the National Commission on Television and Radio. He further stressed the necessity of ensuring that the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting will contribute to media pluralism.

The Representative also discussed the challenge of "fake news" and freedom of the media with the Acting Prime Minister.

“Armenia is a very important partner in the promotion of media freedom in the OSCE region. After the elections it will be important to see strong political will from the future government to protect and advance media freedom in the country,” said Désir. “My Office stands ready to work with all stakeholders and contribute with expert advice and recommendations in line with OSCE media freedom commitments and international standards.”

Désir also met with representatives of media and civil society organizations, including the Yerevan Press Club, the Media Initiatives Centre, the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, the Freedom of Information Center, the Public Journalism Club, the Armenian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the MediaMax News Agency, the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, the Regional Studies Center, EVN Report, CivilNet and Hetq. These meetings offered the Representative the opportunity to hear a diversity of professional viewpoints on the media freedom situation in the country. In separate meetings, the Representative also met with the Deputy Human Rights Defender, Artyom Sedrakyan and the Director of Public TV of Armenia, Margarita Grigoryan. 

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.

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KYIV, 25 October 2018 – Alexander Hug, the Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), will hold a news briefing on Friday via video link from eastern Ukraine.

Hug will talk about the Mission’s recent activities and the general security situation throughout Ukraine.

Journalists are invited to attend the news briefing tomorrow, 26 October, at 14:00 (Kyiv time), at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Centre, at the Ukrainian House, 2 Khreshchatyk Street.

Live streaming of the news briefing will be available at uacrisis.org/ru/stream/#eng

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400940 Andrii Dziubenko SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

A series of workshops on project management aimed at improving the access of the non-governmental sector to state and local government funding concluded on 24 October 2018. Three hundred and fifty government officials and 250 representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) took part in the two-day workshops held across Ukraine. They were organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU) in partnership with the country’s Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The participants enhanced their knowledge of opportunities offered by co-operation and partnership between the authorities and CSOs, as well as of principles and procedures of transparent distribution of public funds to finance CSO projects. For non-governmental actors, the improved understanding of tools for project planning, management and implementation tools, including monitoring and evaluation, will enable them to better fulfill their missions and be engaged in state policy implementation. For officials, the knowledge gained will help them to make sure that expenditures are in line with the national legal framework and international best practices.

Special focus was paid to gender mainstreaming of projects, so that state-funded efforts of civil society are equally beneficial for men and women.

The importance of organizing calls for proposals by authorities in a transparent and efficient manner was among the topics covered in depth. Participants received copies of the guidebook (in Ukrainian) Manual for Conducting Competitive Selection of CSO Projects for State Funding (Ukrainian and International Experience), developed by the CSO expert and Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine with the support of PCU.   

Communication and Media Relations Section

A two-day national workshop organized by the OSCE on transit procedures with a view to furthering implementation of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement was held for more than 30 representatives of the public authorities of Kazakhstan and the country’s business associations on 23 and 24 October 2018 in Astana.

Organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, the workshop was designed to respond to the needs identified by the authorities of Kazakhstan in the Draft Plan of Action on the Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The workshop covered trade facilitation and paperless trade, best practices in the transit of goods, and the importance of comprehensive guarantees for efficient and secure transit. There was a specific focus on the Convention on Common Transit and its implementation.

Representatives of the Ministry of National Economy, the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry for Investments and Development, the Ministry of Justice, Kazakhstan Railways, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Atameken, the Association of National Freight Forwarders and other business representatives enhanced their competencies in applying international standards in transit and discussed potential solutions for customs and private stakeholders. They discussed the facilitation of transit by implementing simplified procedures and institutionalizing communication channels between state and business stakeholders.

“I am satisfied that the seminar has been a platform for constructive discussions that can help the Republic of Kazakhstan to decide on the necessary measures for the fulfilment of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement,” said Gulnur Smagul, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Trade Activity at the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan.

Jonas Grätz, OCEEA Economic Adviser, welcomed the interest in Kazakhstan to improve its transit procedures in order to reap the full potential of its geographic position and infrastructure. “It is encouraging that the workshop concluded with a summary document that can be considered during the further development of the Draft Plan of Action on the Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement,” he said.

The workshop was facilitated by accredited experts of the World Customs Organization as well as by experts from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union of the European Union.

This activity is part of an OSCE extra-budgetary project on promoting connectivity in the OSCE region. It is funded by Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Kazakhstan is one of the beneficiary countries alongside Moldova and Belarus.  

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM facilitated and monitored the recovery of the bodies of a man and a woman from a location near the neighbourhood of Vilnyi, between Zolote-4/Rodina and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka in Luhansk region. The SMM’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as again near Zaichenko, Novoazovsk, Lebedynske and Alchevsk.* The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Miusynsk. The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to critical civilian infrastructure on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as to enable demining in Zolote-2/Karbonit and Nyzhnoteple. The SMM followed up on reports of a fire at a café in Odessa.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations,[1] including about 150 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 140 explosions).

On the evening and night of 22-23 October, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 115 undetermined explosions and about 950 bursts and shots of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all at distances ranging 2-6km at southerly directions.

On the evening and night of 22-23 October, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded three undetermined explosions and a projectile in flight from north-west to south-east, all 1-4km south-south-west.

During the day on 23 October, positioned about 1km north-west of the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard and saw four undetermined explosions and heard two undetermined explosions and four bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2-4km at southerly directions.

Positioned in Hranitne (government-controlled, 60km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard 15 undetermined explosions 2km north-north-east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations (one explosion), compared with the previous reporting period (about 15 explosions).

The SMM facilitated and monitored the recovery of the bodies of a man and a woman (both in their forties) from a location near the neighbourhood of Vilnyi, between the forward positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces east of Zolote-4/Rodina (government-controlled 59km west of Luhansk) and the forward positions of the armed formations in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk). Reportedly, they died as a result of the explosion of a device on 18 October at the aforementioned location. On 23 October, the SMM saw three vehicles belonging to the armed formations, one of which had a demining sign on it, as well as two vehicles of an international organization, arriving at Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. A member of the armed formations, who disembarked from one of the vehicles, told the SMM that a demining team of the armed formations would recover the two bodies. Meanwhile, in Zolote-4/Rodina, Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel told the SMM that a Ukrainian Armed Forces demining team was present and ready to intervene if necessary. After about two hours, the SMM saw all vehicles depart Zolote-5/Mykhailivka and head towards Vilnyi. SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), which were flying over the area at that time, spotted a group of about five to ten people with demining equipment recover a body, assessed as the body of the woman. About one hour and a half later, the SMM saw that all vehicles had returned to Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. Subsequently, a representative of the international organization and members of the armed formations told the SMM that both bodies had been recovered and would be brought to a morgue in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk).

During its presence near Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 1km north-north-west (see below). In the past weeks, SMM UAVs spotted recently dug trenches, firing positions and anti-tank mines near and within residential areas of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (see SMM Daily Report 10 October 2018 and SMM Daily Report 11 October 2018) as well as near Zolote-4/Rodina (see SMM Daily Report 26 September 2018). In the same area, in some points, the distance between the known forward positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the armed formations is about 500m.

The SMM continued to monitor and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske[2] (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted, but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

Positioned in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 1km north-north-west (assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area).

Positioned near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske disengagement areas, the SMM observed a calm situation.

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 respective withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, on 17 October, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of eight multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (type undetermined) in a training area about 6km south-east of the centre of Miusynsk (62km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 30 May 2018).[3]

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in a government-controlled area, on 23 October, the SMM saw two tanks (T-64) on flatbed trailers heading south on road E-40, near Bakhmut (formerly Artemivsk, 67km north of Donetsk).

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in a non-government-controlled area, on 17 October, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of 12 pieces of towed artillery or mortar in a training area about 6km south-east of Miusynsk.

The SMM observed 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. In non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM noted that six MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm), four anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm), six towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm), six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and 12 mortars (11 PM-38, 120mm and one 2B11 Sani, 120mm) continued to be missing.

The SMM revisited a heavy weapons permanent storage site in a government-controlled area of Donetsk region, whose location was beyond the respective withdrawal lines, and noted that 11 tanks (seven T-72 and four T-64) continued to be missing.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles (ACV) and an anti-aircraft gun[4] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-80) near Netailove (22km north-west of Donetsk), an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) near Romanivka (41km north of Donetsk), an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) in Petrivka (27km north of Luhansk) and three infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) (two BMP-2 and one BMP-1) in Troitske (69km west of Luhansk).

In a non-government-controlled area, on 23 October, an SMM mini-UAV spotted an ACV (type undetermined), 11 IFVs (BMP-1) and an APC (MT-LB) near Dovhe (22km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne (formerly Artemove, government-controlled, 42km north-east of Donetsk) and Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) as well as water pipelines near Zalizne. While monitoring the ceasefire for these repair works from a position on the north-west outskirts of Horlivka, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion about 2-3km north-west. The SMM also facilitated and monitored repair works to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), the Aidar water pumping station near Raivka (non-government-controlled, 16km north-west of Luhansk), water wells in Krasnyi Lyman (non-government-controlled, 30km north-west of Luhansk) and power lines in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. The SMM continued to monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining in Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk) and in Nyzhnoteple (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk). The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS.

In Odessa, the SMM followed up on reports of a fire at a café at 36A Henuezka Street. At the site, the SMM observed that the interior of the one-floor building had entirely burnt down. A man (aged 50), who introduced himself as an Israeli citizen and the co-owner of the café, told the SMM that the fire had happened on 22 October around 05:00. He added that, at that time, a woman, an employee of the café, had been on the premises, when she had heard the sound of a breaking window and seen that a device which had exploded had been thrown into the café. An officer from the Prymorksyi Fire Department in Odessa told the SMM that they had responded to the fire and that they were investigating whether the fire was caused by arson.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, 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, SMM Daily Report 22 October 2018). 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.

Denials of access:

• At a checkpoint about 1km north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage southward to Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol), citing “orders from a superior”. The SMM observed civilian vehicles crossing the checkpoint at the same time.
• At a checkpoint near Novoazovsk (non-government-controlled, 40km east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations again prevented the SMM from passing through to the city, citing an “ongoing operation”. The SMM observed civilian vehicles crossing the checkpoint at the same time.
• At a checkpoint on road M14 south of Lebedynske (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Mariupol), a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer again prevented the SMM from proceeding east, citing the presence of risks to the security of the SMM. (The SMM was later allowed to proceed through the same checkpoint.)
• In Alchevsk (non-government-controlled, 40km west of Luhansk), two armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM access to a compound, citing lack of prior authorization from senior members of the armed formations. Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO: 
• The SMM was prevented from accessing parts of the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, with the exception of the main road, due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.[5]
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads in the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed and informed the JCCC.6
• The SMM was prevented from accessing secondary roads south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A member of the armed formations informed the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed. Other impediments: 
• On two occasions, an SMM mid-range UAV lost its GPS signal due to signal interference while flying over an area near Lebedynske.[6]

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

[2] Due to the presence of mines, including on 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.

[3] In SMM Daily Report 20 October 2018, the report incorrectly referenced a weapon seen in violation of agreed withdrawal lines near Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol) as a towed howitzer (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm), however the weapon seen was a towed howitzer (D-20, 152mm).

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

[5] The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC withdrew from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.

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

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400877 Željka Šulc

There is still no effective system of judicial protection for those who face discrimination in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the country’s Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination is inconsistently applied, concludes an analysis presented by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on 24 October 2018 at the Annual Conference of Civil Law Judges in Jahorina.

The Analysis of Judicial Responses to the Challenge of Discrimination in BiH was presented to more than 500 judges and legal professionals from across BiH, who had gathered for the conference.

Other key shortcomings identified by the analysis are a lack of knowledge among judicial staff of the legal notion of discrimination, and the length of proceedings in such cases.

“Although the BiH Law on Prohibition of Discrimination is in line with European standards, the Law is still not fully implemented,” said Fermin Cordoba, Head of the Human Dimension Department at the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. “This type of analysis that is based on specific, identifiable, and recent cases is critical for all institutions involved in the fight against discrimination. The analysis is important for tailoring capacity-building efforts to address specific problems faced by the judiciary.”

The analysis is based on 148 discrimination cases completed between July 2009 and July 2017 before the courts in BiH. It contains detailed statistical data on the prevalence of discrimination, areas of life where it occurs, the forms it takes, as well as the outcomes of court decisions.

This is the first analysis of this kind, said Goran Nezirovic, Judge of the Federation of BiH (FBiH) Supreme Court. “This document contains a qualitative analysis of judgments in anti-discrimination cases and points to trends in jurisprudence when it comes to application of the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination. To improve current practice there is a need to remove the inconsistencies of case law, improve understanding of specific institutes and prevent the violation of the principle of urgency in anti-discrimination proceedings,” he said.

Arben Murtezic, Director of the FBiH Centre for Education of Judges and Prosecutors, said that discrimination is a threat to every society and BiH is not an exception. “The processing of discrimination cases is a challenge for the judiciary in BiH. The analysis is an excellent tool for further education of judges, prosecutors and other legal professionals on the adequate implementation of the Law and it will be useful source material for future training courses.”

VIENNA, 24 October 2018 – How the rights and duties of military, paramilitary and security forces’ personnel, including their human rights and fundamental freedoms, are reflected in policy development, training and education programmes, was explored at today’s meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation in Vienna, held under the Forum’s Swedish Chairmanship.

The discussion was the second Security Dialogue organized by Sweden’s Chairmanship on the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, a key OSCE document that provides guidance on how to regulate the role of armed forces in democratic societies. Next year marks the Code’s 25th anniversary. A Security Dialogue on the Code, organized by the Swedish Chair last month, focused on the democratic control of armed forces.

“Military and security forces personnel, under the control and oversight of our democratic institutions, are representatives of the people,” said Chairperson of the Forum and Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OSCE Ambassador Ulrika Funered as she opened today’s meeting. “They must not only show great character, but also always remember their responsibilities.”

Ambassador Funered went on to ask: “So, what is this great character, and what responsibilities do military and security forces personnel have towards others and within their own ranks?”

Chris Whitecross, Commandant of the NATO Defense College and Lieutenant General of the Royal Canadian Airforce, providing answers to these questions from NATO’s perspective, said that the alliance’s Building Integrity Programme provides practical tools to help participating countries strengthen integrity, transparency and accountability and reduce the risk of corruption in the defence and security sector. The NATO Defense College, she said, is a unique civilian/military institute that also builds the capacities of senior leaders from NATO and partner countries in this area.

Referring to the Canadian Armed Forces, she highlighted Operation HONOUR, which is designed to eliminate harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour in the Canadian military.

“Operation HONOUR is based on the principles that every man and woman who serves their country deserves to be treated with dignity and respect – anything less is simply unacceptable,” said Lieutenant General Whitecross. “Any attitudes or behaviours which undermine the camaraderie, cohesion and confidence of serving members, threatens the Canadian Armed Forces’ long-term operational success.”

A significant part of the discussions focused on women’s participation within the military and security forces.

Major General Elena G. Knyazeva, Deputy Head of the Military University of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, described the historical tradition of women in the military in her country. She said that there are 18 universities in Russia providing military educational programmes for women, with the Military University of the Ministry of Defence commemorating its 100th anniversary next year.

“There are some 3,000 female officers in the Russian Armed Forces, and more than twenty of them are at the grade of colonel,” said Major General Knyazeva. “The majority of women are specialists in the medical and finance branches, signal corps, some of them are leaders of certain units. Together with men they accomplish combat missions and many of them have been awarded state decorations.”

Major General Klas Eksell, Director of Human Resources at the Swedish Armed Forces, talked about how “creating a moral compass” guides the work of his country’s military. This was particularly important when Sweden reintroduced compulsory military service based on a gender-neutral approach, he said.

“The Swedish Armed Forces’ leadership policy is called ‘developing leadership’. All officers and civil servants in leadership positions are committed and educated to this model,” said Major General Eksell. “Lead by example, based on values, consider individuals, inspire and motivate… Our core values are based on openness, results and responsibility. Trust between leaders and troops based on competence and values delivers, in our perspective, the most efficient units.”

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COPENHAGEN, 24 October 2018 – The multi-pronged and multi-level responses to migration challenges in Denmark and Sweden have been in focus during a two-day field visit by members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee on Migration, led by Chair Nahima Lanjri (MP, Belgium).

The OSCE PA delegation noted that authorities on the national and local levels, working with non-governmental organizations, have responded effectively to the refugee and migrant crisis that took hold in late 2015, but that there is room for improvement in clarifying legal rights of asylum seekers, and in particular ensuring that unaccompanied minors are fully protected. Ad Hoc Committee members welcomed positive achievements in employment rates for refugees in both countries but observed that a long-term strategy was needed in both countries to create more inclusive societies.

Lanjri and several other members of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Migration started their visit in Malmo, Sweden, on Monday, and wrapped up in Copenhagen on Tuesday. They met with representatives from the Swedish and Danish migration authorities, local officials, border police, school administrators, the international community, civil society, and migrants and refugees to assess current developments.

The delegation included Ad Hoc Committee Vice-Chair Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal) and members Haydar Akar (MP, Turkey), Jan Bauer (MP, Czech Republic), Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden), Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (MP, Cyprus), Mehmet Sait Kirazoglu (MP, Turkey), and Georgios Varemenos (MP, Greece), as well as Head of the Danish Delegation to the OSCE PA Peter Juel Jensen and OSCE PA member Soeren Soendergaard (MP, Denmark).

The OSCE parliamentarians noted the extraordinary efforts made by governments in processing the large number of asylum claims made in 2015/6, as well as the continued challenges to provide housing, quality schooling, and, in the case of recognized refugees, access to the labour market. Committee members recognized the difficult task to implement the growing number of return decisions. All OSCE countries should ensure that international humanitarian obligations are fully upheld for asylum seekers and rejected asylum seekers alike, Ad Hoc Committee members said.

“On one hand, the challenges faced by Denmark and Sweden are unique, but in other ways they are not unlike the challenges faced by countries throughout Europe,” said Lanjri. “Other OSCE countries can learn from their experiences, including integration initiatives to provide language training to refugees and by giving them opportunities in the labour market. Sweden is also encouraging private entrepreneurship through a pilot project in Malmo, a city with an incredible potential due to its young population and great diversity, where more than 180 nationalities are represented.”

She added that consideration should be given to reevaluating the restrictions on family reunification for asylum seekers who have received temporary protection status in Denmark. Greater attention should also be paid to the unique needs of unaccompanied minors and effective strategies must be developed to address the issue of missing minors and young people and to prevent this problem, which can be seen throughout Europe.

Cederfelt, who serves as OSCE PA Vice-President and Deputy Head of the Swedish Delegation, stressed the need for developing long-term and comprehensive strategies that consider the need to provide integration opportunities for migrants and support for the municipal governments that shoulder so much of the burden in providing essential services.

“All countries in Europe, whether they are points of entry, transit countries or countries of destination for migrants, must work together to ensure that these challenges are addressed in a fair and equitable way,” Cederfelt said. “We will never have an effective response to migration unless we work together on the international, national and subnational levels, involving civil society and providing necessary resources to local governments.”

During the visit, topics of discussion included developments in improving the legislative framework and the need for responsibilities to be shared fairly between countries as well as between municipalities within countries. Delegation members observed living facilities for asylum seekers in Denmark, both those beginning their asylum application procedures and rejected asylum seekers.

Members also commended the work of humanitarian and NGOs working with migrants and refugees and urged greater support for voluntary return and integration schemes such as those offered by the International Organization for Migration.

The Ad Hoc Committee on Migration was established following a unanimous decision taken by the Standing Committee on 25 February 2016 in Vienna. For more information on the OSCE PA’s work on the migration issue, please click here.

Photos of the Sweden-Denmark visit are available on Flickr.

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400805 Kunduz Rysbek

Kyrgyzstan’ Prime Minister Muhammedkaliy Abylgaziev presented a two-year national action plan (NAP) that aims to increase the accountability of the Government’s work in Bishkek on 23 October 2018. The NAP was developed jointly by the Government and civil society within the framework of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

With adoption of the National Action Plan  Kyrgyzstan undertakes 18 ambitious commitments to strengthen the government’s reform accountability and combat corruption.

The OSCE Programme Office supported the government’s efforts by helping to establish the OGP Secretariat in Kyrgyzstan, which functions under the OGP National Forum and works in close collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister. The OGP National Forum consists of an equal number of representatives of the government and civil society (38 in total), who jointly developed the OGP commitments and the NAP.

The NAP aims to strengthen the involvement of civil society in policy development and decision making, and improve the quality of public services. The Plan also envisages the introduction of new technologies to increase government transparency and public access to information. It covers thematic areas such as health, education, local self-government, media, international aid, and election reform.

Stressing that  openness of government structures is a pre-requisite of any democratic society, Prime Minister Abylgaziev said: “We will not stay in government forever. Today I am the Prime Minister of this country, but who knows, tomorrow I might join your ranks and become a civil activist and one of you might become a member of the Government or the new Prime Minister. Therefore, it is important  that we listen to each other because we have a common goal - to develop our country.”

Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, Valeriu Chiveri, said: “Activists and civil society organizations are important allies of the government, and fulfilling the OGP commitments means strengthening the foundation for partnership between the people and the government, open access to ideas and increased support from all sides.” He added that "the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek is honoured to accompany this very important process and remains a reliable partner for bringing it forward."

The Open Government Partnership was established on 20 September 2011, when eight founding governments (Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States) adopted the Open Government Declaration. Last year Kyrgyzstan became the first country in Central Asia to join the Open Government Partnership.