OSCE

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TIRANA, 6 June 2023 – The OSCE Presence in Albania, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Albania, the Ministry of Interior, and the Albanian State Police, launched today the Awareness Raising and Communication Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2027 on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). The first awareness raising campaign under the umbrella of the Strategy was also launched at the event.

Small arms and light weapons continue to present a significant threat to public safety in Albania[1]. The strategy and the action plan aim to reduce the demand for and misuse of SALW in Albania by implementing co-ordinated, inter-institutional, and comprehensive awareness-raising activities. The strategy also emphasizes the importance of constructive engagement and dialogue with the public.

Deputy Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari, Acting Head of the OSCE Presence Clarisse Pasztory, Director of the Albanian State Police Public Security Department Rebani Jaupi and UNDP Program Manager Vladimir Malkaj addressed the event. International development partners, officials of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), civil society organizations, Local Safety Councils and the media were also in attendance.

Aligned and building on the achievements of “SALW, their Ammunition and Explosives Control Strategy of Albania”, the strategy seeks to reduce the demand for and misuse of SALW in Albania. The OSCE Presence developed the strategy following a series of consultation meetings with stakeholders – such as the Ministry of Interior, the Albanian State Police, the National SALW Commission, civil Society, Local Safety Councils, youth groups, media, SEESAC and UNDP Albania – based on data-driven research and incorporating regional and international best practices in awareness raising.

As the UNDP Albania launches and implements the Awareness Raising Campaign, the OSCE Presence will build upon these efforts by continuing the implementation of additional campaigns outlined in the strategy.

The strategy and the ongoing awareness raising campaign are integral parts of the SALW projects that are carried out by the OSCE Presence and UNDP Albania in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and the Albanian State Police.

The OSCE-implemented project receives financial support from the European Union, Germany, and France. The UNDP project is made possible through financial contributions from Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Norway, facilitated by the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Multi-Partner Trust Fund. The project is further supported by the European Union.

[1] According to South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, 430 SALW incidents, resulting in 32 fatalities, were reported in Albania in 2022.

VIENNA, 6 June 2023 — United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk will address the OSCE Permanent Council on Thursday, 8 June.

Journalists are invited to cover the UN High Commissioner’s speech set to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, 8 June as part of a pool (spaces limited).

Please register for the pool (in-person participation only) no later than 14:00 on Wednesday, 7 June by sending an email to press@osce.org with your name, outlet and profession.

The OSCE Permanent Council is a decision-making body gathering representatives of all 57 participating States of the Organization and 11 Partners for Co-operation. It convenes weekly in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make decisions.

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From 30 May until 2 June 2023, the OSCE Presence in Albania together with the University of Tirana and the Faculty of Law organized a research visit to two prestigious universities in the United Kingdom and worldwide – the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

The visit aimed to build the capacities and resources of the Faculty of Law to deliver and manage the programme in Criminology, as well as to gather best practices on the establishment and work of university research centres.

The delegation from Albania was composed of University of Tirana Rector, Prof. Dr. Artan Hoxha, Dean of the Law Faculty Prof. Assoc. Dr. Dorina Hoxha, lecturers of the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Sciences, and team of the OSCE project “Establishing a Master’s Programme in Criminology”. They met with professors and senior staff of both universities, including Head of Oxford University Sociology Department, Prof. Federico Varese, Director of the Oxford Centre for Criminology Prof. Ian Loader, and Director of the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge Prof. Manuel Eisner.

The exchange will also contribute to the establishment of the Research Centre in Criminology within the Faculty of Law in Tirana - as a hub that will facilitate sustainable research capacities in the field of criminology, continuous support to the Master’s Programme on Criminology, and contribution to data driven policy making.

“The Research Centre in Criminology will increase the scientific research and co-operation with the respective law enforcement agencies. The support of the Cambridge Institute of Criminology will guide us to new methods of scientific research and will create a basis for the development of joint projects in certain fields of criminology”, said Dean Hoxha. “The engagement of the best students with the Centre is a priority in order to motivate young researchers in the field of criminology”, she added.

OSCE Project Manager Alba Jorganxhi said: “Both Oxford and Cambridge universities have a worldwide reputation for excellence in research and teaching. The established co-operation will contribute to supporting a multi-disciplinary approach in crime prevention in Albania, in particular by developing the links between criminal justice and social justice. We are very pleased to facilitate this exchange and stand ready to support any upcoming co-operation between the universities”.

The OSCE Presence organized the visit as part of its extra-budgetary project “Establishing a Master’s Programme in Criminology”, which is financially supported by the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and implemented in close co-operation with the Faculty of Law of the University of Tirana, with the support of the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior. The Master’s Programme, initiated in December 2020, offers a comprehensive, integrated curriculum that benefits various career paths in the justice system. Through the Master’s programme, the Presence aims at improving the research capacities of professionals, academics and policy-makers in Albania to identify the root causes of crime.

Information for Google Short description:  ODIHR presents recommendations on improving the legislative process in Bosnia Herzegovina 545428 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Making use of recommendations developed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to improve the lawmaking process in Bosnia and Herzegovina and ensure that it complies with human rights was the focus of discussions with national stakeholders organized by ODIHR in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In a series of events that took place from 30 May to 2 June 2023, ODIHR discussed recommendations from its Assessment of the Legislative Process in Bosnia and Herzegovina with key actors in the lawmaking process at the state and entity levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as reviewing and analyzing the country’s legislative framework and practices.

More than 70 representatives from the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, as well as from international organizations took part in the meetings.

A result of two years of work, the ODIHR assessment report was completed in December 2022, following an official request from the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report identifies a number of areas for reforming the legislative process to improve legislation, as well as the tools and mechanisms to make lawmaking procedures more effective, inclusive and transparent.

The report aims to contribute to promoting inclusiveness, effectiveness and efficiency of the lawmaking processes to enable the development and adoption of qualitative, human rights-compliant and enforceable legislation. It builds upon the work carried out by ODIHR and its unique methodology for assessing legislative processes of individual OSCE participating States over the past 20 years and is part of the OSCE’s ongoing activities to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in its efforts to implement key OSCE commitments, including those on the need to formulate and adopt legislation through an open, transparent and inclusive process.

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BANJA LUKA, 2 June 2023 - Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Brian Aggeler, concluded his two-day visit to Banja Luka today where he attended several events and met with political, media and NGO representatives.

Ambassador Aggeler gave an opening statement at the European Union and Czech Embassy’s Conference on Media Freedom and Civil Society, highlighting the importance of free media and civil society. “Without press freedom, there is no truly independent journalism. Corruption, nepotism, the wasting of public resources and other government malfeasance will continue to fester”, Ambassador stated.

During a meeting with Tanja Topić, Head of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Office in Banja Luka, Ambassador Aggeler discussed the current socioeconomic and political situation in the country.

At the Republika Srpska National Assembly, and with RSNA Speaker Nenad Stevandić, Ambassador Aggeler and representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Legislative Support Unit discussed ODIHR’s urgent comments on the RS Criminal Code amendments to re-criminalize insult and defamation in the RS.

The visit was also an opportunity for Ambassador Aggeler to meet with RS journalists and activists, and to learn more about their recent discussions with European counterparts. They attended 16 meetings with high officials in Brussels, Strasbourg and Vienna to alert officials there on the potential effects of defamation re-criminalization in RS.

Ambassador Aggeler concluded his visit at the launch of ODIHR Assessment of the Legislative Process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He underscored the important role that Committees play in the lawmaking process, and that they should be empowered to scrutinize draft laws at various stages. Enhancing transparency, openness, and inclusivity, particularly through improved committee work and public hearings, can facilitate participatory adoption of laws.

The OSCE Mission to BiH remains committed to supporting these areas.

545263 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

On 1 June, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), in close co-operation with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, organized a webinar for cadets and lecturers from the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

The event is a continuation of the webinar series launched last year to raise awareness about key trends and developments in contemporary policing among students and staff of the Academy. This year, webinars will focus on cyber-related topics in response to the rapid growth of both cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes in Uzbekistan.

The first webinar was dedicated to threats posed by malicious software (malware), with a specific focus on ransomware. Opening the event, Martha Stickings, Deputy Head of the Strategic Police Matters Unit in the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department, said: “rapidly emerging technology-facilitated crimes including malware and ransomware present particular challenges to law enforcement. The OSCE is committed to supporting police cadets in Uzbekistan to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and investigate these and other cybercrimes in line with international best practice”.

Presenters included TNTD staff and two law enforcement experts from Germany and Norway. Participants were introduced to key concepts and trends related to malware and ransomware, and then presented with two practical case studies of malware and ransomware investigations: operation “Falling sTAR” and operation “Emotet”.

Concluding the discussion, Abdurasul Iminov, Deputy Head of the Information Technology Department at the Academy, underscored his appreciation for the continuous excellent co-operation between the OSCE and the Academy while highlighting the importance of exchanging international experience and expertise in tackling today’s complex transnational security challenges.

The event was attended by over 140 cadets and lecturers. Three more webinars, focusing on online payment fraud, Dark Web criminal landscape, and crypto-currency related crimes, are planned for later in 2023. The webinars complement the national and regional training activities conducted by the OSCE in Uzbekistan under the extra-budgetary project “Capacity building on combatting cybercrime in Central Asia”.

545254 Andrii Dziubenko Strengthening Capacity of the National Police of Ukraine to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, including Cyber-Enabled Crime

The first group of 30 law enforcement officers from the National Police of Ukraine (the NPU) have improved their knowledge and skills in countering cybercrime during the 3-day training course organised by the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine in Lviv from 29 to 31 May 2023.

Modern criminals actively use Internet technologies for their activities - including trafficking in human being. By using social media, data encryption, dark web, blockchain and other technologies, they can effectively and anonymously recruit, organize the movement and exploitation of victims across national borders. The digital space is also actively used to promote and sell content that depicts the sexual abuse of children. Omnipresence of mobile devices enable the exploitation of children through webcams, online chats, and other communication channels.

Addressing the participants of the training, Police Colonel Yuriy Vykhodets, the Head of the Cyberpolice Department of the National Police of Ukraine noted: "Today almost every crime within the responsibility of the NPU involves the use of digital technologies, and therefore all the knowledge and skills acquired by the participants will become an important support for the entire law enforcement system of Ukraine".

The training provided knowledge on new methods used by criminals and on developing effective countermeasures. Law enforcement officers learn about police intelligence analytics tools; open source intelligence (OSINT); data processing and analysis. This is especially important for the cases where victims are unknown or missing; these tools help the police to locate them by matching descriptions, physical characteristics, or other information against databases or existing records. Special attention was paid to the issues of identifying, recording and analysing “digital traces” that can be used as electronic evidence in court to bring perpetrators to justice. Among other topics, the participants discussed various aspects of the use of virtual assets and payment instruments by criminals, to enable tracking down and eventually blocking the work of organised crime groups. Also, digital specifics of human trafficking were reviewed in detail.

The OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine will conduct 9 other training sessions for the officers from the Cyberpolice and Migration Police Departments. By the end of the year, it is planned to train up to 300 police officers.

This activity is part of the Project “Strengthening Capacity of the National Police of Ukraine to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, including Cyber-Enabled Crime”, with the financial support of the Participating States and partners, a list of which can be found here.

Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 1 June 2023 — Following the final verdict in the Stanišić and Simatović case by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT), the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina issued the following statement:Yesterday's final verdict in the Stanišić and Simatović case, issued by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT), marks a significant step towards the provision of justice to victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) who have been forced to wait, for far too long, for effective redress for crimes committed during the war in the former Yugoslavia. The further importance of this verdict lies in its attribution of criminal responsibility to individuals who committed such heinous crimes while holding high level positions of power.

As the final case before the MICT related to the war in the 1990s, Stanišić and Simatović closes one chapter in this essential pursuit of accountability, but these efforts must continue through domestic investigations and prosecutions. The Mission reiterates its commitment to supporting institutions across BiH in the processing of war crimes cases in accordance with the obligation to investigate and prosecute war crimes cases effectively, as established under international humanitarian law, and with the Revised National War Crimes Processing Strategy, pursuant to internationally recognized fair trial standards.

Establishing lasting peace and protecting the rule of law require ensuring accountability for these atrocity crimes. Victims and survivors of the war deserve justice and the truth, as well as redress, respect, dignity and compassion. We urge all leaders to promote peace and stability by respecting the verdicts of the international and domestic judicial institutions handling war crimes cases, noting the role such verdicts play in creating a comprehensive record of the war and in combatting historical revisionism.

Looking to the future, political, religious and other public figures, as well as educators, must lead the way in building bridges and trust across the difficult and emotionally-laden chasms still affecting the South-Eastern Europe region. 

545227 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented their final report on Italy’s 2022 parliamentary elections in Rome this week, discussing the report’s key findings and recommendations with government officials, representatives of election administration, both houses of the Italian Parliament, the media regulatory body, the public broadcaster and the Court of Audit.

Discussions focused on consolidation of electoral legislation, enhancement of transparency of campaign finance, balanced campaign coverage by media, in particular online, efforts to increase women’s active participation in political life, and the need to ensure standardised training of poll workers.

“We very much appreciate the ongoing co-operation and dialogue with the Italian authorities,” said Eoghan Murphy, Head of the ODIHR Election Assessment Mission for the 2022 parliamentary elections. “We have had a very positive engagement on ODIHR electoral recommendations and welcome plans for further reforms.”

ODIHR also discussed the sharing of best practices across the OSCE region and potential areas for further co-operation in bringing Italy’s elections closer in line with international standards and commitments.

ODIHR election observation activities also assess the country’s efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. For Italy, the ODIHR mission evaluated the follow-up to recommendations on the 2018 parliamentary elections and concluded that one had been fully implemented, another one had been mostly implemented, five were partially addressed and 12 remain to be addressed.

In the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Document, all OSCE participating States committed themselves to “follow up promptly the ODIHR’s election assessment and recommendations”.

545218 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

The Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) held its first Steering Group Meeting of this year on 30 and 31 May 2023, in Chisinau, Moldova. During the meeting, the Moldovan National Anti-Corruption Centre’s Criminal Assets Recovery Agency took over the Presidency of the BAMIN, previously held by Montenegro’s Department of Confiscated Property Management within the Cadastre and State Property Administration.

The BAMIN Steering Group is the main decision-making body of the network and currently includes Croatia, Moldova and Montenegro.

The BAMIN is an informal network comprised of 21 asset management offices, with countries from South-Eastern Europe acting as full members and others as observers or associates. As the only informal network focusing on the challenges related to the cost-effective management of seized and confiscated criminal assets, good practices, and international standards, the Network is continuously expanding its membership and geographical coverage.

The Network offers training in areas identified by its members, such as the management of seized or confiscated vehicles or cryptocurrencies, peer mentoring of complex cases that involve assets located in multiple jurisdictions, and the development of manuals and other publications.

During the two-day meeting in Chisinau, the Steering Group discussed the Network’s membership, expansion and strategic direction for the upcoming five years. The group additionally explored future presidencies, co-operation with the Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (CARIN) and upcoming activities.

The OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) support the BAMIN as part of a regional project “Strengthening Asset Recovery Efforts in the OSCE Region”.  With an overarching approach to addressing the entire asset recovery cycle, the project supports participating States in making effective use of asset recovery provisions in the fight against organized crime and corruption. Italy, Germany and the United States of America financially support the project, currently implemented in South-Eastern Europe, while tailored activities in Moldova are under discussion with national stakeholders.

545215 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

On 1 June 2023, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, who is on an official visit to Turkmenistan, and Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev cut the symbolic ribbon opening the new premises of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat provided by the Government of Turkmenistan free for use.

Representatives of foreign embassies and international organizations accredited in Turkmenistan as well as national and international media joined the ceremony.

In her speech at the inauguration, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid said:

“With the designation of this building the OSCE Centre will be able to better meet its needs and tasks under its mandate, so we look forward to continuing to support Turkmenistan on strengthening border management, regional connectivity, environmental protection, and women’s empowerment.”

“The new building of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat marks a significant contribution to our partnership and the promotion of our common values and objectives,“ said Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev.

John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, expressed gratitude to Turkmenistan’s authorities for the designation of the premises.

“This is evidence of the host country’s good will and commitment to co-operation with the OSCE,” he said.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat was established in 1999 to assist Turkmenistan in implementing its OSCE commitments across three dimensions of security. 

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On the eve of International Children’s Day, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) co-organized the III Cycling Marathon for preschool children on 31 May 2023 in Khiva.

The third edition of this yearly initiative gathered 120 children and was attended by high-level officials, including the First Deputy Minister of Preschool and School Education, the Deputy Minister of Youth Policy and Sports, the Deputy Governor of the Khorezm region, the Governor of Khiva city, as well as the Secretary General of the Uzbekistan Cycling Federation.

The event aims to engage children from an early age in regular physical exercise, and promote cycling and healthy lifestyles among the population. By involving the new generation in cycling culture and green mobility, the PCUz seeks to foster environmental education and include cycle training for children in pre-school education.

Prior to the competition, the PCUz supplied 500 balance bikes to pre-school facilities in Khiva, while teachers and physical education instructors were trained to teach pre-school children how to cycle in compliance with international standards.

For several years, the PCUz has been promoting green economy and sustainable development by integrating environmental education into the national pre-school education curriculum, with the programme “The Earth is Our Common Home”.

545188 Željka Šulc

To help uphold the effectiveness, integrity and reputation of the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the BiH Armed Forces, on 31 May and 1 June the OSCE Mission to BiH supported the Ministry’s General Inspectorate in holding a two-day roundtable in Konjic on promoting responsible social media use among defense sector personnel.

Participants discussed approaches to ensuring the optimal balance between professional conduct online and freedom of expression. They also considered the intricate landscape of internet regulations, privacy, security, handling of sensitive information, and combating misinformation and disinformation.

"In today's interconnected world, the pervasive use of social and digital media platforms for communication means there is not always thorough consideration of the implications of online conduct and its impact on employers," emphasized Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. "Given that the standing and effectiveness of the Armed Forces of BiH are at stake, military personnel are naturally held to a higher standard of diligence than an average employee. It is our shared responsibility to act with integrity, preserving trust and camaraderie."

Brigadier General Mirsad Ahmić, the Inspector General of the BiH Ministry of Defence stressed that he is pleased that this exchange of best practice, opinions, and ideas among representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, the Ministry of Defense, the BiH Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, the OSCE Mission, and the academic community will help shape practical guidelines and recommendations on the responsible use of social media. “These results will further strengthen the framework for ensuring the ethical and professional online conduct by members of the defense sector of BiH,” concluded Brigadier General Ahmić.

545170 Marina Živaljević

Being a police officer is not just a job, but a life call that brings challenges, opportunities for professional growth and support for the state and citizens, providing a new family that is always with you. These, and many other things important for police work, have been introduced to high school graduates and their parents through the “I choose the police” campaign, implemented in the past month by the Ministry of Interior - the Police Directorate and the Police Academy, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

Videos seen by almost 300,000 people via social networks, meetings and conversations with more than 800 high school students across Montenegro, a day spent with the police officers in the field, informative flyers, numerous guest appearances on national and local media, testimonials... were just some of the parts of the campaign.

Through the campaign, in anticipation of the upcoming Police Academy’s call for applications in June, the public could have learnt about police work in relation with the protection of citizens, the obligations and challenges that this job entails, and ways to become a police officer and what kind of career development awaits those who become part of the police.

With special attention, the campaign encouraged girls to join the police, making the police inclusive and capable to respond in a best ways to the needs of diverse communities and groups the police serve. Montenegrin police women have a special role to build a safer future for everyone, they are an inspiration and a role model for others, while breaking down stereotypes and building a path towards a society of equal opportunities.

In addition, during May, representatives of the Police Directorate and the Police Academy visited high schools throughout Montenegro and discussed with the students of the final grades about the characteristics of police work, like the importance of teamwork, integrity, and the concrete tasks of the police in ensuring safety including on the roads and fighting criminality. This week, a group of interested high school students from all Montenegrin municipalities spent a day with the police in the field, in order to become more familiar with the police work and working conditions. It is important to point out that there were more girls interested in the day with the police than boys, which proves the campaign’s success in promoting gender equality.

Bearing in mind the success of the campaign and the interest young people showed, the OSCE Mission believes that this initiative will contribute to a greater number of qualified young men and women deciding to apply for the Police Academy. All information about enrolment - conditions, required documentation and application method - will be available on the website www.policijskaakademija.me during the month of June.

This year’s campaign was a continuation of the previous one supported by the OSCE Mission – “We are the power of the team - For more women in policing", which contributed to a significant increase in the number of female candidates admitted to the Police Academy.

The OSCE Mission will continue to support the Montenegrin police in strengthening its efficiency and developing a professional and accountable police fully devoted to the protection of citizens andthat enjoys the trust of society.

VIENNA, 31 May 2023 - OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will visit Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan from 31 May to 8 June for meetings with high-level government officials, parliamentarians and civil society.

In Ashgabat, the Secretary General will meet with President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Speaker of the Mejlis (the Parliament) Dunyagozel Gulmanova, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Vepa Khadjiev, Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova and other stakeholders.

In Bishkek, the Secretary General Schmid will hold meetings with President of the Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Zhaparov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zheenbek Kulubaev and other interlocutors.

She will also visit the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, an OSCE flagship project and unique educational institution, to meet with its staff and students.                         

In Astana, the Secretary General's agenda will include meetings with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Speaker of the Senate Maulen Ashimbayev, Deputy Prime Minister - Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu and other high-level officials.

Throughout the visit, Secretary General Schmid will also meet with OSCE field operations staff and civil society representatives.

NEW YORK, 30 May 2023 – At the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, a high-level event was organized by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in close co-operation with the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of North Macedonia to the UN, and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Poland to the UN, representing the OSCE Chair and its Troika, respectfully.

The event set the stage for an insightful discussion about the sustainable integration of diverse societies. Marking the 30th anniversary of the first OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel, assuming his duties and the opening of the HCNM office in The Hague, regional models of preventive diplomacy were discussed with the participation of several other regional organizations and the UN.

“My main message to all governments is to recognize diversity as an asset and source of strength in their societies and communities. From my observations, increasing the participation of national minority youth and women in all aspects of public life has a positive impact on strengthening integration and cohesion within society,” said High Commissioner on National Minorities, Kairat Abdrakhmanov. “On occasions such as this, when we take a moment to discuss how to capitalize on our different roles, we learn a great deal from our respective experiences in conflict prevention. It also gives us the space to generate new ideas and forge new alliances,” he added.

The event brought together a broad range of multilateral institutions and their representatives, including Assistant Secretary General Nestor Mendez of the Organization of American States and Hameed Ajibaiye Opeloyeru, Permanent Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to reinforce partnerships on approaches to conflict prevention. The event builds on a well-established tradition, initiated in 2018 between the OSCE HCNM and partners at the UN, to hold joint engagements in the margins of the UN General Assembly. This year, the President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, delivered the opening remarks at the start of the event together with the co-hosts.

Ljubomir Danailov Frchkoski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of North Macedonia to the UN, and representing the 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship, stressed that “The nature of conflicts is shifting: today, cultural conflicts are often tied up with identity issues, discrimination, hate speech and propaganda – spread by social media – with the aim of striking fear in the heart and mistrust towards migrants, refugees, and the cultural ‘other’. We see this in increasing acts of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia within the EU and on its borders.” “Facing this challenge with neutral, passive and pale multilateralism is not an option! All of us here today – international actors together with local initiatives – need to make a stand. Let us strive for inclusivity and gender equality, especially for vulnerable groups. Serious energy and efforts are needed to expose fake news, conspiracy theories, and hate speech which spread fear,” he said.

Krzysztof Maria Szczerski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN, representing the 2022 OSCE Chairpersonship, went on to emphasize that “Conflict prevention efforts often go unnoticed by the headlines, yet their primary objective is to ensure that crises never escalate to that level.” “Poland firmly believes that preventive diplomacy is a crucial tool in maintaining peace and stability in our increasingly interconnected world. Rather than waiting for conflicts to escalate and lives to be lost, it is imperative that we take proactive measures to prevent conflicts from arising in the first place,” he said.

In his address, Fernand de Varennes, UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, reminded us that: “Preventive diplomacy must keep up with the changing landscape of modern conflicts and focus on addressing the grievances of minorities in areas such as socio-economic and public participation – failure to do so is reflected in a more unstable, violent and conflict-prone world.”

Panellists, including Alice Wairimu Nderitu, UN Under-Secretary-General & Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide and Ilze Brands Kehris, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, shared their perspectives on how the UN and regional organizations can work together to amplify the impact of their efforts in preventive diplomacy. In addition, Paivi Kaarina Kannisto, Chief of Peace and Security at the UN Women called for decision-makers to meaningfully engage with national minority women and youth, including when designing policies focused on integration and the effective participation of all members of society in public life and the socio-economic sphere.

Participants reiterated their commitment to continue engaging in active dialogue, and share experiences and best practices to build an enabling environment to promote peace and security.

544924 Communication and Media Relations Section

The 2023 OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security, a nine-week online training course organized by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, was launched on 29 May.

The call for applications closed on 10 April, with a record number of applicants resulting in 150 young professionals (85% female) from 48 OSCE participating States and 9 Partners for Co-operation being enrolled this year. Between 29 May and 28 July, participants will learn about conflict prevention and resolution tools through arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation in the OSCE area via the OSCE’s E-Learning Platform. Later this year, some successful graduates will be invited to a one-week in-person training in Vienna.

The Scholarship for Peace and Security in the OSCE area seeks to empower young professionals, in particular women, to engage in the security sector, especially the politico-military security field. The course emphasizes preventive responses to crises and conflicts and strengthens mediation support and post-conflict rehabilitation efforts; through arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation; towards confidence- and security-building in the OSCE area.

Alina, a 2023 participant from Ukraine, said “Learning about preventive actions of war and putting emphasis on preemptive diplomacy, mediation, peacebuilding, and sustaining peace, will be a unique and invaluable experience. I am sure that the program will contribute to my professional development in my future career in peacekeeping and human rights protection”.

Sophia, from Germany, shared “I am eager to share my insights with the other participants and challenge their thinking that gender in the politico-military security field is mainly adding women and stir. I am also eager to listen to and learn from the other participants and experts, as knowledge is key”.

The Scholarship for Peace and Security in the OSCE Area is held annually, targeting the underrepresentation of women and youth at all levels of the decision-making process in peace and security. Follow the event page for additional information and regular updates.

544906 ODIHR election experts present the final report on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2022 general elections to representatives of the country's Constitutional Court. Sarajevo, 23 May 2023. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2022 general elections in Sarajevo between 22 and 25 May 2023. The visit also presented an opportunity for a mid-term review as part of the Support to Elections in the Western Balkans project.

The experts discussed the report’s key findings and recommendations with government officials, members of the parliament, courts and representatives of the media and civil society. Discussions focused, among others, on the revision of the legal framework and elimination of discriminatory restrictions on the right to stand, impartiality and professionalism of polling station commissions, the need to investigate and deter practices of pressure and misuse of administrative resources, protection of journalists from threats and intimidation, facilitation of women’s active participation in public and political life, and protection of the right to vote in secrecy and a free atmosphere.

“We appreciate the constructive dialogue with our counterparts in Bosnia and Herzegovina following our observation of the general elections last year,” said Ambassador Peter Tejler, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the 2022 general elections. “We encourage the authorities to intensify their efforts in implementing ODIHR’s outstanding recommendations and to facilitate co-ordination and exchange among all relevant electoral stakeholders.”

To bring elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina closer in line with OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections, ODIHR offered assistance including expert support, thematic workshops and legal reviews related to potential changes to the electoral legislation.

ODIHR election observation missions also assess the country’s efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the ODIHR mission evaluated the follow-up to recommendations from the ODIHR final reports on the 2014 and 2018 general elections and concluded that nine had been fully implemented, five had been mostly implemented, 18 were partially addressed and 20 remain to be addressed.

In the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Document, all OSCE participating States committed themselves to “follow up promptly the ODIHR’s election assessment and recommendations”.

ANKARA, 29 May 2023 – The second round of Türkiye’s presidential election was well run and gave voters the opportunity to choose between real political alternatives, but was characterized by increasingly inflammatory and discriminatory language during the campaign period. Media bias and ongoing restrictions to freedom of expression created an unlevel playing field, and contributed to an unjustified advantage of the incumbent, international observers said in a statement today.

The joint mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) found that although the election authorities introduced some regulations ahead of the first round to ensure the smooth running of a potential run-off, the legislation does not address important aspects of holding second rounds, which has a negative impact on legal certainty and the stability of the overall legal framework.

While candidates were able to campaign freely, supporters of some opposition parties continued to face intimidation and harassment. Inflammatory and discriminatory language was used on both sides, with mutual accusations of collaboration with terrorist organisations.

“Concerns raised during the first round over the lack of a level playing field and the unfairness of the campaign remained unaddressed, with the incumbent president continuing to benefit from an unjustified advantage,” said Farah Karimi, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission / Head, OSCE PA delegation. “Regretfully, the use of harsher rhetoric by both contesting sides that was discriminatory and inflammatory further polarized the political environment. Voters came out in great numbers yesterday, and it is crucial that the winner makes genuine efforts to ensure the unity of the people of Türkiye.”

The campaign period ahead of the second round was generally peaceful. At the same time, instances of campaigning while performing official duties continued ahead of the second round, with breaches of the ban on inauguration events during the campaign period. Together with the ongoing use of public resources for campaign purposes, this provided an undue advantage to the incumbent that was also noted in the first-round campaign.

"The second round of the presidential elections has resulted in a clear winner. Nevertheless, this second round also took place in an environment that in many ways does not provide the conditions for holding democratic elections,” said Frank Schwabe, Head of the PACE delegation. “Türkiye must now implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and, above all, release Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş. In the future, the Supreme Electoral Council must be committed to the greatest possible transparency in order to strengthen trust in the electoral process.”

The election administration managed the preparations for the second round efficiently within a short timeframe. However, the national election authorities postponed the declaration of the final parliamentary results until after the second round, missing the deadline earlier set. It also continued the practice noted during the first round of holding closed sessions and withholding the publication of most decisions, including on complaints related to the first-round results. This further impacted the transparency of its work.  Election day was largely peaceful, but there were isolated instances of violence that were mostly directed against opposition supporters. Observers also noted cases of group or family voting, while the secrecy of the vote was potentially compromised due to the layout of some polling stations.

Trials and arrests of journalists and bloggers continued ahead of the run-off, further restricting freedom of expression. At the same time, observers noted that many broadcasters did not meet a legal obligation to provide impartial coverage of the campaign and equal opportunities for the two presidential candidates, with the public broadcaster significantly favouring the incumbent and a similar bias noted in numerous private media outlets.

“It’s true and positive that voters had a real choice between political alternatives on election day,” said Ambassador Jan Petersen, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission. “But voters were left underinformed by the lack of transparency on the part of the election administration, and the lack of balanced media coverage was concerning. In contributing to the unlevel playing field overall, this was certainly among the greatest shortcomings of this election. ODIHR stands ready to assist in addressing these.”

The international election observation to the second round of the presidential election in Türkiye totals 232 observers from 31 countries, made up of 181 ODIHR-deployed experts, long-term, and short-term observers, 31 from the OSCE PA, and 20 from PACE.

For more information, please contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

Nat Parry, OSCE PA: +45 60 10 81 77 or nat@oscepa.dk

Sylvie Affholder, PACE: +90 536 958 97 70 or Sylvie.AFFHOLDER@coe.int

SKOPJE/VIENNA/COPENHAGEN, 26 May 2023 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Margareta Cederfelt and Secretary General Roberto Montella today made the following statement:

“We denounce the continued missile attacks against Ukraine, which have intensified in recent weeks.

Such missile attacks constitute major human rights violations, are contrary to international humanitarian law, and achieve nothing but indiscriminate death and destruction, including on civilians – women, men, boys and girls. Today’s strike against a medical clinic in Dnipro is an especially egregious act. 

We condemn in the strongest possible terms this senseless violence, committed against a civilian population that continues to pay a terrible price in this war. 

We reiterate our call to the Russian Federation to immediately put an end to the attacks, stop violating international law, and uphold the principles and commitments of the OSCE. 

We continue to stand united with Ukraine and remain committed to supporting its people.”