OSCE

Ioanna Lachana, OSCE Mission to Skopje Mirvete Islam, OSCE Mission to Skopje

Representatives of twenty municipal councils were introduced to an OSCE training programme designed to promote democratic governance through improved work of local elected officials during promotional events that took place in Ohrid and Skopje on 19, 20 and 21 September.

These events were organized by the OSCE Mission to Skopje in co-operation with the Association of Local Self-Government Units (ZELS) and the State Inspectorate for Local Self- Government.

“The OSCE Mission to Skopje has been providing continuous support to efforts to build the capacities of municipal councils since the start of the decentralization process,” said Ninoslav Vasiljević, the Chief of the Mission’s Democratic Governance and Social Cohesion Unit. “We remain committed to strengthening the capacities of municipal councillors in order to help them improve the quality of life in local communities.”

OSCE staff will deliver the training course in October and November.

COPENHAGEN, 21 September 2018 – Several leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly have actively participated over the past two weeks in the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Italian OSCE Chairmanship, speaking at working sessions on democracy, fundamental freedoms, rights of migrants, human trafficking, and freedom of the media.

In an address at the opening of the HDIM in Warsaw on 10 September, OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (Georgia) stressed that open dialogue on controversial issues must continue and opposing views must be heard by all in order to successfully work together towards implementing OSCE commitments.

“Our primary goal is to better the lives of the more than one billion people of the OSCE area,” he said. “Our duty is to respond to their desire to live in a free society, where democratic debate is encouraged and not stifled, where journalists are respected and not jailed or killed, where a simple citizen can trust that his or her voice counts and is not discarded.”

President Tsereteli was joined at the HDIM by OSCE PA human rights committee Rapporteur Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus), who spoke at the working session on democratic institutions and elections, and again the following day during discussions on freedom of the media.In his remarks, Hadjiyianni stressed that the OSCE and civil society must work together to defend journalists from persecution, promote quality journalism and guarantee that efforts to address “fake news” comply with international standards for free media. Ensuring an informed electorate in a democratic society requires that governments refrain from all forms of censorship or intimidation, but also requires higher standards in journalism, he said.

The OSCE PA was also represented by Vice-Presidents Isabel Santos (Portugal) and Kari Henriksen (Norway), and human rights committee Chair Margareta Kiener Nellen (Switzerland), who spoke at several working sessions of the meeting. Kiener Nellen noted that parliamentarians have an important role to play in promoting tolerance and non-discrimination.

“Through the enacting of relevant legislation aimed at combating hate crimes and hate speech, and promoting equal rights and opportunities, parliaments have a strong tool at their disposal to improve the situation qualitatively,” she said.

Santos spoke on the rights of migrants, noting that the main question is whether we will be able to meet together the challenges of increased migration flows and continue to honor the commitments made globally.“Migratory movements constitute a constant mark in the history of mankind and it will never be possible to stop those who are driven by the despair generated by persecution or by war nor those nourished by the hope of a new opportunity of life with safety and dignity,” Santos said.In working sessions on fundamental freedoms, rights of migrants, and human trafficking, Henriksen focused on promoting opportunities and protections for women and children. She noted that promoting the integration of migrant women by facilitating their access to the labour market contributes to general prosperity.

“In my country, Norway, the participation of women in the work place has contributed more to our prosperity and GDP surplus than oil revenues,” Henriksen said. “We offer introduction programmes for migrant women to give them the necessary language skills as this is a basic precondition for entry in the labour market.”

Europe’s largest annual human rights and democracy conference, the HDIM is organized every year by the OSCE/ODIHR. It serves as a platform for the OSCE, other international organizations and civil society to assess the implementation of OSCE human dimension commitments, share best practices and make recommendations for further improvement.

It took place in Warsaw at the Sofitel Hotel on 10-21 September.For more information, please visit ODIHR's website.

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Vienna, 21 September 2018 – In a letter to the authorities of the Russian Federation the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern regarding the proposed amendments to the country’s Code of Administrative Offences and the Criminal Code, which were adopted yesterday in the final reading by the lower house of parliament, the State Duma. The amendments, among other things, strengthen the penalties for the dissemination of ‘false’ information related to defamation and information that affects privacy protection.

“I am concerned about the introduction of criminal responsibility, punishable by up to one year of imprisonment, for non-compliance with court decisions ordering the takedown or retraction of content in the civil defamation domain. As such, the amendments have a high potential to undermine the freedom of expression, including the free flow of information and access to information,” said Désir.

“The international standards related to civil defamation laws stipulate that any sanctions should not be so significant as to exert a chilling effect on freedom of expression and should be strictly proportionate, as well as designed to restore reputation. Imprisonment is never an appropriate penalty for such offences.”

The Representative noted that while additional and adequate measures to protect minors, as stipulated in the explanatory note to the amendments, can be legitimate and necessary, the statutory provision, which would apply criminal responsibility for civil offences related to defamation, can represent a threat to freedom of expression.

“I call on the members of the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament to reject these amendments and stop initiatives which would represent a serious setback for, and negatively affect the right to, freedom of expression and access to information of public interest,” Désir said.

Désir also encouraged the authorities to fully decriminalize defamation as was the case in 2011 (https://www.osce.org/fom/85154), in order to end the chilling effect of such legislation on freedom of the media.

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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396818 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

A five-day training course on emergency first aid concluded on 21 September 2018 at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

The course brought together some 25 Tajik border officials, of which 14 were female participants. It was delivered by experienced trainers from Tajikistan.   

During the five-day course border officials learned basic lifesaving skills. They were taught how to respond to combat accident-related injuries as well as to heat, cold, altitude and other environment-related injuries and illnesses. They also learned how to remain calm in emergency situations.

Other topics covered in the course included protecting the casualty against further injury without creating a risk for oneself; the location and use of rescue equipment and observing and interpreting the victim's general condition. Participants were also provided with first aid kits.

Vyacheslav Abramets, Border Management Adviser in the OSCE Office’s Politico-Military Department, congratulated the participants on the completion of the course .“The Office is helping to build the capacity of Tajik border officials by providing high-quality training courses in a number of key areas,” Abramets said.

SDGs SDGs:  6 - Clean water and sanitation 7 - Affordable and clean energy 11 - Sustainable cities and communities 13 - Climate action 16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions 17 - Partnerships for the goals

ISSYK-KUL, Kyrgyzstan, 20 September 2018 - The Aarhus Centres and Public Environmental Information Centres from 15 countries concluded today in Issyk-Kul a two-day meeting on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its goals.

“The Aarhus Centres represent a bridge between government authorities and civil society and offer a platform for dialogue on various issues in the field of environmental protection,” said Arsen Ryspekov, the Deputy Director of the State Agency for Environment Protection and Forestry of Kyrgyzstan.

Referring to the role of Aarhus Centres in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, Pierre von Arx said:  “The Aarhus Centres provide a solid framework for governments to engage the public effectively to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Their contribution to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development deserves special recognition.”

Esra Buttanri, Senior Environmental Affairs Adviser at the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, said that the Aarhus Centres and Public Environmental Information Centres are instrumental in turning global environmental commitments into concrete action on the ground. “Their support for stakeholder engagement in uranium legacy remediation in Central Asia or their activities in reinforcing community-based disaster risk reduction are some examples of the Aarhus Centres’ accomplishments towards several SDGs.”

Maryna Yanush, the representative of the UNECE Aarhus Convention Secretariat, said: “The work of the Aarhus Centres, which includes promotion of effective and inclusive engagement of the public, local communities, academia and other stakeholders in environmental and sustainable development matters, can strengthen and complement the ability of the governments to achieve SDGs.”

The meeting concluded with a visit to the site of a successful example of a clean-up campaign conducted jointly by the local authorities and the Aarhus Centre in Issyk-Kul with the support of the Finnish Water Institute. 

The OSCE has been supporting the establishment and operation of a network of Aarhus Centres since 2002. Currently, a wide network of Aarhus Centres in 14 OSCE participating States disseminate environmental information, ensure public participation in decision-making, and facilitate access to justice. They also provide platforms to engage citizens, governments and the private sector in a dialogue on environmental challenges.

The 2018 Aarhus Centres Annual Meeting was organized jointly by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.

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This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed damage as a result of gunfire in a residential area of Dokuchaievsk. The SMM saw two new military positions inside the Zolote disengagement area,as well as military and military-type presence inside the Petrivske disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as again near Bezimenne and Zaichenko.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs and maintenance works to critical water infrastructure in Luhansk region, as well as repairs to houses in Avdiivkaanddemining in Pishchane. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored two public gatherings related to customs clearance, road maintenance and the use of biometric passports. 

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations,[1]including 58 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (30 explosions).

On the evening of 18 September, the SMM camera in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) recorded 77 projectiles in flight (mostly from south-south-west to north-north-east) 3-6km south-east and south-south-east. 

On the evening of 18 September, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded 15 undetermined explosions, 50 projectiles in flight (mostly from west to east) and six muzzle flashes, all 0.5-2km at directions ranging from east-south-east to south-west.  

During the day on 19 September, positioned about 1.5km south-south-east of Kamianka (government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) for about four hours, the SMM heard 21 undetermined explosions 2-6km north-north-west and south-south-west.

On the evening and night of 18-19 September, the SMM camera in Berezove (government-controlled, 31km south-west of Donetsk) recorded 82 projectiles in flight (41 from north-west to south-east and 41 from south-east to north-west) 1-3km east-north-east and east. 

On the same evening and night, the SMM camera about 1.5km north-east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol) recorded 130 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south) 2-4km at directions ranging from north-east to south-east.  

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, however more explosions (41), compared with the previous reporting period (11 explosions).

On the evening of 18 September, the SMM camera in Kriakivka (government-controlled, 38km north-west of Luhansk) recorded ten undetermined explosions and two projectiles in flight from west to east, all 2-4km south-south-west. 

During the day on 19 September, while in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard 33 undetermined explosions 10-16km north-north-east. 

The SMM observed fresh damage as a result of gunfire in a residential area. At 100 Lenina Street in Dokuchaievsk (non-government-controlled, 30km south of Donetsk), the SMM saw a fresh hole in the outer pane of a double-paned west-south-west facing second floor apartment window in a five-storey building. The SMM also saw a 5.45mm bullet lodged between the two window panes and assessed that it was fired from a westerly direction. The resident of the apartment (woman, 71 years old) told the SMM that on 16 September at about 14:00, she had been in the living room and had heard the sound of glass breaking. Three other residents of the building separately told the SMM that they had heard “a lot of shooting” on 16 September.

The SMM continued to monitor and to pursue full access to the disengagement areasnear 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.*

The SMM saw for the first time two freshly dug south-facing military positions at the southern end of the railway bridge, one on either side of the road, as well as a man in camouflage clothing inside one of the positions which were assessed as belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.  

In non-government-controlled areas near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM saw about 15 civilians wearing orange jackets removing vegetation and cleaning the verges along the road from the Prince Ihor monument to the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. 

On 10 September, inside the Petrivske disengagement area, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted two members of the armed formations inside a position on the north-eastern edge of the disengagement area. On 12 September, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted three members of the armed formations near previously observed trenches on the south-eastern edge of 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 18 September,an SMM long-range UAV spotted a self-propelled howitzer (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) near Vrubivka (72km west of Luhansk) and three self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) near Vidrodzhennia (66km north-east of Donetsk). On 19 September, the SMM saw nine multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) near Vasiukivka (82km north of Donetsk). 

In violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, on 18 September, an SMM mini UAV spotted three towed mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) near Donetskyi (49km west of Luhansk). 

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 18 September, an SMM long-range UAV spotted two self-propelled anti-aircraft systems (2K22 Tunguska) and five tanks (T-64) near Spirne (96km north of Donetsk), five self-propelled howitzers (2S3) near Zolotarivka (85km north-west of Luhansk) and a surface-to air missile system (9K35 Strela-10) near Zamulivka (75km north-west of Luhansk). 

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in non-government-controlled areas, aerial imagery available to the SMM on 18 September revealed the presence of 39 tanks (undetermined variants) at a training area near Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk). 

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. At one such site in a government-controlled area of Donetsk region, the SMM noted that 12 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira,100mm), 30 mortars (2B11), four surface-to-air missile systems (9K35), three towed howitzers (D-44, 85mm), 40 self-propelled howitzers (20 2S1 and 20 2S3) remained missing (11 of the abovementioned 12 anti-tank guns (MT-12) were missing for the first time).

The SMM revisited a heavy weapons permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines and noted that two MLRS (BM-21) remained missing. The SMM also noted that additional weapons were present for the first time. 

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[3]and other indications of military-type presence in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 15 September, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted two IFVs (BMP-2) near Vodiane (94km south of Donetsk).[4]

In non-government-controlled areas, on 18 September, an SMM mini-UAV spotted two armoured personnel carriers (APC) (MT-LB) in Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk) and again spotted three APCs (two BTR-80 and an MT-LB) near a non-functional school occupied by the armed formations in Donetskyi, and a mid-range UAV spotted four IFVs (BMP-1) and an APC (BTR variant) in close vicinity to inhabited civilian houses in Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol). 

On 19 September, on the road between Bezimenne (non-government controlled, 30km east of Mariupol) and Roza (non-government-controlled, 36km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw fresh tracks assessed as at least six APCs (MT-LB). The same day, on the road between Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol) and Kulykove (non-government-controlled, 30km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw fresh tracks assessed as of a tank (T-64). (Both abovementioned sets of tracks are near areas where the SMM has encountered regular freedom of movement restrictions, see below). 

On 15 September, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted for the first time at least 100 fresh craters assessed as impacts of 82mm and 120mm mortar rounds between Vodiane (government-controlled, 94km south of Donetsk) and Azov (formerly Dzerzhynske, non-government-controlled, 96km south of Donetsk). On 18 September, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted 20m of new trenches near Krymske (government-controlled, 42km north-west of Luhansk), which are not visible in imagery from 11 August 2018, as well as about 20 fresh craters assessed as impacts of 82mm and 120mm mortar rounds, all less than two weeks old, near an IFV (BMP-1) (see above) near Vodiane. The same UAV also spotted a 50m extension of trenches near Pikuzy, not visible in imagery from 16 August 2018.

Aerial imagery available to the SMM on 17 September revealed the presence offour military-type trucks inside three compounds in Siedove (non-government-controlled, 106km south of Donetsk), a city to which the SMM has been denied access by the armed formations since April 2017.

The SMM observed the presence of mines and UXO. On 15 September, near Vodiane, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted more than 50 anti-tank mines (TM-62) in a field, part of a larger set of 500 previously observed mines, laid in two latitudinal rows south of road T0519 running south (see SMM Daily Report 1 September 2018). On 19 September, the SMM again observed a tailfin on the ground, assessed as from a 120mm mortar in Tavrycheske (non-government-controlled, 35km north-east of Mariupol).  

The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS, including through monitoring adherence to the ceasefire.

The SMM also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to residential houses in Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk) and to water infrastructure in Stanytsia Luhanska and near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), as well as demining in Pishchane (government-controlled, 22km north of Luhansk), in an area where an anti-tank mine had reportedly exploded on 7 April 2018 (see SMM Daily Report 12 April 2018).

The SMM followed up on two public gatherings in Kyiv. The SMM saw about 350 people (mostly men, 20-50 years old) in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building at 12/2 Mykhayla Hrushevskoho Street after parking their cars (all with non-Ukrainian licence plates – most with licence plates from the Baltic states) along Hrushevskoho Street, impeding the flow of vehicular traffic. The men were carrying flags associated with “EuroAutoPower”, and several were holding signs in Ukrainian in support of more affordable customs clearance procedures. The SMM observed about 30 police and National Guard officers at the entrance of the building as well as a dozen police and National Guard buses and minivans. The event concluded without any incidents. 

The SMM saw about 350 people (mostly women, 60-70 years old) in front of the Supreme Court of Ukraine at 8 Pylypa Orlyka Street, praying, singing religious hymns and carrying banners against biometric passports, alleging that the passports violated their religious beliefs. The SMM observed about ten riot police officers and three National Guard and police buses nearby. The gathering was peaceful. 

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro 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, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see SMM Daily Report 17 September) TheSMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denial of access:

• At a checkpoint on road E58 north-west of Bezimenne, two armed members of the armed formations again stopped the SMM and denied it passage.
• At a checkpoint north of Zaichenko (non-government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), two armed members of the armed formations stopped the SMM and again denied it passage westward to Pikuzy and southward to Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol) citing “shooting in progress”. 

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 told the SMM by phone 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 told the SMM by phone 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 positioned on the southern side of the Zolote disengagement area told the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.

Other impediments

• Following up on access to education at six schools in Holubivka (formerly Kirovsk, non-government-controlled, 51km west of Luhansk) and a school in Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, non-government-controlled, 44km west of Luhansk), staff refused to provide information to the SMM without prior written permission from the armed formations. 

 

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

[4]On 12 September, a mid-range UAV spotted four IFVs (BMP variants) near Bohdanivka (government-controlled, 41km south-west of Donetsk), not Bohdanivka (non-government-controlled, 44km west of Luhansk) (see SMM Daily Report 14 September 2018.)

[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.

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SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

VIENNA, 20 September 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today expressed his condolences following the news of a tragic death of a young journalist, who died yesterday while filming a police operation at a protest near Aachen in Germany.

“I am shocked and saddened by the sudden and tragic death of a young journalist. My sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues,” the Representative said. “I understand that the death was accidental and hope that all the circumstances linked to this tragedy will be swiftly clarified.”

The journalist was killed on 19 September while filming the police who were dismantling treehouses set up by protesters in their protest against logging in the Hambacher Forest. The journalist reportedly fell 15 metres to his death when the planks of a makeshift suspended bridge collapsed. The police have started an investigation into the accident.

The journalist’s name has not been disclosed.

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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396317 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

Two OSCE-supported training courses for lawyers on development of professional competences and moral compensation for victims of torture and their relatives concluded on 18 September 2018 in Tajikistan. The first course was conducted on 14 and 15 September in Dushanbe, and the second was held on 17 and 18 September 2018 in the town of Guliston.

The two-day training courses for 45 practising defence lawyers from the Sughd and Dushanbe regions focused on national and international legislation and practice regarding the protection of torture victims and their relatives. They also aimed to strengthen the skills and expertise of the lawyers with regard to legal consultations and representation in courts.

National and international experts provided an overview of how to conduct investigations of torture cases, collect evidence and document the findings in accordance with international standards. Lessons learned from United Nations Committee Against Torture and European Court of Human Rights cases, as well as Tajikistan best practices were discussed at the training courses.

“I was impressed by the lawyers’ confidence that the legislation of Tajikistan allows all possibilities for non-pecuniary damage compensation and by their readiness to use these possibilities to develop the judiciary practice in such cases,” said Ukrainian human rights expert Olena Volochay, who was one of the trainers.   

“Such training is very important for lawyers, as newly gained knowledge motivates us to work better with our clients and achieve a fair judicial decision for victims,” said Firuza Usmanova, a lawyer from Khujand city.

The event was jointly organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) Regional Office for Central Asia, the public fund Notabene and the Union of Lawyers of Tajikistan.

TBILISI, 20 September 2018 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) yesterday formally opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 28 October presidential election in Georgia. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the Georgian authorities.

The mission is led by Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, and consists of a core team of 14 experts based in Tbilisi and 28 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country in teams of two from 26 September. In addition, ODIHR will request that OSCE participating States provide 350 short-term observers, who will arrive several days before election day.

The mission will assess the presidential election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives from state authorities and political parties, as well as with candidates, and with representatives from civil society, the media and the international community. The mission will publish an interim report in the course of its work.

On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

The day after the elections, the mission, together with its partners from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference in Tbilisi. ODIHR will issue a final report on the observation approximately eight weeks after the end of the electoral process.

For further information, please contact Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst with the election observation mission, at: +995 591 176 496 (Tbilisi mobile), or egor.tilpunov@odihreom.ge.

or

Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or at Thomas.Rymer@odihr.pl.

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KYIV, 20 September 2018 – The Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), Alexander Hug, 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, 21 September, at 15:00 (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 http://uacrisis.org/ru/stream#eng

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396740 Viktor Kundrak, ODIHR's Hate Crime Officer, addressing event participants. Warsaw, 20 September 2018. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Techniques to improve states’ support for victims of hate crime were the focus of an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 20 September in Warsaw on the margins of the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

The discussions focused on how participating States can best support victims of hate crimes throughout the criminal justice process. After discussing the needs of hate crime victims and the existing support mechanisms provided by civil society organizations, participants were introduced to the underlying principles and recommendations of a forthcoming ODIHR publication on victim support, which is aimed at criminal justice system bodies and other government agencies. ODIHR’s new publication will offer guidance on providing comprehensive support to victims of hate crime, as well as good practice examples from various states.

“We want to respond to gaps in the implementation by OSCE participating States of their commitments on hate crime. Most states focus on the punitive aspect of their responses to hate crimes, leaving the victims with insufficient protection and support," said Cristina Finch, Head of ODIHR’s Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department. "ODIHR is working closely with states and civil society to overcome this challenge, put victims first, and complements ODIHR’s set of tools to support states in addressing hate crimes.”

During the event the preliminary findings of ODIHR’s 2017 hate crime reporting were presented. The findings will be published on 16 November.

VIENNA, 20 September 2018 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today denounced prison sentences handed out to the executives of the Hayatın Sesi TV channel in Turkey.

Istanbul’s 13th High Criminal Court yesterday sentenced the owners of the Hayatın Sesi TV channel, Mustafa Kara and İsmail Gökhan Bayram, and the channel’s general director, Gökhan Çetin, to three years and nine months in prison each. They were convicted of spreading terrorist propaganda for different terrorist groups in Turkey, reportedly related to several broadcasts by the channel in 2015 and 2016 on bombing attacks and military operations in the country’s south-east.

“Journalists must not be imprisoned for their work, even for reporting on conflict or expressing dissenting views. Far too many journalists in Turkey have been accused of spreading terrorist propaganda based on their reporting about issues of public interest,” Désir said.

Hayatın Sesi TV, together with several other TV channels, was closed down by a government decree in September 2016.

“I hope that they will be freed on appeal and I stand ready to assist Turkey in addressing all media freedom-related issues and restoring the previously very vibrant media landscape in the country,” Désir said.

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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396539 Communication and Media Relations Section SDGs SDGs:  5 - Gender equality

Experts and practitioners on gender equality and migration discussed the challenges facing women migrants and good practices to promote their rights at a side event organized by the OSCE Gender Section during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw on 18 September 2018.

The moderator of the side event, OSCE Senior Gender Adviser Amarsanaa Darisuren introduced the topic highlighting that the OSCE and international commitments provide a framework for non-discrimination and combating trafficking in human beings.

Ambassador Luca Fratini, Deputy Head of the Mission of Italy to the OSCE, stated that migration is a priority area of the Italian Chair of the OSCE. He stressed the importance of data collection, including sex-disaggregated data, in order to develop evidence-based policies that take into account the needs of women migrants.

Anna Rostocka, the Head of the International Organization for Migration in Warsaw, explained that a person’s gender shapes all migration experiences: “Gender determines the reasons for migration, how people migrate, the networks they use and the resources they have available at the country of destination.”  Rostocka noted that focusing on women’s empowerment is just as important as combating discriminatory practices facing women migrants.

Anna Zobnina, representing the European Network of Women Migrants, called for the inclusion of women in the design of migration policies and programmes, from the highest political to the grassroots level.  As an organization representing women’s grassroot movements, Zobnina explained, the European Network of Women Migrants has found that the flow of refugees and migrants is in many ways driven by women and that gender inequality is an important root cause of migration.

Pablo Rojas Coppari of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) drew the participants’ attention to OSCE publications on gender-sensitive labour migration: “We often talk about the vulnerability of women, while it is the migration policies that put them in situations of vulnerability,” he stated.

The final speaker, Heidi Meinzolt, highlighted the specific challenges faced by women throughout the whole cycle of migration, stating that women are exposed to different threats when they are on the move and in the country of arrival. She pointed to the necessity of co-operation between decision-makers, institutions and civil society to promote and protect the rights of women migrants.

Participants in the event made several recommendations to the OSCE, including the suggestion to increase assistance to participating States in mainstreaming gender in migration policies; to ensure the protection of women is combined with their active and meaningful participation; to develop strategies which focus on women’s empowerment and capacity building; to establish comprehensive and effective partnerships between all stakeholders to combat trafficking in women and girls; to improve data collection in order to develop evidence-based policies that take into account needs of women; and to combat discriminatory migratory practices and increase understanding of how gender shapes migration patterns.

MINSK, 20 September 2018 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups in Minsk on 19 September 2018:

“As you know, today is the fourth anniversary of the Minsk Memorandum – the second document of the Minsk agreements providing basis for our activities.

Today the Security Working Group discussed the topics of ceasefire implementation, disengagement of forces and hardware, as well as demining.

Noting that the east of Ukraine has become one of the most densely mined areas in the world, the Coordinator of the Group Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan stressed the importance of the so-called "humanitarian demining" and a systematic approach to it.

The Economic Working Group continued its discussion of further steps to improve the quality of the Vodafone Ukraine mobile communication network in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR respectively), as well as current issues of water deliveries in the "Karbonyt" and "Voda Donbasa" supply systems.

I would like to note some good news. Yesterday, the first stage of repair works of Yuzhnodonbasska water pipeline in Avdiivka industrial zone has been accomplished. In this regard, I would like express my gratitude to Mr Per Fischer, Coordinator of the Economic Working Group. I also thank the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) for its support in providing for “windows of silence” necessary for the repair works.

Pensions and social transfers to conflict zone residents was also a topic of discussions in the Working Group.

Coordinator of the Humanitarian Working Group, Ambassador Toni Frisch informed about his field trip to the conflict-affected areas on both sides of the contact line.

During the field trip, the Coordinator visited eleven detention places – in Kharkiv, Starobilsk, Donetsk, Luhansk and Bakhmut. There he met thirty-six detainees, five of them being not conflict-related.

The Working Group on Political Issues further considered questions related to the implementation of the so-called ‘Steinmeier formula’, amnesty and modalities of local elections in CADR and CALR as foreseen by the Minsk agreements”.

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396464 Kevin Hyland, Chief Executive of ChildFund Ireland (l), Tatiana Kotlyarenko, ODIHR Advisor on Anti-Human Trafficking Issues (c), and Valiant Richey, OSCE Acting Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (r). Warsaw, 19 September 2018. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights SDGs SDGs:  5 - Gender equality

Trafficking in human beings is often gender-specific, as are its consequences, including the harm it causes and the recovery process for survivors, said participants in an event co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (OSR/CTHB) in Warsaw on 19 September 2018.

Assistance to survivors, therefore, needs to be gender-sensitive and tailored, as well as mainstreamed in all other aspects of combating human trafficking, including prevention, protection and prosecution, they said.

The event took place during the annual OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

“All of the OSCE participating States have unanimously committed to ensuring that all female victims of violence will be provided with full, equal and timely access to justice and effective remedies,” said Tatiana Kotlyarenko, ODIHR Advisor on Anti-Human Trafficking Issues.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that 71 per cent of detected trafficked persons are women and girls, as are 96 per cent of all detected individuals trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

Participants stressed that the identification of victims of trafficking is often hampered by a number of factors, including lack of adequate training or functioning referral mechanisms. At the same time, other factors, such as bias, prejudice and gender stereotypes may negatively impact assistance efforts.

“From its disproportionate effects on women and girls to gender stereotypes hindering the identification of male victims, human trafficking is pervaded by gendered practices,” said Valiant Richey, OSCE Acting Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. “This event provides a unique forum to discuss how we can better integrate the needs of men and women, boys and girls into our responses to human trafficking.”

Taina Bien-Aimé, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, said: “The exponential growth of the global multi-billion dollar sex trade and its impact in both fostering sex trafficking and influencing our cultural narratives is flourishing with impunity. We applaud ODIHR and OSR/CTHB for their leadership in urging participating States to find effective solutions, from the grassroots to high-level decision makers, to end the trafficking in persons as egregious human rights violations.”

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

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) visited Bucharest from 17 to 19 September 2018 to discuss the status of follow-up on ODIHR’s electoral recommendations with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Electoral Authority, the Parliament’s legal committee, the National Audiovisual Council, as well as with representatives of civil society.

As part of this mid-term review visit, the ODIHR experts discussed a number of key changes introduced following the final report of the election expert team ODIHR sent for the 2012 parliamentary elections in Romania. These addressed a number of the Office’s recommendations and included provisions to improve voter and candidate registration processes, refine the recruitment of polling staff, introduce postal voting for citizens abroad, further elaborate political and campaign finance rules and amend deadlines for the review of complaints and appeals.

The experts also examined how remaining ODIHR recommendations could be integrated into an inclusive electoral reform process in advance of the next elections, scheduled for 2019. The Romanian authorities indicated that a number of additional amendments to the election legislation are currently being reviewed in the parliament.

“While Romania has a robust electoral framework, continual attention is needed to ensure its applicability,” said Steven Martin, ODIHR Senior Adviser on New Voting Technologies. “We look to the authorities to continue their efforts to further consolidate the legal framework in an inclusive and timely manner.”

During the meetings, the authorities expressed interest in receiving ODIHR support through expert advice and comparative examples of good practice related to topical electoral issues and, over the longer term, through the consideration of requests for legal reviews of draft legislation.

All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to following up on ODIHR's election assessments and recommendations. In addition to follow-up visits after the release of election reports, ODIHR’s methodology also provides for return to a country for a mid-term review visit to assess the degree to which recommendations have been implemented and, where necessary, encourage steps to promote further implementation.

396440 Left to right: Azamat Shambilov, Regional Director for Central Asia at Penal Reform International (PRI); Nadia Stefaniv, Justice at the Supreme Court of Ukraine; Andrea Huber, Deputy Chief of the Rule of Law Unit at the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR); and Jypara Rakisheva, National Co-ordinator of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Programme in Central Asia. Warsaw, 19 September 2018. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

The under-representation of women in justice system institutions and its impact on justice system outcomes were the focus of a Women’s Power Breakfast in Warsaw on 19 September 2018, during the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

The event was co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Penal Reform International (PRI) to promote women’s equal representation among staff of justice institutions and to advocate for gender-sensitive justice systems.

“The question of the extent to which women are represented among the police, prosecutors, judges and prison staff is not just one of numbers,” said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, ODIHR Director. “It has an impact on how women are treated in the justice system, whether they are victims, suspects, defendants, witnesses or prisoners. What’s more, it can have a bearing on the outcome of procedures.”

Participants elaborated on how the under-representation of women in justice system institutions, as is the case in many countries, has a negative impact on numerous aspects of justice proceedings and contributes to gender discrimination. The experiences of female victims of gender-based violence in a predominantly male justice and penitentiary system were highlighted by many participants in the discussion.

“Given the sensitive nature of gender-based violence and the fear of stigmatization, female victims may be more comfortable telling their stories to female police officers,” said Jypara Rakisheva, UNODC National Co-ordinator in Central Asia, who shared lessons learned from UNODC’s work with the Interior Ministry of Kyrgyzstan. “Gender-sensitive policing includes policies to increase the representation of women in the police, enhancing policing skills of female officers and collecting sex-disaggregated data.”

Azamat Shambilov, Regional Director of PRI’s Central Asia Office, noted that prison systems are usually male-dominated, and female staff frequently face harassment and barriers to promotion to managerial posts.

“International standards require that female prisoners are supervised by female staff. This is essential to achieving gender-sensitive treatment of female detainees, including the prevention of gender-based violence in prisons," he said.

The event saw the presentation by ODIHR of a discussion paper examining  gender and diversity among justice system actors in terms of recruitment and workplace equality, as well as in terms of the fairness of outcomes, as perceived by end users of the justice system. The paper is part of ODIHR’s work to support participating States in implementing OSCE commitments relating to the rule of law and the comprehensive gender mainstreaming strategy of the organization.

This report is for the media and the general public.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed damage as a result of shelling in residential areas of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas as well as again near Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines in Kremenivka. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station. It also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs and maintenance works to critical water infrastructure in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as demining and repairs at the Krasnohorivka gas distribution station between Marinka and Oleksandrivka. The SMM followed up on the situation of civilians living near and crossing the contact line in Maiorsk and Horlivka. In Kherson region, the Mission monitored the ABL in Chonhar.

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations,[1] including 30 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 80 explosions).

On the evening and night of 17-18 September, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded ten undetermined explosions and 88 projectiles in flight (mostly from west to east), all 0.5-4km at directions ranging from south-south-east to south-south-west.

On the same evening and night, the SMM camera 1km south-west of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol) recorded two undetermined explosions, about 85 projectiles in flight (mostly from north to south and south to north) and a muzzle flash, all 2-4km from east-north-east to east-south-east.

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including 11 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (seven explosions).

On the evening of 17 September, the SMM camera in Kriakivka (government-controlled, 38km north-west of Luhansk) recorded five undetermined explosions, 34 projectiles in flight (mostly east-south-east to west-north-west) and four muzzle flashes, all 2-4km south-west.

On 18 September, positioned near Kruhlyk (non-government-controlled, 31km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard four undetermined explosions 8-10km north-west and over 400 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 1-1.5km north-north-west, all assessed as live-fire training exercises outside the security zone.

The SMM observed fresh damage as a result of shelling in residential areas. In Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km north-west of Luhansk) at 2 Myru Street, the SMM saw a large impact in the western wall of an inhabited three-storey residential building and three shattered west-facing windows. The SMM assessed that the damage was caused by a projectile fired from a north-westerly direction. A female resident (70 years old) told the SMM that shelling had occurred between 15:00 and 17:00 on 16 September.

At 4 Myru Street, in the second-floor of a three-storey residential building, the SMM saw cracked north-facing windows in two separate apartments and a hole in the wooden frame of one of the windows, and assessed that the damage was caused by small-arms fire originating from a north-westerly direction. A female resident (65 years old) told the SMM that she had been in the same room when the window had been hit.

At 6 Myru Street, the SMM saw a broken window in a second-floor apartment of a four-storey residential building. Residents from both buildings told the SMM separately that shelling had happened during the afternoon of 16 September.

At 11 Lizy Chaikinoi Street, the SMM observed that a section of the western side of the roof of a two-storey residential building had been damaged or was missing entirely and that the supporting wooden rafters were damaged. The SMM assessed that the damage was caused by a mortar round impact but could not assess the direction of fire. The SMM observed at 8 Lizy Chaikinoi Street that 12 windows on the north-western side of a two-storey residential building were broken or shattered and at 20 Lizy Chaikinoi Street that a second-floor window on the north-facing side of an inhabited two-storey building was shattered. Residents from all three buildings told the SMM that the shelling had taken place on the afternoon of 16 September.

At 2 Dundycha Street, the SMM saw that three first-floor apartment windows were all broken and there was damage to the north-facing outer wall of the building, which the SMM assessed as caused by shrapnel. The SMM assessed that the damage was caused by a projectile fired from a north-westerly direction.

At a power substation in a residential area of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, the SMM observed a hole in the roof of the substation and a 30mm wide crack along its south-facing wall. The SMM assessed that the damage was caused by an impact of a projectile fired from a northerly direction. Two female residents of the area (55-60 years old) told the SMM that the shelling had taken place on 16 September.

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.*

Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM observed an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) driving east near the government checkpoint.

Positioned in the Zolote disengagement area and in Bohdanivka (government-controlled, 41km south-west of Donetsk), near the Petrivske disengagement area, the SMM observed calm situations.

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 a government-controlled area, the SMM saw ten self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) north-east of Kremenivka (27km north-west of Mariupol).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, on 17 September, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted four surface-to-air missile systems (9K33 Osa) near residential homes in Maksymivka (53km west of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in non-government-controlled areas, aerial imagery available to the SMM on 17 September revealed the presence of 51 tanks (type undetermined) in a training area near Manuilivka (65km east of Donetsk). On 18 September, the SMM saw five tanks (two T-64 and three variants undetermined) in a training area near Kruhlyk (see above and the Ceasefire Table below for information on ceasefire violations observed at the training area).

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. At one such site in a government-controlled area of Donetsk region, the SMM observed 11 self-propelled howitzers (2S1) present for the first time.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun[3] and other signs of military-type presence in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 16 September, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) in the courtyard of a non-functional school in Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk). The next day, an SMM long-range UAV spotted two armoured reconnaissance vehicles (BRDM-2) and an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) about 3km south of Novhorodske (35km north of Donetsk), seven APCs (four BTR-70 and three BTR variants) near Avdiivka  (17km north of Donetsk) and two IFVs (BMP-1) near Berezove (31km south-west of Donetsk). On 18 September, the SMM saw an APC (BTR-4) near Kamianka (20km north of Donetsk), an APC (MT-LB) near Sartana (15km north-east of Mariupol), an APC (MT-LB) near Starohnativka (51km south of Donetsk), an APC (MT-LB) in Trokhizbenka (32km north-west of Luhansk) and an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) in Bobrove (56km north-west of Luhansk).

On 16 September, between the DFS and road M04, about 600m south-east of the DFS, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted a new trench 200m in length from north to south connecting two existing positions as well as a recently upgraded firing position about 600m south of the DFS. The same UAV spotted a 40m extension of existing trenches about 2km south-west of the DFS. (All developments were assessed as belonging to the armed formations, all not seen in imagery from 4 September 2018).

The same UAV spotted about 20 fresh craters assessed as impacts of probable mortar (82mm) rounds (not seen on imagery from 4 September 2018) about 1.5km south-west of the DFS, on road H20 at the junction of road M04.

The SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS, including through monitoring adherence to the ceasefire.

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining and repair and maintenance works to a water pipeline between Zolote and Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), a water channel junction in Stanytsia Luhanska and at the Krasnohorivka gas distribution station between Marinka and Oleksandrivka (non-government-controlled, 20km south-west of Donetsk). The SMM also facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining and repairs to the South Donbas water pipeline between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk). A representative of Voda Donbassa told the SMM that the repairs to the South Donbas water pipeline had been completed and that water supply should improve for up to 1.3 million residents on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk region.

The SMM facilitated and monitored demining in Pishchane (government-controlled, 22km north of Luhansk), in an area where an anti-tank mine had reportedly exploded on 7 April 2018 (see SMM Daily Report 12 April 2018).

The SMM continued to followup on the situation of civilians living near and crossing the contact line. At the entry-exit checkpoint in Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk), ten civilians (men and women, aged 60-80 years old) told the SMM that crossing the contact line takes many hours, but due to the fact that toilets are either unavailable or in poor condition, they try to consume as little food or drink as possible. In Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM conducted an outreach event with 15 civilians, many of whom highlighted the difficulties of crossing the contact line as well as hardship conditions at checkpoints along the contact line.

On 17 September, the SMM monitored the ABL at the checkpoint near Chonhar (163km south-east of Kherson) and observed that the checkpoint was open and traffic was traveling in both directions.

The SMM continued monitoring in Odessa, 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, see SMM Daily Report 17 September) The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denial of access:

• At a checkpoint west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 29km north-east of Mariupol), five members of the armed formations (one visibly armed) again denied the SMM passage, citing risks to “the SMM’s security”. The SMM saw civilian cars crossing the checkpoint.

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 told 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 told 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 south of the Zolote disengagement area due to the possible presence of mines and UXO. A member of the armed formations positioned on the southern side of the Zolote disengagement area told the SMM that no demining had taken place during the previous 24 hours. The SMM did not consider it safe to proceed.

Conditional access:

• At two separate checkpoints in Horlivka, members of the armed formations insisted on opening the trunks of the SMM vehicles before allowing the SMM to pass through the checkpoints.

[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] This hardware is not prescribed 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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VIENNA, 19 September 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed yesterday’s decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on an interim measure which indicates to the Ukrainian authorities to abstain from accessing the mobile telephone data of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) investigative reporter Natalya Sedletska.

“I welcome the swift action of the European Court of Human Rights to protect mobile phone data of an investigative journalist, pending full complaint to the court. Investigative journalism plays the essential role of a watchdog in societies and journalists must be able to protect their sources,” said Désir.

On August 27, a court in Kyiv approved a request from the Prosecutor-General's Office to allow investigators to review any data from Sedletska's mobile telephone from 1 July 2016 through to 30 November 2017. This is part of a criminal investigation into the alleged disclosure of state secrets to journalists in 2017 by a high-level public official.

At the beginning of September the Representative expressed concern about this decision and issued a public call to the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that all steps in line with international standards and OSCE commitments are taken to respect Sedletska’s privilege to keep her sources confidential (see: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/392555).

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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396212 Karen Gainer Marina Živaljević SDGs SDGs:  5 - Gender equality

In an effort to ensure that gender equality is a core component in legislative drafting, the OSCE Mission, in co-operation with the Parliamentary Committee for Gender Equality in Montenegro, held a training course on gender mainstreaming on 18 and 19 September 2018 in Podgorica.

Members of Parliament and parliamentary committee staff discussed how to analyse legislation from a gender perspective, strategize to mainstream gender in state institutions and develop gender equality policy consistent with international standards.

“We want to support the parliament in its efforts to translate its legislative commitments into good practices, to become more and more a gender-sensitive parliament,” says Ana Krušić, Senior Programme Assistant at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro has been working in partnership with the parliament for many years on projects which, in addition to the promotion of gender mainstreaming, have included capacity building of committees, working with administrative staff and supporting exchanges of regional experiences.

Gender expert Karolina Leaković, who led the training course, said: “Co-operation with the parliament and its service is important because the parliament is at the centre of the legislative process and has an important role in developing gender-sensitive legislation and promoting principles of gender equality.”

The training course is a part of the education on gender equality and gender mainstreaming envisaged by the Action Plan for a Gender Sensitive Parliament, which was developed and adopted by the Committee with the support of the Mission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. The first course was organized in April this year.