OSCE

Podgorica, 3 May 2023 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference on the opening of the observation mission to the forthcoming early parliamentary elections in Montenegro on Friday, 5 May.

What: 

• An introduction to the role of the ODIHR election observation mission and its planned activities

Who: 

• Nina Suomalainen, Head of the ODIHR observation mission

When: 

• 14:00 local time (GMT +2) on 5 May 2023

Where:

• PR Center, Boulevard Josipa Broza Tita 23A, Podgorica

Registration:

• No registration is necessary but only questions from journalists will be taken.

For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Montenegro, please visit:  https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/montenegro 

Media Contact:          

Pietro Tesfamariam, Media Analyst: pietro.tesfamariam@odihr.me, or +382 68 860 873

542709 Marina Živaljević

In celebration of 30th anniversary of the World Press Freedom Day, Dominique Waag, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, met with Mihailo Jovović, President of the Commission for Monitoring the Actions of Competent Authorities in Investigations of Cases of Threats and Violence against Journalists, Murders of Journalists and Attacks on Media Property.

During today’s meeting, they discussed the work of the Commission and challenges it faces, its co-operation with state authorities, as well as Mission’s support to the Commission.

“The ability of independent and pluralistic media to investigate, and to publish the results of their investigations without fear of reprisal or fear of a culture of impunity, plays an important role in democracies, in order to foster public debate and to hold public institutions accountable. It is also journalists’ role to report on criminal schemes. This is part of freedom of information. Therefore all those responsible for crimes, attacks or harassment against journalists, including online, should be brought to justice and sentenced,” said Ambassador Waag.

The OSCE recommends that governments take effective measures to ensure safety of journalists and prevent future attacks (Ministerial Council decision, Milan, 2018).

President of the Commission Jovović said that media freedom also includes the freedom of journalists to be able to fulfill their assignments responsibly without any pressure, let alone insults, threats and violence in the physical and virtual worlds. “I am glad Montenegro has seen less insults, threats and violence in recent months, but I am concerned about the fact that almost nothing materialized to find and punish those responsible for the most serious attacks on journalists in recent years,” said Jovović.

He added that at the end of last year, the Commission made a series of recommendations for further action regarding investigation into the murder of the late editor-in-chief and founder of Dan, Duško Jovanović. “It is not clear to me why the police and the prosecution did not act at least according to specific recommendations for individual cases, including into the investigation of the murder of Duško Jovanović,” he added.

Jovović thanked the Mission for supporting the development of an electronic database for the Commission, which will further facilitate its work and enable a more comprehensive analysis and reporting of attacks on journalists.

Celebrated every 3 May, this year marks the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.

Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

On 27 April, a three-day course aimed at strengthening the skills of local entities in conducting effective financial investigations in counter-terrorism concluded in Pejë/Peć. The course was organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department, with the support of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Following a training-of-trainers course held earlier this year in Vienna, a team of local trainers, supported by international experts, presented topics related to the financial requirements of terrorist organizations and the integral role of financial investigations in counter-terrorism operations, both reactive and proactive. Multi-agency teams engaged in exercises, which emphasized the importance of interagency co-operation in conducting effective financial investigations in counter-terrorist financing.

During the opening remarks, Koen De Smedt, Project Officer at the Action against Terrorism Unit of the Transnational Threats Department, emphasized that the OSCE considers stemming the flow of terrorist funds as the backbone of counter-terrorism efforts. It prevents terrorist organizations from being able to run their operations and, ultimately, contributes to the prevention of attacks. 

The course forms part of a comprehensive training programme on countering terrorist financing funded by the United States. The objective of the programme is to further build the operational framework of local bodies to prevent terrorists from moving, using and raising funds for terrorist purposes, in line with international commitments and standards, in particular UN Security Council Resolution 2462 (2019), Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and international human rights standards.

BANJUL/GENEVA/VIENNA/WASHINGTON D.C./NEW YORK CITY, 2 May 2023 — Commemorating the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, freedom of expression mandate holders* from the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the African Commission of Human Rights (ACHPR), and the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (IACHR) issued a Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy.

“We are alarmed that in many countries around the world laws to protect media freedom are being eroded, physical and online attacks against journalists persist with impunity and the use of courts and the legal system to harass journalists and media outlets is on the rise.

Deeply disturbing trends of authoritarianism, co-optation of public power, erosion of judicial independence, and backsliding on human rights in many established and emerging democracies creates an urgency and imperative for States to reaffirm and renew their commitment to protect and promote independent, free and pluralist media as a vital pillar of democracy and an enabler of sustainable development.

Independent, free and pluralistic media play a critical role in providing reliable news and information, enabling robust public debate, and contributing to building well-informed and active citizenry. As watchdogs, the media critically scrutinise those in power, investigate and report on matters of public interest, and by doing so, contribute to strengthening democratic processes and institutions,” stressed the freedom of expression rapporteurs.

The 2023 Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy highlights the conditions that independent, pluralistic, and quality media need to thrive. It outlines the role of the media in enabling and sustaining democratic societies and identifies the elements for an enabling environment for media freedom and sets out clear, succinct recommendations to States, online platforms, and the media sector.

“Both States and private companies have obligations and responsibilities to address the growing threats to media freedom and the safety of journalists, and to urgently reverse the decline in public trust in democratic institutions,” emphasised the freedom of expression rapporteurs.

The 2023 Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy can be found here: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/542676 

*The freedom of expression mandate holders: Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on the Protection and Promotion of Freedom of Opinion and Expression; Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media; Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information;  Pedro Vaca Villarreal, OAS Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression.

542622 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

From 24 to 28 April 2023, gender-responsive policing of violence against women and girls (VAWG) was the focus of a national specialized training course organized by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) in co-ordination with the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina in  Sarajevo.

A total of 30 police officers and prosecutors (13 women and 17 men) from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina learned how to effectively respond to cases of VAWG, while maintaining a victim-/survivor-centred approach. The five-day course covered topics such as causes and cycles of violence, violence prevention, harmful biases, attitudes and stereotypes, risk assessment, victim/survivor protection protocols, referral mechanisms, and inter-agency co-operation.

The training course was delivered by national experts, who benefited from the Regional Train-the-Trainers Course on Gender-responsive Policing of VAWG, organized by TNTD in Warsaw, Poland, in July 2022.

Martha Stickings, Deputy Head of TNTD’s Strategic Police Matters Unit, highlighted that “violence against women and girls is a scourge on our societies, with profound consequences on both individuals and the wider community. This training is an important milestone in embedding a victim-centred approach to investigating and prosecuting GBV offences in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

Bjorn Tore Saltvik, manager of the project, underlined that “law enforcement institutions play a critical role in preventing and addressing violence against women and girls. It is therefore essential that they are fully aware of the barriers that women and girls face when reporting their experiences of gender-based violence to the police, so that they can support women to come forward and enable the successful investigation and prosecution of these crimes”.

As part of their continued support of criminal justice practitioners from South-Eastern Europe in their fight against VAWG, TNTD will deliver similar training courses to law enforcement practitioners in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia throughout 2023. These activities will contribute to the full implementation of the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) in the countries covered by this project.

This training course was conducted as part of the project Enhancing Criminal Justice Capacities for Combating Gender-based Violence in South-Eastern Europe.

TASHKENT, 1 May 2023 – Uzbekistan’s constitutional referendum was technically well prepared and widely promoted as a move to enhance various rights and freedoms, but it took place in an environment that fell short of genuine political pluralism and competition, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today.

The referendum was tabled as a continuation of broader reforms and the consultation process was comprehensive overall, but it lacked open debate on some contentious issues. There was no organized opposition to the amendments, and altogether, the referendum process highlighted the need to further encourage alternative political views, respect fundamental freedoms, and provide opportunities for an independent civil society to develop. 

“Recent reforms have brought welcome changes that improve some areas, but they have not yet resulted in genuine political pluralism where different views are always taken into account,” said Ambassador Albert Jónsson, head of the ODIHR observation mission. “There is still a way to go before fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, assembly or association are fully respected.”

Almost 20 million people were registered to vote in yesterday’s referendum. While some technical improvements to the legal framework were introduced in keeping with previous ODIHR recommendations, additional efforts are needed to bring it in line with international norms to adequately regulate key aspects of the process, the observers said. These include the rules covering campaigning, campaign finance, impartial information for voters, the involvement by public authorities in the campaign, and the need for balanced media coverage. 

The national election administration managed technical preparations for the referendum efficiently, but the neutrality and independence of lower-level commissions was of concern. Although the proposed amendments affect as much as two thirds of the constitution, they were voted on as a single package, which meant that voters did not have the opportunity to make a choice on each separate issue. Observers did not observe referendum day proceedings systematically or comprehensively. The voting process was calm. However, key safeguards were ignored and cases of ballot box stuffing were observed, which undermined the integrity of the proceedings as a whole.

While several of the changes being voted on were considered an improvement leading to greater gender equality and increased social assistance to citizens, observers also noted concerns over the lack of debate about a number of contentious issues. The “yes” campaign of public officials and parliamentary parties was in accord with the government promotion of the amendments, blurring the distinction between party and state. As well as cases of pressure on the public to participate in promotional events, observers noted widespread misuse of administrative resources.  

The news coverage of the state promotion of the referendum across the country was positive, with no alternative opinions presented. While the tone of the online media was less promotional, critical reporting remained absent there too and overall voters were not provided with impartial and balanced information by the media. The online space has opened up slightly in recent years, allowing for some critical coverage of local government and social issues, yet self-censorship remains pervasive.

ODIHR’s limited referendum observation mission took up its work on 27 March and will end on 9 May. The mission included a core team of experts based in the capital as well as 14 long-term observers spread out across the country. 

For more information, please contact:

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

542403 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

The OSCE and the Italian Guardia di Finanza delivered a training course on asset recovery for criminal justice practitioners from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia from 26 to 28 April. The three-day training course aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of participants related to financial investigations and asset recovery, with a focus on regional and international co-operation in joint investigations.

Counselor Paolo Palminteri, the Head of the OSCE Division at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, praised the OSCE’s co-operation with the Guardia di Finanza and noted that training events such as this one contribute to both capacity building efforts and networking among participants, which can be conducive toward future operational co-operation among participating States.

The training combined theoretical knowledge, case studies and a field visit to the Guardia di Finanza’s General Headquarters in Rome, where participants had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the work of Italy’s economic and financial police. The training event also introduced Guardia di Finanza’s mechanisms for co-operation among police, customs, and fiscal authorities of different countries: its international co-operation structure, co-ordination and joint investigations with foreign counterparts and cross-border asset recovery.

The training course was organized as part of the extra-budgetary project “Strengthening Asset Recovery Efforts in the OSCE Region” implemented by the Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the OSCE Co-ordinator for Economic and Environmental Affairs, with the financial support of Italy, Germany and the United States. 

OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

The Espoo Convention on the Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context and experiences of its implementation were in focus of a two-day OSCE-organized online seminar, which took place on 27 and 28 April 2023. 

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the two-day event to raise awareness of government officials about procedures and protocols applied within the framework ofthe Espoo Convention.

International experts presented best practices of the OSCE participating States in resolving transboundary cases between Parties in the framework of the Espoo Convention and briefed participants on regulatory mechanisms for facilitating transboundary dialogue.

“The principles of the Espoo Convention, embodied in the OSCE Maastricht Strategy for the Economic and Environmental Dimension and the OSCE Madrid Declaration on Environment and Security, serve as an important tool in achieving good environmental governance and environmental democracy, at the national and regional level,” said John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

The experts elaborated on the environmental impact assessment projects and their transboundary application, highlighting opportunities, threats and risks. They stressed the importance of co-operation between Parties within the Espoo Convention referring to the examples of energy and renewable energy projects.

The seminar brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, the Mejlis (Parliament) and the Ministry of Justice as well as research and educational institutions and civil society.

Tashkent, 27 April 2023 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference to present their preliminary findings following the constitutional referendum in Uzbekistan on Monday, 1 May.

What:

• A press conference of the observation mission sent by ODIHR to the constitutional referendum in Uzbekistan
• The press conference can be attended in person
• You can also follow the livestream here

Who:

• Ambassador Albert Jónsson, Head of the ODIHR observation mission
• Lusine Badalyan, Deputy Head of the ODIHR observation mission

When:

• 15:00 local time (GMT +5) on 1 May 2023

Where:

• La Viera Room, Le Grande Plaza Hotel, 2 Uzbekistan Ovozi, Tashkent

For more information, please contact:

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

Elma Sehalic, Media Analyst: Elma.Sehalic@odihr.uz

542367

President Decaux and Vice-President Kourula of the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, presented the Court and its features at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s (PA) International Secretariat in Copenhagen on 25 April.

Attendees included President of the OSCE PA, Margareta Cederfelt, Vice-Chair of the OSCE PA Committee on Political Affairs and Security, Costel Neculai Dunava, as well as OSCE PA Secretary General, Roberto Montella, OSCE PA Deputy Secretary General, Gustavo Pallares, and several other PA staff.

President Decaux underscored that the OSCE Court is a treaty-based institution created within the OSCE, offering conciliation and arbitration as a flexible and efficient means of peaceful dispute settlement between States. To date, 34 of 57 OSCE participating States have ratified the Convention on Conciliation and Arbitration. While participating States have the possibility to open, upon agreement, conciliation and arbitration procedures, the current Bureau has made efforts to encourage further accessions to the Convention which would give a positive signal towards the peaceful settlement of disputes to which participating States have committed.

Questions raised during the presentation included the Court’s competence. Vice-President Kourula explained that it was limited to inter-state disputes and did not include private or civil society actors, unlike some other jurisdictions. Nevertheless, the Court can deal with a large array of subject-matters across a variety of disputes, including topics like territorial integrity.

The Vice-President gave further examples of cases where the Court could have been involved and explained the Court’s value in providing advisory opinions on an ad hoc basis to the OSCE and its institutions. This includes the Court’s wide pool of state-appointed experts in international law and diplomats among its members.

The meeting concluded with proposals on how to further enhance co-operation between the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration.

ERGNETI, 27 April 2023 – The 112th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held in Ergneti today under the co-facilitation of the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Dimitrios Karabalis, and the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Viorel Moşanu. 

The EUMM and OSCE representatives commended the sustained commitment of the participants to the IPRM format. The co-facilitators welcomed the opening of two crossing points along the South Ossetian administrative boundary line (ABL) earlier in April for the Orthodox Easter festivities, allowing local communities on both sides of the ABL to celebrate the holiday. At the same time the co-facilitators reiterated their calls for the full re-opening of crossing points. Regular cross-ABL traffic would allow men and women affected by conflict to live more safely, and better secure their livelihoods through agricultural activities.

IPRM participants discussed challenges of conflict-affected communities, including freedom of movement, as well as recent security incidents.

Regarding the recent attempted detention incident near the village of Chvrinisi, the co-facilitators strongly emphasised that any use of violence is unacceptable and can lead to an unpredictable escalation of the conflict. They facilitated the exchange of information concerning the incident. The EUMM will continue to patrol in the area. The co-facilitators also re-emphasised the importance of the EUMM-managed Hotline to address security concerns and defuse tensions, to which the participants agreed. The situation in Chorchana-Tsnelisi was discussed extensively.

The EUMM and OSCE co-facilitators also voiced their concern about the practice of detention. They advocated for the release of the detainees, particularly those whose health is at stake.

Both co-facilitators welcomed today’s earlier engagement of experts during the technical meeting on irrigation – to better prepare for the upcoming agricultural season. The participants concurred to continue technical discussions on access to water and other environmental security issues.

The next IPRM is scheduled tentatively for 3 July 2023.

542328 Željka Šulc

As part of the OSCE project Addressing Security and Safety Risks of Illegal Possession, Misuse and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their Ammunition in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the OSCE Mission to BiH donated 11 new vehicles for transport of K9 police dogs to law enforcement agencies across the country. This donation is valued at nearly EUR 350,000. Beneficiaries include the BiH Border Police, State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), Police of Brčko District BiH, Republika Srpska Ministry of Interior, Federal Police Administration, and the ministries of interior of Tuzla Canton, Una-Sana Canton, and Zenica-Doboj Canton.

“We all recognize the importance of K-9 police units for ensuring the security and safety of BiH and its citizens,” said Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “Our donation of 11 new K-9 transport vehicles will bolster this vital capacity of law enforcement to detect concealed weapons, ammunition and explosives, and prevent attacks.”

The OSCE Mission to BiH will continue to support authorities in mitigating the security and safety risks related to illegal possession and the misuse and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition.

The project Addressing Security and Safety Risks of Illegal Possession, Misuse and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their Ammunition in Bosnia and Herzegovina is financed by: Austria, the Czech Republic, the European Union, Germany, France, Liechtenstein, Norway, Slovakia, Turkey and the United States.

542292 Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 27 April 2023 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) supported the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) conferences of chief prosecutors and of court presidents, organized in Sarajevo on 26 and 27 April.

During these conferences, representatives of the BiH judiciary discussed the ongoing fight against corruption and organized crime, increasing judicial efficiency and transparency, and other challenges they face.

All jurisdictions in BiH struggle to deal properly and efficiently with these complex cases – cases that ultimately affect the stability, security and progress of BiH – most notably, but not in any way limited to, cases involving war crimes and corruption.

The Mission’s comprehensive trial and justice sector monitoring programmes highlight persistent concerns in the functioning of the criminal justice system. Some of the Mission’s most prominent concerns include the slow pace of criminal proceedings; inconsistent judicial practices, especially with respect to evidentiary matters, low conviction rates and lenient sentences, and a failure to support or compensate victims of crime.

“The Mission appreciates that key actors, including the HJPC, have endorsed many of its recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the justice sector but also notes that there has been little progress in implementing said recommendations,” said Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “In light of this, the BiH judicial system requires systematic reform targeting the accountability, quality and integrity of judicial institutions and office holders. Such measures include adopting the Justice Sector Reform Strategy as well as relevant legislation, such as the integrity amendments to the current Law on the HJPC and a wholly new Law on the HJPC.”

President of the HJPC, Halil Lagumdžija, said that he is convinced that together it can be ensured that country’s judiciary is ready, at any moment, to be responsive to all citizens’ needs, as a necessary step towards strengthening the rule of law and ensuring evident legal security for every citizen of the country. “The HJPC BiH is committed to providing you with support in your effort to ensure that any obstacles are removed and a system is established which is even more efficient and of even higher quality, ready to combat the most severe forms of corruption and organized crime, as well as all other forms of criminal offences, so that we can contribute in this manner to the rule of law being fully established in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

The OSCE Mission to BiH will continue to support judicial actors across BiH in their efforts to uphold the rule of law while protecting the fundamental human rights and dignity of all living in BiH.

542289 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

On 17 April 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe launched its first training course on Operational Planning for twenty border officers of the Tajik Border Troops in Dushanbe. The course is a key activity of the Patrol Field Capacity Building of the Tajik Border Troops - Phase II project which will run through 2023 and 2024.

During a three-week course, participants will be familiarized with the seven steps of the operational planning process. For each step, there is a period of classroom instruction introducing the concepts, followed by practical exercises where teams of students apply the concepts to a realistic planning scenario related to dealing with security and humanitarian issues on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border. The students will also learn about gender-sensitive border security operations, human rights and humanitarian law, and the Google Earth geospatial analysis software.

In his opening remarks, Jon Casey, Programme Officer of the Patrol Field Capacity Building project at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe talked about the history of the OSCE’s partnership with Tajikistan’s Border Troops, and the range of capacity-building activities that will be covered by the project. Casey also underlined the significance of the new Operational Planning course in ensuring the Tajik Border Troops could effectively make use of the new skills that are being trained and equipment that is being fielded for units along the Tajik-Afghan border.   

The training will be delivered by two international instructors from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania with expertise in operational planning. They will be assisted by two instructors from the Tajik Border Troops. The course will continue until 5 May 2023.

The event is conducted in the framework of the OSCE’s project “Patrol Field Capacity Building of the Tajik Border Troops through Promotion of Regional Co-operation”, financed by the Republic of France and implemented by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

542265 Communication and Media Relations Section

The need to reflect on both the immediate and long-term consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine was highlighted by Ambassador Emilia Kraleva, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the OSCE, at the Opening Session of the Bulgarian Chairpersonship of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC).

“We are taking up this function in a turbulent European security environment. This aggression is sending shockwaves across regions and formats of cooperation, crushing already diminished trust and confidence, creating deep divisions and long-term consequences to the detriment of the European Security Architecture,” said Ambassador Kraleva.

The Bulgarian Chair emphasized that the mission of the FSC today involves uneasy reflection on these critical security issues. However, the delegations of the participating States could still use the Forum to explore avenues of diplomatic talks preserving its primary institutional function.

“We all are part of the FSC as an OSCE body and we all share the ownership. We will be counting on the cooperation of delegations and their commitment to its work,” said in closing the FSC Chair.

The tenure of Bulgaria as Chair of the FSC will include among other topics like humanitarian mine action, the need to pursue the Women, Peace and Security agenda, Security and Environment nexus as well as promoting the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security. Bulgaria will also draw the attention to regional concerns like the state of security in the Black Sea Region, and the political-military and other implications that transcend the region.

The Chairmanship of the Forum for Security Co-operation rotates three times a year. It takes the lead in setting the agenda for each meeting of the Forum and brings attention to issues concerning the implementation of commitments adopted by the Forum.

542169 Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 26 April 2023 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today launched a report on learning and teaching on the period of 1992-1995 in primary schools throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, “History Teaching Materials on 1992-1995 in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Building Trust or Deepening Divides?”.

Written by an external researcher, Dr. Heike Karge, the report provides an overview of learning and teaching practices regarding the history of 1992-1995 in primary schools across BiH.

The report specifically examines history curricula, textbooks, and teaching materials with a focus on 1992-1995. This period remains one of the most controversial periods in BiH and the region.

“We hope that the Report will spark an interest among education authorities and the education community in co-operating more intensely on this important issue,” said Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “The aim is for education authorities to adopt approaches whereby critical thinking is encouraged, introducing multiperspectivity, and promoting greater mutual understanding. This would have a profound impact on youth – and ultimately a profound impact on society as a whole across the country.”

The report proposes recommendations for improving mutual understanding and trust between individuals and communities to create more durable reconciliation in BiH.

“In recent years teaching materials have improved in many important aspects. But, when it comes to the teaching of the recent war, our analysis concludes that these materials are ethnically biased and hinder reconciliation” said Dr. Heike Kerge. “Teaching about a recent war is an incredibly difficult and sensitive task in a postwar society. Now, nearly 30 years after the end of the war, it may be time to initiate a substantial change.”

This report is part of the wider efforts of the OSCE Mission to BiH to support authorities across BiH in creating inclusive and quality education without discrimination.

542067 Marina Živaljević

How police officers should conduct interviews with persons suspected of being trafficked was the focus of a two-day workshop organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Ministry of Interior’s Department for Combating Human Trafficking on 24 and 25 April in Budva.

Around 25 participants from the border police, the criminal police group for combating juvenile delinquency and domestic violence, as well as centres for social work discussed how to conduct interviews with victims of human trafficking, using standardized set of questions to ensure their rights are respected. It was the first out of three workshops planned in this year.

Opening the event, Toni Škrinjar, Mission’s Organized Crime Police Adviser, said that through asking specific questions, police officers could identify trafficked victims. “It is also important to gather specific information that will identify perpetrators of crime and serve as evidence for successful prosecution. Patience and empathy are required when interviewing victims of trafficking to avoid further traumatizing them,” said Škrinjar.

Tijana Šuković, Head of the Department for Combating Human Trafficking, stated that from November 2019 to December 2022, 73 persons were identified as victims of human trafficking by the team for formal identification of victims of human trafficking. “The forms of exploitation to which these persons were exposed include labour and sexual exploitation, forced begging and illegal marriage,” said Šuković.

Development of the guidelines for interviewing human trafficking victims was preceded by two documents also developed with Mission’s support: the Guidelines on general principles regarding non-punishment provision for THB victims for judges, prosecutors and police officers in 2018, and the Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2019-2024 with 2019 Action Plan in 2019.

The Mission will continue to support Montenegrin institutions in combatting trafficking in human beings.

541965 Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the Information and Privacy Agency (IPA) concluded a series of five regional workshops for over 100 municipal officials from municipalities across Kosovo on the topic of balancing the right to privacy and access to public documents.

The discussions focused on the challenges concerning personal data contained in the municipal documents, which risk being disclosed in the process of provision of access to official data. Participants presented concrete cases arising from such situations such as publication of the municipal medical subventions lists and access to the data collected through public spaces surveillance cameras. The panel, composed of IPA experts, addressed the questions, providing municipal officials with answers on how to handle the balance of the rights to privacy and access to public information. 

The IPA Head, Commissioner Krenare Sogojeva-Dermaku, said, “There is a thin line between the right to privacy and access to public documents, which is not always easily detectable. Therefore, balancing these two rights is of vital importance in establishing clear and accurate standards, based on best practices of the enforcement of these rights.”

Commissioner Sogojeva-Dermaku invited the participants to promote pro-active publication of official information on their websites and assignment of municipal officials on protection of personal data, which are still missing in a number of municipalities.

To enhance understanding of this sensitive task, Ali Topalli, municipal official responsible for access to official data, Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje municipality, suggested that IPA explains the balancing of the right to privacy and the access to public documents also to the other side in this process, the requester of information: the general public, CSOs and media. “This will help them understand the whole process and refrain from filing complaints in the situations when the access to official information was denied in order to protect the personal data of an individual,” he said.

Using the input collected from these workshops, the OSCE Mission, in co-operation with the IPA, will draft the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on balancing the privacy and access to public documents, which will serve the municipal officials as a guiding tool in the situations arising from the conflicting relation between the right to privacy and data-access.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated to protect and promote human and community rights, as well as democratization and public safety sector development. It supports the IPA in promoting the right to privacy and access to public documents and enhancing professional capacities of public officials, guaranteeing this way greater transparency towards the public and ensuring at the same time that their privacy rights are not violated in this process.

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From 17 to 20 April 2023, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) organized a study visit to Estonia and Finland for a delegation of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ACA). The five-member Delegation was headed by the Director of the Agency, Mr. Akmal E. Burkhanov.

Since the establishment of the ACA in 2020, the PCUz has been playing an active role in strengthening anti-corruption capacities of national stakeholders. In March 2022, the PCUz and the ACA signed a Joint Action Plan, which emphasized the need to learn from the OSCE region best practices in preventive measures, such as promoting openness and transparency.

Due to Estonia’s rapid transition to good governance as well as being regarded as a benchmark in administrative simplification, transparency and e-government, and Finland’s excellent performance on anti-corruption determinants, especially judicial independence, both countries serve as concrete and successful examples to be emulated.

The study visit was therefore an opportunity for the ACA staff to learn about both best practices in monitoring the implementation of international standards of openness, and the expertise of Estonia and Finland in developing and implementing national anti-corruption strategies.

In Estonia, the ACA Delegation met with representatives of the Department of Public Procurement and State Aid of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the e-Governance Academy.

In Finland, the Delegation held meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority and the Office of the Chancellor of Justice of the Government of Finland. The Delegation also exchanged views with members of the Rule of Law Centre of the University of Helsinki.

The PCUz will continue to support Uzbekistan's efforts to promote the openness and transparency of governmental agencies, raise public awareness and build national capacity to address the risks that corruption poses to security, stability, democracy and effective governance, as well as to socio-economic development – as recognized in the 2020 Ministerial Council Decision on Preventing and Combating Corruption through Digitalization and Increased Transparency.

VIENNA, 24 April 2023 – While all countries of the OSCE have expressed their determination “to resolve by peaceful means any related issue, individually and collectively, on the basis of mutual respect and co-operation”, violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL) are a reality in the region today, OSCE leaders said as a two-day conference began today.  

Over 250 people from across the OSCE region registered for the meeting in Vienna, which will centre on the responsibility of states to uphold international law, and focus more specifically on issues related to torture and other grave breaches of international humanitarian law and gross violations of international human rights law. The event brings together representatives of OSCE states, international organizations, civil society, and the media.

“The reminder of the importance of international human rights law at this Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting is vital,” said Ambassador Igor Djundev, Chairman of the OSCE Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of North Macedonia to the OSCE. “It provides a chance for OSCE states and other participants to gain an insight and reflect about the current situation in the OSCE region. If we don’t treat these issues with due attention, we will allow for the serious and brutal developments in the treatment of civilians in times of war to continue.”

Participants will look at the specific obligations for states in connection with grave breaches of IHL and discuss the link between grave breaches of international humanitarian law and war crimes. Discussions will also examine the importance of investigating and documenting allegations of torture, including sexual and gender-based violence, to ensure accountability as well as redress for victims. A final area of focus is on measures states can take to prevent gross violations of IHRL including in times of crisis, political instability and national emergencies and what forms of redress are available.

Victims of gross violations of international human rights law and grave breaches of international humanitarian law have the right to redress, which includes both compensation and effective remedy. States also have an obligation to take measures to ensure that victims of torture have access to effective complaints mechanisms as well as other remedies. While it is the chief responsibility of states to ensure this, many others have a key role to play in both prevention and response, including international organizations, National Human Rights Institutions, and civil society.

“Torture and other gross violations of human rights are a scourge that must end,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “The international community needs to do more to prevent them from occurring, but at the same time put effective measures in place and ensure they are implemented whenever and wherever such violations do take place.”

The countries of the OSCE have committed to “respect and ensure respect for general international humanitarian law” and stated that “those who violate international humanitarian law are held personally accountable.” They also “strongly condemn all forms of torture as one of the most flagrant violations of human rights and human dignity.”

Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings are a platform for the OSCE’s participating States and OSCE institutions, as well as international organizations and civil society, to exchange views and good practices in order to find common solutions for the challenges facing societies across the OSCE region. Today’s discussion is the second SHDM of 2023, with one more planned for this year.