OSCE

WARSAW, 3 March 2023 – Following today’s conviction of four Belarusian human rights defenders, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) voices deep concern over the targeting of human rights defenders and the criminalizing of their work.

Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovich, and Uladzimir Labkovich, all members of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, one of the oldest and most respected Belarusian human rights organizations, were sentenced by Minsk’s Leninsky District Court to 10, 9, and 7 years in prison respectively. All three have spent the last 18 months in pretrial detention. Zmitser Salauyou, who has already fled Belarus, was handed down an 8-year prison sentence in absentia. 

Today’s verdict is the latest in a series of cases brought against “Viasna”, whose founder Bialiatski has received numerous international awards for his human rights work, including the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. Over the last two years, numerous human rights organizations have been shut down following court orders or have decided to close, as it has become extremely difficult to operate safely in Belarus.

The proceedings and today’s sentences demonstrate a lack of respect for the right to a fair trial, including the right to an independent court and to an effective defence. This is at odds with commitments by Belarus and all other OSCE countries to uphold the rule of law.

ODIHR has repeatedly called on the Belarusian authorities not to criminalize the work of human rights defenders and offered its assistance in monitoring trials to assess compliance with fair trial rights and other commitments it has made to ensure its legislation is in line with international human rights standards.

In November 2021, ODIHR voiced its disquiet about the conviction and sentencing handed down to Marfa Rabkova and Andrei Chapiuk from "Viasna". Human rights defenders in Belarus continue to experience physical violence, groundless administrative detention, and fines, as well as police raids, with others reportedly being detained in poor conditions, or labelled as “extremists” and stripped of many of their rights.

ODHIR calls on the Belarusian authorities to release Bialiatski, Stefanovich and Labkovich and to allow all human rights defenders to work freely in the country. During a recent court hearing, Bialiatski called for the release of all political prisoners, a broad amnesty, and an end to repression, leading to a broad public dialogue aimed at national reconciliation.

All OSCE countries have recognized the right to exercise and defend human rights, individually or together with others. They have also acknowledged the vital role of human rights defenders in ensuring respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

538314 Željka Šulc

SREBRENICA, 3 March 2023 - Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, visited Srebrenica area today where he met key local counterparts.

At Potočari Memorial Centre, Ambassador Aggeler paid tribute to the genocide victims and laid flowers.  During the meeting with the Potočari Memorial Center Assistant Director, Amra Begić Fazlić, the Ambassador affirmed the Mission’s commitment that the victims of the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica should never be forgotten.

“It was important to learn more about the plans of the Centre and its expanding scope of activities including networking with similar associations around the world,” said Aggeler, expressing hope for collaboration opportunities in the coming period. “What the Centre does has great value for all generations in BiH and beyond,” added Ambassador Aggeler.

With the Srebrenica Mayor, Mladen Grujičić, and Deputy Mayor, Hamdija Fejzić, Ambassador Aggeler discussed the critical importance of continued efforts to strengthen community cohesion and overcome any security challenges faced by the municipality and its citizens. 

Ambassador Aggeler also met leaders of Bratunac-based Serb and Bosniak associations of detention camp survivors with whom he talked about paving a path for a legacy of reconciliation and trust-building beyond the Srebrenica area.

“Your co-operation and joint activities have demonstrated incredible strength and determination to play a constructive role in the municipality and wider community,” concluded Aggeler.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to co-operate with and assist various municipalities and cities across BiH in furthering the country’s progress in relevant sectors of significance for all of its citizens. 

538242

Twenty law enforcement and government representatives strengthened their skills in identifying and investigating the illegal use of cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets through a training course held from 27 February to 2 March 2023 in Tbilisi, Georgia. The course was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

“The rapidly expanding digital economy attracts both lawful businesses and criminals,” said Kurban Babayev, Associate Anti-Corruption Officer at OCEEA. “This course will contribute to the participants’ capacity to identify and investigate the illegal use of cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets.”

The course covered key concepts and practical tools, such as profiling and tracing, for investigating criminal transactions that use virtual assets and cryptocurrencies. Topics also included how to identify cryptocurrency-specific criminal and fraud schemes, such as fake initial coin offerings and fraudulent access to Web3-wallets. 

The training course is part of an OSCE-led extra-budgetary project on innovative policy solutions to mitigate money-laundering risks of virtual assets. The project is designed to support the governments of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine in building national authorities’ capacities to mitigate criminal risks related to virtual assets and cryptocurrencies. The project is funded by the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland.

ERGNETI, 2 March 2023 - The 111th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held today in Ergneti, under the co-facilitation of the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Dimitrios Karabalis, and Viorel Moşanu, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus. 

The EUMM and OSCE co-facilitators commended the commitment of the participants to the IPRM format. In this regard, at the start of the IPRM, the newly appointed EUMM Head of Mission Dimitrios Karabalis stated:

“It is a great honour to co-facilitate this extremely important format for the first time, together with my OSCE colleague, Ambassador Moşanu. The IPRM meetings are one of the most crucial tools for maintaining stability on the ground through practical and constructive dialogue. I encourage participants to always strive for practical solutions, especially when it comes to making the life of women and men affected by conflict easier, on both sides of the administrative boundary line (ABL).”

During the meeting, the EUMM and OSCE advocated for the lifting of freedom of movement restrictions during the upcoming Easter holiday season, while reiterating their calls for the full re-opening of crossing points for regular cross-ABL traffic. The co-facilitators took note of the recent release of two detainees and urged a humanitarian approach towards the resolution of existing detention cases. They encouraged all participants to find solutions to decrease the challenges faced by the conflict-affected population and emphasized the value of dialogue and pragmatism.

Discussions in the IPRM also focused on the most recent security developments at the ABL, including instances of ‘borderisation’. All participants agreed that the upcoming agricultural season necessitates increased dialogue in the IPRM format and over the EUMM-operated Hotline. In this regard, the participants commended the work of the Hotline, underlining it is an essential instrument to exchange information and manage incidents.

The participants agreed to convene the next regular IPRM meeting on 25 April 2023. 

538185 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

The third national workshop on the social re-use of confiscated assets in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was held on 28 February in Sarajevo. The workshop was organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, the Office of the OSCE Co-ordinator for Economic and Environmental Activities, and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The workshop focused on the ways forward in re-using confiscated criminal assets and the fight against organized crime and corruption. This was also an opportunity to present the Guidelines on Re-use of Proceeds of Crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This document provides an overview of the legal framework on social re-use in the country, institutional capacities of the asset management agencies, international standards and good practices, types of confiscated assets and other.

“Organized crime and corruption are not just a problem for criminal justice practitioners but are challenges that require a whole-of-society response. We are therefore proud that the project also strengthened the role of civil society organizations in the re-use phase of the asset recovery process” said Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The workshop brought together representatives from the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Hezegovina, the Ministries of Justice of BiH, the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Finance of the Federation of BiH, the agency for Management of Seized Property of Republika Srpska, the Federal Agency for the Management of Seized Property, civil society groups and external experts.

This event was part of the regional project “Strengthening the fight against transnational organized crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use”. The project is supported financially by Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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

Key challenges and opportunities for civil society in the follow-up on election observation recommendations were the focus of a conference that took place in Warsaw on 21 and 22 February 2023, as a part of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) “Support to Electoral Reforms in the Western Balkans” project.

The event brought together more than 60 participants (25 women and 37 men) representing citizen elections observation groups and civil society, election management bodies, and donors and international organizations active in the Western Balkans region.

“Citizen observer groups and civil society organizations in general have proved to play a key role in supporting electoral reform and effective follow-up. Their work is not only positively impacting electoral integrity, but is also promoting public engagement around elections in the long-term,” said Matteo Mecacci, ODIHR Director. “The inclusion of civil society should therefore be a key component in the implementation of election observation recommendations by authorities.”

Key topics discussed included new and recurrent challenges and lessons learned from civil society engagement in the electoral follow-up; ensuring cohesion and complementarity among citizen observers, international observers and electoral assistance providers; follow-up and participation of under-represented groups; and follow-up to recommendations on election administration and the legal framework.

The discussions confirmed the need to continue tackling challenges pressing civil society organizations working on electoral reform, including the lack of long-term, sustainable funding of activities throughout the complete electoral cycle, and their dependence on political parties and agendas.

“To influence the change of electoral practices and to protect the electoral integrity in the Western Balkans, both international and citizen election observers must enhance their efforts to push for inclusive and transparent implementation of electoral recommendations,” said Emilija Orestijević, project manager at the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) in Serbia.

The 2021 – 2023 ODIHR project “Support to Electoral Reforms in the Western Balkans” is funded by the European Union and the Austrian Development Agency.

538164 Marina Živaljević

Use of gender indicators to monitor the quality of new national strategic documents and their implementation was the focus of the workshop the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized for the General Secretariat of the Government on 28 February.

Eight staff members from the General Secretariat’s Sector for Strategic Planning and Coordination of Government Policies, were introduced to the updated “Methodology of Policy Development, Drafting and Monitoring of Strategic Documents” and the accompanying annexes with instruments to monitor gender mainstreaming. This methodology is a mandatory tool in developing national policies, ensuring all public administration units drafting new policies, programmes and projects provide equality between women and men. This working session provided practical guidance to staff on utilizing integrated gender indicators in monitoring the implementation of strategic documents in all sectors.

Tamara Srzentić, head of the Sector, explained that this new methodology with annexes have enhanced the capacity to assess strategic documents from the aspect of gender integration. “The OSCE’s support remains an important instrument for strengthening the capacity of the state administration of Montenegro for strategic planning of gender transformative policies,” said Srzentić.

In its support to equality between men and women and in particular promotion of equal opportunities, the Mission strongly supports the inclusion of gender perspective into public policies as a mandatory part of the strategic planning, implementation and monitoring of strategic documents.

Women professionals in Central Asia and South-Eastern Europe now have two new regional networks for generating new ideas, learning from each other and amplifying their work on preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT). The networks were launched by the OSCE on 22 and 28 February 2023 with the aim to connect women professionals from civil society organizations, state agencies, academia, media and OSCE field operations for more effective, human-centered, and gender-sensitive P/CVERLT policies.

“Good communication and collaboration between practitioners across sectors is required for creating more effective and inclusive prevention and response mechanisms for addressing violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism,” said Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Advisor on Gender Issues. “Our assessment showed that networks of women are an effective way to build connections across sectors to enhance coordination and exchange expertise.”

The networks comprise 50 women professionals that have extensive experience with P/CVERLT. During the first online launch meetings of the two networks, the members shared their motivations, expectations and priorities for the network. Their discussions and collaboration will continue through monthly online meetings.   

“We are confident that establishing regional networks for Central Asia and South-Eastern Europe will provide a space for exchange and connection across sectors and borders that can give you new perspectives and will generate ideas and initiatives that you can make use of in your everyday work,” said Irfan Saeed, Head of the OSCE’s Action against Terrorism Unit, during the opening remarks of the launch meeting.

The networks were established by the WIN project through the OSCE Gender Issues Programme in co-operation with the OSCE Action against Terrorism Unit. 

538137 Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission handed over today its Kosovo Funding Portal – a source of funding and training opportunities for civil society organizations (CSOs) – to the CSOs network ‘Platforma CiviKos’, in a move aimed at increasing local ownership and long-term sustainability of digital tools to support civil engagement and public participation.

The portal is a one-stop shop, the first of its kind in Kosovo, that allows CSOs - regardless of their size and location - to access information about various funding and professional development opportunities offered by local and international donors. Developed jointly by the OSCE Mission, CSOs and the software development company ‘Appdec’, the platform also aims to increase the involvement of CSOs in public life and support the establishment of synergies among them.

Since its launch in November 2017, the Kosovo Funding Portal advertised a wide variety of funding opportunities, and remains highly relevant and aligned to the needs of donors and CSOs Kosovo-wide.

“Our Mission is a strong ally of civil society organizations, including organizations that represent non-majority communities, work with vulnerable groups and provide social services. Stronger collaboration and coordination between civil society, public institutions, international community and private sector is very much needed, while digital solutions, such as the Kosovo Funding Portal, can help facilitate this,” said Ambassador Michael Davenport, the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

“Now the time has come to place a new emphasis on local ownership while ensuring the long-term sustainability of this initiative, which is why today we handed it over to ‘Platforma CiviKos’, a trusted civil society partner. I have full confidence in their ability to maximize the full potential of this tool,” Ambassador Davenport added.

Donika Emini, Executive Director of Platforma CiviKos, said, “The Kosovo Funding Portal, which CiviKos will proudly take ownership of, is an important resource for civil society organizations in Kosovo. It will significantly improve their access to information about available funding and network opportunities. By providing a centralized platform for information related to funding, CiviKos will expand the information service beyond its member organizations. Furthermore, it will be elevated and designed to fit the needs on the ground aiming to bring local CSOs closer and promote their work.”

The Kosovo Funding Portal allows CSOs and donors to register in less than two minutes, and can be accessed here:  https://kosovofunding.org/

SOFIA, 1 March 2023 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 2 April early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, following an invitation from the country’s authorities.

The mission is led by Tana de Zulueta and consists of a core team of 11 experts based in Sofia and 14 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 8 March.

The mission will assess whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor fundamental aspects of the elections such as voter registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. The mission will also monitor media coverage of the campaign.

ODIHR also plans to request 200 short-term observers from OSCE participating States to follow events on election day.

Meetings with representatives of relevant authorities and political parties, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation. On election day itself, the ODIHR EOM will join efforts with the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued at a press conference, and ODIHR will publish a final report summing up the observation and making recommendations for improvements some months after the end of the election process.

For further information, please visit www.osce.org/odihr/elections/bulgaria.

You can also contact Giuseppe Milazzo, Media Analyst: +359 87 698 3559, or giuseppe.milazzo@odihr.bg

or

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson: +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl.

From 22 to 24 February 2023, the OSCE Presence in Albania hosted a regional expert meeting on advancing the regulatory framework of police canine units, in Korça. The event brought together representatives of such units from Tirana, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Belgrade, Skopje, Pristina, and canine experts from France and the United Kingdom.

The regional meeting aimed to intensify regional co-operation, transfer of knowledge and skills, and improve co-ordination actions amongst canine units benefiting from the OSCE assistance projects. It was organized as part of the project “Assisting the national authorities of the Republic of Albania to decrease the risk of weapon proliferation and misuse of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)”, with the support of the OSCE Secretariat’s Forum for Security Co-operation Unit, and in co-ordination with OSCE SALW projects implemented in Western Balkan.

“The significance of this event is to provide targeted support to Western Balkans authorities in advancing their professional development, improvement of proficiency, deployment and overall capability of their canine units in detecting unauthorized use, transport and trafficking of SALW, ammunition and explosives,” said Slobodan Boskovic, Project Officer at the Forum for Security Co-operation Support Unit.

Participants discussed draft Standard Operating Procedures for the Albanian State Police Canine Training Institute developed under the auspices of the OSCE Presence’s SALW project. The document - designed to provide specific guidelines for dog handlers, instructors, and managers – was developed based on the relevant regional good practice and suitable international standards.

In addition, the participants discussed national and regional skills and proficiency criteria for competitions that will be organized by authorities of each jurisdiction of the region and will be supported through the OSCE projects. The event also served as a platform of networking among the public officials and canine experts, considering the similarities and challenges in all the Western Balkans jurisdictions.

“Such meetings are highly valuable, not only to exchange knowledge, experiences and challenges between regional homologues, but also to discuss on potential unified solutions in terms of processes and best practices for the improvement and development of Police Canine Units,” said Petrit Bushati, Head of the Breeding and Training Section at the Albanian State Police Canine Training Institute.

Xhenis Ballco, SALW National Project Officer at the OSCE Presence in Albania, said: “The SALW project will further assist the Albanian State Police Canine Training Institute to upgrade the infrastructure of the facilities and the existing surrounding areas. Moreover, it will purchase and deliver specialized vehicles and equipment for canine deployment and will provide ongoing accredited capacity building for its officials.”

“Assisting the national authorities of the Republic of Albania to decrease the risk of weapon proliferation and misuse of Small Arms and Light Weapons” project is funded by the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of France.

538107 Marina Živaljević

On 27 February, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro delivered advanced training course complimented with mentoring to participants coming from 10 ministries on how to implement the guidelines for gender-responsive budgeting and reporting, developed in 2022 with the Mission’s support.

Around 20 participants from the ministries of internal affairs, culture and media, economic development and tourism, ecology and spatial planning, justice, defence, education, labour and social welfare, public administration and agriculture, forestry and water management discussed how to conduct a gender analysis, and develop indicators specific for men or women and reporting.

Integrating a gender perspective into the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies is a key strategy to promote women, decrease gender gaps and combat discrimination and inequalities.

The Mission-engaged consultant on gender responsive budgeting, Nataša Obradović, explained that this workshop emphasised the need to apply an integrated gender perspective in the entire budget cycle. “This approach requires planning be linked with budget execution. At the same time, budget users need to monitor and report on whether the programmes achieved the set goals, and whether the planned funds are spent efficiently and effectively in order to improve gender equality through the budget process,” said Obradović.

The Ministry of Finance launched a dialogue on gender responsive budgeting in 2021 with the support of the Mission and the Secretariat of the Competitiveness Council (SCC). The Mission assisted the Ministry to introduce gender indicators in the budget management information system within the budgeting reform programme. It will continue to support government institutions in developing their capacities to apply newly developed knowledge and use the guidelines on budget assessment and reporting.

538092

The development of women’s business in agriculture was the focus of the Forum of Women Farmers “Digitalization and New Technologies – Success Way of Farmer Women” co-organized today by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) together with the International Business Women Association of Uzbekistan (IBWA) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

The forum was held for the fourth time in Tashkent and gathered over a hundred women farmers, as well as representatives of ministries and government agencies, academia and agribusiness from different regions of Uzbekistan.

Participants discussed challenges faced by female farmers, explored solutions provided by digital technologies, and considered innovative approaches to support and expand female farmers’ businesses.

Ms. Aliya Narkulova, Project Manager at Agromart.uz, the largest provider of digital services for agricultural producers in the country, gave women farmers an overview of the services available on their web-portal, including a trading hub and online consultations. The long-time support by the OSCE PCUz to the Agromart platform is one example of its projects in the field of economic development.

The OSCE remains committed to promoting equal opportunities for women and men in the economic sphere to not only achieve gender equality but also realize a more inclusive social development and higher economic growth, thus contributing to prosperity and stability.

Hans-Ullrich Ihm, Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator, stressed the OSCE’s readiness to further support initiatives to strengthen women's capacities, improve their employment opportunities, and promote business education among them in Uzbekistan. “Facilitating the development of women’s entrepreneurial skills is indispensable to empower them socially and economically,” he said.

Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

On 23 and 24 February, the OSCE’s Transnational Threat Department (TNTD) conducted a two-day needs assessment visit in Podgorica on the status of Montenegro’s Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) system.

The implementation of such systems across the OSCE area is crucial to enhance travel security by facilitating passenger data exchange at border crossing points to tackle serious transnational threats, including terrorism and organized crime.

The visit, organized with representatives from the Montenegrin Ministry of Internal Affairs, including the Border Police, the Criminal Intelligence Unit and the Airport Police, served to support implementation of the API/PNR system in the country. It also reaffirmed the OSCE’s commitment in supporting the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 2396 (2017) and, UNSCR 2482 (2019).

The visit included an assessment of issues that could affect the establishment of an efficient and comprehensive travel document system. It was also an opportunity to gather information from relevant Montenegrin authorities involved in implementing and managing the country’s API/PNR system. This included a meeting with the to-be-established Montenegrin Passenger Information Unit (PIU) and participation in an API/PNR donor meeting.

The discussions focused on exploring opportunities for future funding and capacity building, including with other international partners and donors. Improving co-ordination and co-operation within the existing Eastern European Informal Working Group (EE IWG), an informal forum for the exchange of best practices and experience on API/PNR between 17 OSCE participating States, was also discussed.

This visit is part of the OSCE’s long-term efforts to support participating States in establishing their own national passenger data systems, which includes legal support, technical assistance and operations/training delivery.

538068 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The 2 October early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria were competitive and fundamental freedoms were generally respected. Despite late preparations, and limited technical and administrative capacity of election administration, elections were conducted adequately. Contestants received substantial exposure in the mainstream media but insufficient journalistic scrutiny of their policies and records in office limited voters’ access to comprehensive information. Allegations of vote-buying and pressure on voters, and concerns over misuse of administrative resources negatively affected parts of the process. The underrepresentation of women as candidates and in the campaign remains of concern.

These are some of the main conclusions from the final report on the October 2022 elections published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

Key recommendations include:

• Revising the legal framework well in advance of the next election in an inclusive and transparent consultation process, to ensure a coherent and stable electoral framework;
• Providing the Central Election Commission with necessary resources corresponding to its legal and operational responsibilities;
• Promptly investigating allegations of intimidation, coercion and vote buying, and educating voters on their rights and safeguards in place;
• Introducing temporary special measures to promote women’s representation;
• Decriminalizing defamation and insult and giving consideration to capping of damages sought in civil cases with the aim to safeguard freedom of expression;
• Reviewing the legal framework to ensure that voters and other stakeholders whose rights are violated are entitled to lodge a complaint, and allowing for direct appeals against election results.

ODIHR deployed an Election Observation Mission on 31 August 2022 to observe the elections and remained in the country until 12 October.

All 57 participating States across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

538050 OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov visited Finland from 13 to 17 February 2023.

In Helsinki, High Commissioner Abdrakhmanov met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Pekka Haavisto and had an in depth discussion on national minority issues, the future of the OSCE and the role played by its Institutions, including the work of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM), as well as ways to strengthen efforts aimed at promoting peace and security in the OSCE region. In his meeting with the Minister of Education Ms. Li Andersson, the High Commissioner welcomed the country’s initiatives to support national minorities through inclusive education and was encouraged to hear of plans to reinforce efforts to this end, including through dedicated funding. During discussions with State Secretary Ms. Mikaela Nylander of the Ministry of Justice and the Chancellor of Justice Mr. Tuomas Pöysti, High Commissioner Abdrakhmanov took note of Finland’s demonstrated commitment to manage diversity, especially through mechanisms aimed at managing linguistic and cultural diversity and by creating opportunities for all, including the Sámi.  Abdrakhmanov also commended Finland’s commitment to sustainable development, noting the country’s considerable achievements to this end during a meeting with members of the National Commission on Sustainable Development, including Secretary General Ms. Eeva Furman.

The High Commissioner also held meetings with Non-Discrimination Ombudsman Ms. Kristina Stenman, the Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman Maija Sakslin, the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations, the Advisory Board on Language Affairs, the National Advisory Board on Romani Affairs, representatives of the Folktinget (Swedish Assembly of Finland) and the Director of the Human Rights Centre, Ms. Sirpa Rautio.

In Inari, the High Commissioner met with representatives of the Sámi Parliament, Sámi civil society organizations, members of the local community, and municipal officials from Inari, Utsjoki, and Enontekiö in an effort to deepen his understanding of the local context and challenges. During his conversations, the High Commissioner encouraged further dialogue between and among the Sámi communities, the municipal authorities, and the Government as a way to further enhance mutual trust. To this end, the High Commissioner offered the continued support and expertise of his Institution. High Commissioner also met with representatives of fisheries industry and Reindeer herding communities to learn about the impact of climate change and various legislation on these communities.

The socio-economic participation of national minorities, including the Sámi, features prominently in the High Commissioner’s consultations with a number of OSCE participating States, especially in relation to the nexus between climate change and security. He noted that climate change and security will likely become an increasingly important area of interest in the years to come and, as such, merits further attention by the OSCE to ensure peace and stability.

The High Commissioner commended the commitment of Finnish Government to promote an inclusive society that actively encourages national minorities, including the indigenous people, to participate in decision-making in matters affecting them. He encouraged the authorities to share their good practices within the OSCE region, especially in light of the upcoming OSCE Chairpersonship of Finland in 2025.

After thanking the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for organizing a comprehensive program for his visit, High Commissioner Abdrakhmanov expressed his deep appreciation for the professionalism of the officials and the authorities of Finland and especially for their warm welcome, good co-operation and excellent support during this visit.

SKOPJE, 27 February 2023 — In order to improve quality of justice, the OSCE Mission to Skopje has signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreement with the national Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors (AJPP). 

The Mission will provide advanced training for judges and prosecutors with a special focus on strengthening the fight against organized crime, corruption and discrimination.

“Our training is geared towards higher quality indictments as well as an increase of confiscation of assets acquired through criminal activities,” said Kilian Wahl, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje. “Both are very important for an effective fight against organized crime and corruption as it means criminals will receive higher sentences and will not be able to enjoy their illicit wealth.”

The Memorandum of Understanding has a duration of three years. The OSCE Mission to Skopje will monitor the implementation of the training courses through its trial monitoring programme.

“We are grateful for the support we receive from the OSCE Mission to Skopje,” said Natasha Gaber-Damjanovska, Director of the Academy. “Through our joint efforts, we will invest in the quality of practicing and aspiring legal professionals, which will improve the justice system."

VIENNA, 24 February 2023 — Marking one year since the Russian Federation launched a devastating full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, made the following statement:

“I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who have bravely fought against Russian aggression, in a war that continues to destroy the country, inflict suffering and ruin the lives of millions of innocent people, while undermining our common values and commitments.

“Violence against journalists is unacceptable under any circumstances, including in conflict situations,” Ribeiro said. “I closely monitor the situation with regards to the safety of journalists and pay tribute to all the brave media professionals who have paid the ultimate price for their important work or have been injured, abducted, harassed or intimidated during this war. Those responsible for crimes against journalists must be held accountable.”

“Despite all the difficulties and challenges, Ukrainian and international journalists continue to carry out their crucial mission of providing the public with reliable information, including exposing war crimes and grave human rights violations. Their professionalism and courage have my continued appreciation and support.”

VIENNA, 24 February 2023 — Today the OSCE Troika —Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto — and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Margareta Cederfelt and Secretary General Roberto Montella made the following statement:

“Today we mark one year since the people of Ukraine were forced to stand strong against Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable and unprovoked war of aggression in their country. Their resilience and courage in the face of unimaginable and senseless destruction is deeply inspiring.

Thousands have died. Millions have been forced to flee their homes. Whole cities have been razed. The untold human suffering of this humanitarian crisis is ravaging Ukraine and it is felt well beyond its borders. The magnitude of the destruction is immense and continues to increase.

This war is a threat to European and global security and stability. It is an enormous human tragedy. It is crucial to ensure accountability for violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law. Russia must be held accountable for all violations of international law.

We must ensure that there is no impunity for international crimes committed in and against Ukraine, including for war crimes and the crime of aggression committed in Ukraine. Its perpetrators should be prosecuted before the appropriate court.

Our message today is clear: Russia’s aggression must stop. Russia must end its violations of international law as well as of the principles and commitments of the OSCE.

We stand by Ukraine in its time of need and fully support its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and recognize its inherent right to self-defence.

We reiterate our demand for Russia to immediately stop its war and fully and unconditionally withdraw from Ukraine.

We strongly emphasize the role of the OSCE in upholding the European security order. We shall continue to use this platform to support Ukraine.”

The OSCE continues to do all it can to support the people, government, and civil society of Ukraine. The Organization’s dedicated team is now working on more than 20 projects that include supporting humanitarian de-mining efforts, combating human trafficking, improving disaster risk reduction, and addressing environmental impacts of the war.

The OSCE Troika was established at the Helsinki Summit in 1992 to bring continuity to the Organization's leadership. It is a format of co-operation between the present, previous and incoming Chairpersonships.

537942

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in co-operation with the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis (National Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsperson), as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan, co-hosted the International Conference titled “Interaction and Cooperation in the Field of Reliable Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms.” The event took place on 23 February 2023 in Samarkand.

The Conference was opened by Ombudsperson Ms. Feruza Eshmatova, followed by high-level speakers including Ms. Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Mr. Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, Ms. Matilda Dimovska, Resident Representative of UNDP Uzbekistan, Mr. Stephen Nix, Senior Regional Director for Eurasia at the International Republican Institute; and Mr. Hans-Ullrich Ihm, Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

During their opening remarks, speakers highlighted the crucial role of the Ombudsperson in protecting the country’s democratic progress and human rights of Uzbekistan’s citizens.

The Conference provided a platform to discuss national and international mechanisms for protecting the rights of women and youth, the Ombudsperson’s interaction with state bodies and representatives of civil society, and compliance with international standards in ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities as well as of persons held in places of detention and with limited freedom of movement.

Government officials of Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of national human rights institutions from a number of OSCE participating States and two OSCE Partners for Co-operation took part in the event, including online.

Hans-Ullrich Ihm, the Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator, underscoring the fruitful co-operation with the Ombudsperson, assured that the OSCE will continue to provide expert and technical assistance to improve the protection of human rights in the country, and looks forward to strengthening co-operation in this field.