OSCE

Željka Šulc

Sarajevo, 10 June 2022 – The OSCE Mission to BiH welcomes the publication of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Parliamentary Assembly (PA) House of Representatives (HoR) Interim Investigative Committee’s (IIC) final Report on the state of the BiH judiciary, which reaffirms the importance of parliamentary oversight and dialogue between different branches of power as essential features of a healthy democracy.

The Mission commends these domestically-driven efforts to produce meaningful recommendations to ensure the independence and accountability of the BiH judiciary. Many conclusions of the IIC echo the Mission’s own findings, developed through its monitoring of the status of rule of law in BiH. Key recommendations of the IIC Report complement those of the Mission, namely in the areas of judicial appointments and disciplinary proceedings and on combatting impunity.

Given the clear relationship between the recommendations of the IIC and those of the Mission, we look forward to supporting the implementation of these common interests. The Mission further calls on all responsible stakeholders to address the recommendations issued by the IIC that confirm those of the Mission, which would not only improve the rule of law in BiH but would also strengthen the system of checks and balances and mutual accountability shared by the three pillars of government.

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The OSCE Presence in Albania, in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior, launched today a three-year project, which aims to assist the national authorities to decrease the risk of weapon proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. The project is part of a regional project co-ordinated by the OSCE’s Conflict Prevention Centre and implemented by the OSCE field operations throughout the Western Balkans, with financial support of the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of France.

Based on the priority areas identified by the Ministry of Interior and the Albanian State Police, the project will support the adaptation of the legislative framework for the deactivation of firearms, strengthen the capacities of the Albanian Institute for Police Dog Training, and raise public awareness on the dangers of misuse and proliferation of small and light weapons. 

“The fact that we are all here today testifies to our collective awareness of the threats and challenges that lay ahead of us. We are speaking about a crosscutting threat from terrorism to transnational organized crime. A threat that undermines community trust and social cohesion by fuelling gang violence and violent crime, which is even more so deleterious for the much needed trust of young people and young generations in their institutions and in their communities”, Head of the OSCE Presence, Ambassador Vincenzo Del Monaco, said at the opening of the event.

“I strongly believe that the implementation of this project by the Ministry of Interior and the OSCE Presence in Albania will succeed in fulfilling the jointly-set objectives, and will be followed by more co-operation milestones in the area of security and beyond”, said Deputy Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari. Addressing the event, Chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee Mimi Kodheli said that Albania remains firmly committed to fulfil its engagement in enforcing the international standards concerning the fight against small arms, light weapons and ammunition. “We welcome the OSCE support in the implementation of this project and we are fully confident that it will help increase the capacities within the Ministry of Interior and the Albanian State police in this regard,” she added.

German Ambassador Peter Zingraf, French Ambassador Elisabeth Barsacq, European Union Delegation representative Jonas Paul, Deputy General Director of the Albanian State Police Albert Dervishaj and Project Officer Slobodan Boskovic from the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co-operation Support Unit also spoke at the event.

The project contributes to the efforts of the Western Balkans in achieving the main goals of the Roadmap on Small Arms ad Light Weapons and Ammunitions and create a sustainable solution to the illicit possession, misuse and trafficking of firearms, ammunition and explosives. 

Through this project, the OSCE Presence in Albania also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aiming to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, reduce illicit arms flows, and strengthen relevant national to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime. 

DUSHANBE, 8 June 2022 — OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded her two-day visit to Tajikistan.

During her visit, the Secretary General met with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Commander of the Tajik Border Troops Colonel-General Rajabali Rahmonali, Deputy Speaker of the Tajik Parliament and Head of the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians Mansuri Dilrabo as well as with civil society representatives.

The Secretary General participated in the Second International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” hosted jointly by the Government of Tajikistan and the United Nations, in partnership with the OSCE and other international stakeholders. She also opened the pre-conference forum “Women Water Forum: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – Water Unites Us”.

“More than 150 rivers and lakes are shared by two or more of the OSCE participating States. Regional co-operation on sustainable water management is therefore essential. I am grateful for Tajikistan’s leadership at the international level. The OSCE is ready to further strengthen our co-operation in this field,” said Schmid at the High-Level Water Conference. “The OSCE also has a long track record of training women working in the water sector, for example with our Women Mentoring Network for Water Professionals in Central Asia and Afghanistan,” she added.

In her bilateral meetings, the Secretary General underlined the brought co-operation the OSCE and Tajikistan enjoy, especially thanks to the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.  “We are enhancing our support to Tajikistan to help mitigate the range of challenges stemming from instability in Afghanistan. We are working together on border management, for example, including by providing training at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe.”

The OSCE Secretary General also met with representatives of civil society. “Our partnership with civil society organizations is a cornerstone of our work. Combatting trafficking in human beings and domestic violence – two challenges that have unfortunately increased worldwide during the Covid-19 pandemic - are among our focus areas. We are also strongly committed to youth empowerment,” she said.

Schmid met with the staff of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the OSCE Border Management Staff College, and commended their dedication and professionalism.

“We are very pleased to host SG and were able to present a number of our concrete activities which contribute to a fruitful cooperation between Tajikistan and the OSCE”, said Ambassador Vuk Žugić, Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

519906 Željka Šulc

TESLIĆ, 8 June 2022 - 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 Teslić on 7 and 8 June.

During these conferences, representatives of the BiH judiciary discussed the fight against corruption and organized crime, the appointment and accountability of judicial office holders, judicial efficiency, and other challenges they face.

The Mission, sharing the findings of its extensive trial monitoring programme, emphasized that the BiH judiciary has not demonstrated sufficient willingness or capability to efficiently process high-level corruption cases, resulting in de facto impunity for the perpetrators of many serious offenses. In terms of the judicial and prosecutorial appointments of the HJPC, the Mission observed inconsistent and inefficient practices, which can lead to the appointment of lesser-qualified candidates.

During her keynote remarks, Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, stated that the Mission remains a dedicated partner to all relevant counterparts in endeavours to strengthen the integrity, transparency, and accountability of the judiciary. Ambassador Kavalec also underlined the role of the chief prosecutors in protecting society from impunity, and of court presidents as essential guardians of the independence and impartiality of judges and the judiciary more broadly.

President of the HJPC, Halil Lagumdžija, thanked the Mission for co-organizing and financially supporting this year's conferences. “This is another confirmation of the good co-operation we have achieved in previous years, working together in the implementation of numerous and very important projects for the judiciary of our country,” he underlined. “I would like to add the well-known fact that the fight against corruption and organized crime cannot be just a fight of the judicial system, but the entire system must be included in it, a society as a whole that must be strategically committed to combating all even the smallest forms of corruption.”

The Mission will continue to support efforts aimed at strengthening the BiH justice sector and its capacity to uphold judicial independence and enhance public confidence in the process.

519903 Marina Živaljević

Following the train-the-trainers programme in April and May, on 6 and 7 June 2022 a group of selected professional staff of the Parliament of Montenegro held a training course for their 16 peers on leadership and management, supported by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

During the interactive workshop, parliamentary trainers Dražen Malović, Mirko Mijanović i Drago Šundić presented history and concepts of leadership and management, but also discussed with participants emotional intelligence and importance of emotion management.

According to trainer Mirko Mijanović, there are numerous benefits of the train-the-trainers process, which enables knowledge on various topics to be shared within the Parliamentary Service. “By introducing leadership and management principles to participants, chances are higher that there will be potential leaders and managers within the Parliamentary Service, each in their own areas,” said Mijanović.

Experts Jadranka Vojinović and Bego Begu, who provided mentorship and guidance, agreed that parliamentary trainers demonstrated training and presentation skills, enabling participants to make a distinction between leaders and managers. “Participants gained perspective on emotional intelligence and different leadership styles, which will help them to change organizational culture in their organization, by strengthening their professional relationships,” said trainers.

The Mission will continue to support the internal knowledge transfer and mentoring programme within Parliament aimed at meliorating the working environment for parliamentary staff.

WARSAW, 8 June 2022 — The OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO) and Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau, concluded his visit to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia.

In Kazakhstan, Rau met President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Chairmen of the two chambers of parliament, Maulen Ashimbayev and Yerlan Koshanov, and the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Akan Rakhmetullin. Minister Zbigniew Rau also talked with Human Rights Commissioner Elvira Azimova and civil society representatives.

During the talks, Minister Rau reaffirmed the OSCE’s support for the ongoing reforms in Kazakhstan, including the constitutional referendum that took place on 5 June. The head of the Polish MFA emphasized that the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan is engaged in supporting further reforms of the police and the judiciary, local governments, and strengthening the institution of the Human Rights Commissioner.

“The reform programme by the president of Kazakhstan includes at all its stages crucial improvements related to human rights, civil liberties and institutional responsibilities, in line with OSCE commitments,” said Minister Rau. He added that a concrete example of these are amendments to the constitution put forward for a nationwide referendum held last Sunday. Moreover, the head of the Polish MFA discussed the dynamic security situation in Central Asia.

In Uzbekistan, Minister Rau talked with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov, the Chairwoman of the Senate, Tanzila Narbayeva and the First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament Akmal Saidov.

The chief of Polish diplomacy emphasized the positive contribution of the OSCE to efforts related to the implementation of President Mirziyoyev’s reform agenda in Uzbekistan. He also presented ideas on how to strengthen the involvement in the region. He encouraged the consolidation of dialogue between government and civil society and the further promotion of human rights.

“Uzbekistan's ties with the OSCE have a long tradition. The OSCE highly values Uzbekistan as an active member of the Organization since 1992. On the 30th anniversary of the accession of Central Asian countries to the OSCE, I would like to confirm the OSCE’s continued support for Uzbekistan and declare my readiness to further strengthen this co-operation and consolidate partner relations,” emphasized Minister Rau. He also thanked his interlocutors for their promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan, building trust and good neighborly relations in the region, as well as solidarity with the most vulnerable. Support to the civilian population is one of the priorities of the Polish OSCE Chairmanship.

During his visit to Mongolia, the OSCE CiO met with Mongolia’s President Uchnaagijn Chürelsüch and Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh.

Poland’s chief diplomat emphasized that the OSCE recognizes Mongolia’s political and constitutional reform processes, which include substantial achievements in the areas of human rights, civil liberties, as well, as institutional responsibilities in line with the OSCE commitments. He encouraged the country to enhance co-operation with the Organization and to benefit from its potential of supporting the government in implementing further reforms.

While congratulating Mongolia on the tenth anniversary of its participation in the OSCE, Minister Rau noted that the current turbulence undermining the region’s stability makes it even more important for all participating States of the Organization to act together for the sake of peace and security.

CHISINAU, 07 June 2022 – OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Valiant Richey, visited the Republic of Moldova to support the implementation of the recommendations his Office issued to reduce the risks of human trafficking.

The Special Representative took part in a workshop at the OSCE Mission to Moldova based on the recommendations issued by his Office. The workshop focused on the importance of multi-agency co-ordination in combating trafficking and addressed the need to assess the risks of human trafficking in the country. These efforts are particularly relevant in light of the number of people fleeing the war in Ukraine and the need to strengthen Moldova’s response to these challenges, an area in which the OSCE is ready to assist.

“The OSCE developed guidance for countries to prevent human trafficking, and now we are helping States to implement it. Today’s discussions with national authorities and civil society organizations in the Republic of Moldova are the first step in the process to track what has been done, what has worked and what areas need more action,” emphasised Richey during the workshop.

The workshop included representatives from the State Chancellery, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the National Labour Inspectorate and the National Agency for Employment and Chisinau shelters. Participants also included representatives of Civil Society Organizations and international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Richey also participated in a parliamentary hearing organized by the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Protection, Health and Family, Dan Perciun. The hearing highlighted opportunities for the Moldovan legislative body to strengthen the country’s effectiveness in combating trafficking, both in relation to the immediate concerns around the humanitarian crisis and also more broadly.

Richey also met with the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ana Revenco, and representatives of the Centre for Combating Trafficking in Persons (CCTiP) and Labour Inspectorate at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

519840 Marina Živaljević

From April to June 2022, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided support in drafting the Law on Production of Weapons and Military Equipment, the first law of its kind in Montenegro since its independence.

On 14 and 15 April, and on 2 and 3 June 2022, the OSCE-engaged expert Wolf-Christian Paes supported the working group made up of representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior in drafting a law compliant with international standards and best practices.

The Law was designed to ensure weapons production in Montenegro is regulated to increase safety, environmental protection and transparency in the production process, and to decrease the possibility of diversion into illicit flows.

In the following period, the draft Law on Production of Weapons and Military Equipment will be sent to relevant ministries for further consideration. The law will go through a process of public discussions before being considered for adoption by the Government and the Parliament.

Information for Google Short description:  Ukraine appoints three experts to be part of a mission under the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

On 2 June 2022 and following consultation with Ukraine, 45 OSCE participating States invoked the Moscow Mechanism in order to “consider, follow up and build upon the findings of the Moscow Mechanism report received by OSCE participating States on 12 April” addressing “the human rights and humanitarian impacts of the Russian Federation’s invasion and acts of war, supported by Belarus, on the people of Ukraine, within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and territorial waters”.

In accordance with the Moscow Document, Ukraine selected three people from the list of experts to be part of the mission.

The Moscow Mechanism was last invoked in March 2022 to “address the human rights and humanitarian impacts of the Russian Federation’s invasion and acts of war, supported by Belarus, on the people of Ukraine, within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and territorial waters”. It provides the opportunity for participating States to send missions of experts to assist in the resolution of a particular question or problem relating to the human dimension. Further information is available here.

Any information relevant to the work of the Moscow Mechanism can be sent to the following email address no later than 28 June 2022: moscowmechanism2022@odihr.pl. This will be forwarded to the expert mission.

The 45 countries that have invoked the Moscow Mechanism on this occasion are: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Republic of Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

ERGNETI, 7 June 2022 - The 107th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held today in Ergneti, under the co-facilitation of Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Ambassador Viorel Moşanu, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus.

The EUMM and OSCE representatives commended the commitment of the participants to the IPRM and stressed the importance of continuing the effective use of the EUMM-managed Hotline. Ambassador Szczygieł praised the humanitarian approach shown during the Easter period by opening the crossing points at the administrative boundary line (ABL) and allowing the local population to visit religious sites and graveyards. Ambassador Moşanu encouraged all participants to find additional solutions to reduce the problems of the conflict-affected population and emphasised the value of dialogue and pragmatism.

During the meeting, participants discussed issues which impact the daily lives of local communities, like the negative impact that the prolonged closure of crossing points at the ABL continues to have on conflict-affected communities. In this regard, the co-facilitators reiterated their call for a re-opening and proposed concrete ways of reaching that objective. The co-facilitators welcomed the recent release of a detainee, but voiced their concern about the high number of active detention cases and urged a humanitarian approach towards their resolution.

Discussions in the IPRM also focused on current security developments at the ABL, including instances of ‘borderisation’, as well as the issue of Chorchana-Tsnelisi. The co-facilitators encouraged all participants to commit to a constructive behaviour, for the benefit of the population on both sides of the ABL. All participants agreed that the agricultural season necessitates increased dialogue in the IPRM format and over the EUMM-managed Hotline. The participants also praised the holding of a technical meeting on irrigation issues at the end of April, where they agreed to use the EUMM-managed Hotline to coordinate the delivery of sufficient volume of water for irrigation.

The participants agreed to convene the next regular meeting on 23 September but remain ready to reconvene earlier if necessary.

VIENNA, 3 June 2022 – “In view of the imminent decision by UK’s Home Secretary Priti Patel on Julian Assange’s extradition to the US, I want to express my concern regarding the impact that such a decision can have on media freedom and investigative journalism”,  said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro.

The case of Julian Assange has preoccupied the public in many countries for over a decade, with many civil society and media organizations and public figures calling for Assange’s release.

“I call on the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel not to extradite Julian Assange. The public interest of several of the publications by WikiLeaks should be taken into account, as it contributed to important investigative reports and news reporting. It is essential to consider the impact on freedom of expression and media freedom if he is extradited and convicted. The fact that someone who disclosed material of public interest might face a long prison sentence could have a grave and lasting stifling impact on investigative journalism,” the Representative said.

In this light, the Representative reminded all OSCE participating States that they have adopted a set of commitments that consider freedom of expression and access to information as fundamental human rights and a basic component of democratic societies. “Access to information of public interest enables people to make well-informed choices and ensures transparency and accountability of governance,” concluded Ribeiro.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She 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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On 3 June 2022,  the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) in co‑operation with the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) and the Uzbek Prosecutor General’s Office organized an international scientific-practical conference themed “Legalization of the Proceeds of Criminal Activities and Financing of Terrorism: Modern Threats and Current Issues of Combating them”.

Experts from 16 countries and 15 international organizations discussed in Tashkent the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) international standards, development of international co-operation, enhancement of the role of law enforcement and supervisory authorities in strengthening national Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) systems.

This initiative aimed to ensure effective interaction and co-operation at the regional level and the integration of the EAG member States into the international system of combating the legalization of criminal proceeds and the financing of terrorism in accordance with the FATF Recommendations. Participants also discussed the international standards for combating the legalization of criminal proceeds and the financing of terrorism.

The meetings of working groups and the 36th Plenary Meeting of the EAG preceded the conference. The representatives of EAG member States, the FATF Secretariat, as well as observer States and organizations attended this series of events.

The PCUz has been supporting the enhancement of the country’s AML/CFT legislation in line with the recommendations of the FATF for more than ten years and has been instrumental in helping the country to withdraw from FATF blacklisted countries and considerably improve its FATF regime.

519681 Marina Živaljević

On 6 June 2022, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Technical Working Group for Self-Regulation published a document Manual for Moderation of Online Users' Comments, which is a guide for moderators of user comments on portals on how to identify controversial and harmful content, providing an adequate response.

The Manual aims to ensure a fair, impartial and respectful approach to moderation, as well as to minimize the risks of commenting – both legal risks for the media and users, as well as risks of inadequate contextualization of primary content.

It elaborates the legal framework, purpose, risks and rules of moderation and commenting, types of moderation and procedures, but also provides practical advices on how to improve moderation. What the legally protected rights that the moderator must take into account are, how to recognize the content posted by bots, how to recognize trolling and distinguish offensive speech from satire and criticism – these are some of the questions that the Manual provides answers to.

On the occasion of document’s publication, Dominique Waag, Head of the Mission, met with representatives of the Technical Working Group on Self-Regulation Ranko Vujović, Executive Secretary of the Media Council for Self-Regulation, Mihailo Jovović, Programme Director of daily Vijesti; Paula Petričević, Ombudsperson of daily Vijesti and weekly Monitor, Ilija Jovićević, Ombudsperson of daily Dan and Ljiljana Minić, Editor at daily Dan.

Ambassador Waag said that the Mission has a long-lasting co-operation with self-regulatory mechanisms in Montenegro and nurtures it through the Technical Working Group, which has so far worked on a number of documents of great importance to Montenegrin journalists.

“In the times when all countries fight hate speech and misinformation, mostly in the online sphere, it is important that we are all on the same page and join forces to fight this phenomenon. Let’s not forget the importance of media literacy, because due to the lack of knowledge in this area, we face the problem of unverified information, disinformation and hate speech today“, said Ambassador Waag.

Participants of the meeting also exchanged ideas on combating growing hate speech in on-line sphere and steps to be taken. It was concluded that further work on documents of the type of the new manual is needed, which would facilitate the work of journalists in Montenegro, especially when it comes to how to respond on hate speech.

In 2019, the Mission supported development of Guidelines for applying section 2.8 of Montenegrin journalists’ Code of Ethics, which elaborated rules, ethical standards and guidance on how to moderate readers’ comments on internet portals.

519642 Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is supporting human rights education through training by some of the many young people who have benefitted from the Mission’s programmes. The move marks a shift away from training by OSCE to a group of talented young women and men who will use their expertise in human rights education to design and implement activities proposed by the Mission and other institutional partners.

Since 2015, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has trained over 2,000 young people from different backgrounds on human rights education, facilitation skills and inter-cultural learning. As a result of these trainings, the Mission identified a core group of participants who were ready to become non-formal educators, paving the way to the creation of a Pool of Trainers.

“When we empower youth, we empower the future,” said Shqiponjë Kodraliu about her experience as a member of the Pool of Trainers. “Exchanging experiences with other professionals from different backgrounds, helps me grow professionally, and contribute to setting a higher standard of trainers,” she added.

“Young people have always been at the centre of real change in society. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has long recognized the role of young people as catalysts for peace and security. We will continue to empower young women and young men to embark on initiatives that will positively impact and shape their own communities,” said Deputy Head of Mission Kilian Wahl.

Last week, members of the Pool of Trainers implemented their first activities for the Mission, while many more are planned in the coming months. One activity focused on training law students from Kosovo on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on property rights. Through this first collaborative engagement, Besnik Beqaj from the Pool of Trainers informed students about the Court and its approach to property rights, including those of non-majority communities. “A professor of mine once told me that we rise by lifting others and I see this potential in the OSCE Pool of Trainers.”

Based on the positive feedback received from participants in the training, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo will continue to employ members of the Pool of Trainers to engage with youth to enhance their skills and knowledge.

VIENNA, 5 June 2022 — The OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will visit Tajikistan on 6 and 7 June for meetings with high-level officials and to attend the 2nd International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028.

The visit will focus on the OSCE’s assistance to Tajikistan’s government in responding to the security implications of Afghanistan, particularly at its southern border. Also opening the Women Water Forum, the Secretary General will highlight the OSCE’s support on transboundary water co-operation, especially in light of climate change, and the important role of women in this regard. Discussions will also focus on OSCE’s support to Tajikistan in implementing the national reform agenda.

The OSCE Secretary General will meet with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin and Colonel Rajabali Rahmonali, Commander of the Tajik Border Troops.         

In Dushanbe, Schmid will meet with the Vice Speaker of the Parliament Dilrabo Mansouri, who is also the Head of the Alliance of Women Parliamentarians in Tajikistan. She will furthermore have discussions with representatives of civil society organizations.

The Secretary General will meet with staff from the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the Border Management Staff College team. She will also address the annual staff course for female leaders in border security. 

How to undertake effective financial investigations to identify, investigate and disrupt the financing of terrorism was in focus during a five-day training course, which concluded today, 3 June 2022 in Sarajevo. The OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly organized the training course with the support of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

Twenty-two experts from the Ministry of Security of BiH, the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, the State Investigation and Protection Agency, Intelligence Security Agency of BiH, the Ministry of Interior of the Federation of BiH, the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska and Brčko District Police, including eight local trainers previously trained by the OSCE and UNODC, took part in the course.

They learned about techniques and methods to assist in the successful conduct of financial investigations as part of wider counter-terrorism operations. The course was particularly aimed at strengthening inter-agency co-operation through joint work on a realistic and localized scenario, which simulated an unfolding terrorist attack.

To strengthen links with international partners, a representative of the EUROPOL European Counter Terrorism Centre presented the wide array of support it can bring to local financial investigations.

The training programme on countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) has been implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina since December 2020 with the aim to further build the country’s CFT framework to better prevent terrorists from raising, using and moving for terrorist purposes, in line with international commitments and standards.

This course was organized with the financial support of the United States within the framework of the extra-budgetary project “Train-the-trainer and Training Courses on Countering Terrorist Financing”.

VIENNA, 3 June 2022 – Following discussions held at the Stockholm Ministerial Council, participants at today’s special OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group discussion looked into several aspects of a framework for response to the implications of Afghanistan for the OSCE region. The meeting was convened by the Swedish Chair of the Group. The meeting particularly highlighted gender-related aspects of the regional consequences of developments in Afghanistan, and how the situation in Afghanistan has affected young women and men in Central Asia.

"Just as Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the situation in Afghanistan is having vast consequences for the OSCE region. I would like to thank the Secretary-General and the Secretariat for their excellent work in developing the Framework for an OSCE response, focusing on Central Asia and particularly addressing gender-related aspects”, said Ambassador Ulrika Funered, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OSCE and Chair of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group.

“Today´s topic is timely and remains an issue of great concern to the Polish Chairmanship. While Russia´s aggression against Ukraine has taken up much focus this spring, it is important that we don’t lose the broader OSCE region from our sight”, said Mr. Marcin Czapliński, Deputy Permanent Representative of Poland to the OSCE, Polish 2022 OSCE Chairpersonship. “While discussing the regional consequences of the situation in Afghanistan one should highlight grave security implications for the Central Asian region.“

The Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, Tuula Yrjölä, presented key elements of the Framework for Response to the Implications of Afghanistan for the OSCE Region (RIAOR). “This framework aims to mitigate risks, address vulnerabilities and pursue opportunities to support connectivity and development,” she said. “We will continue to focus on delivering support in Central Asia to bolster the resilience of the region in the context of developments in Afghanistan. I welcome the support of participating States that recognize the wider impact these developments can have.”

The OSCE supports the Asian Partnership in its efforts to further promote common values in the international community and address the new challenges affecting European security and beyond.

519522 Kunduz Rysbek

On 31 May, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek held a round table to discuss the results of the study “Violence against Women in Politics in Kyrgyzstan” - the first one ever conducted in the host state. The study was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022 by the non-governmental organization "Agency for Social Technologies", with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The participants of the round table included members of the national parliament of Kyrgyzstan, representatives of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda, civil society and expert communities, international organizations, and national media community.

The research found that women in Kyrgyzstan are not sufficiently protected from this negative phenomenon and face violence at all levels of public and political life.

The results of the study demonstrate that women in politics and/or aspiring to enter local and national politics, are subjected to psychological, emotional, economic and even sexual violence by their family, within their communities, by local villagers, fellow party members, as well as other male candidates.

The study revealed a particularly high prevalence (97 percent) of sexual harassment among women candidates or women politicians in the form of unwanted sexual demands and messages of sexual nature.

Around 32 percent of the interviewed women experienced various forms of psychological violence: threats, humiliation, verbal abuse, blackmail and discrediting in the eyes of the public. Notably, harassments came from both men and other women.

A third of the women interviewed, or 30 percent, faced economic violence in the form of lack of equal access along with men to economic resources and their distribution. An election campaign requires significant funds, and only few women have them.

On the contrary, violence against women politicians is rarely observed in the local media in Kyrgyzstan, with only 6 percent of female respondents confirming they encountered it.

In the participants’ opinion, various forms of violence against women in politics is used specifically to weaken their self-confidence, reduce authority in the public’s eyes, ultimately leading to reluctance on the woman-candidate’s side to campaign and participate in political and public processes.

Nonetheless, these women also confirmed that when faced with acts of violence, their determination to continue campaigning and/or working in the political industry was only strengthened.

“Women shall not be considered as a quota to fill the seats, or as mere statistics. Women should be perceived as an equal and important factor, without which the sustainable development of the country is impossible,” says Rasmiya Kazimova, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The round table also discussed recommendations to better prevent violence against women in politics in Kyrgyzstan, including international research and good practices from across the OSCE region that has been presented by the OSCE/ODIHR.

What is still critically needed, beyond the reforms recommended in this study, is a fundamental shift in how society sees women in government, in politics. So that women are not perceived as just a quota that will fill the seats, or as mere statistics. When women are perceived as an equal and important factor, that means the country is using all available resources towards achieving a sustainable and fair development for all.

The work of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in promoting gender equality in Kyrgyzstan, including women’s equal political participation, is in line with the 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, and the UN Security Council resolution #1325 on Women, Peace and Security.   

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On 30 May 2022, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) in co-operation with the Ministry of Preschool Education, the Ministry of Sports Development and the Cycling Federation organized a cycling marathon in Samarkand to promote sustainable green development and improve environmental awareness.

The initiative aimed to develop sustainable skills in the field of environmental conservation and to raise awareness for the use of green transportation. The marathon also served to popularize cycling, promote a healthy lifestyle among preschool children, and contribute to promoting the green economy principles.

Ecological education and the introduction of youth to sports are vital issues for the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The OSCE supports initiatives to promote sustainable green development, improve environmental awareness and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Following a similar event held last year in Tashkent, this marathon was the second of its kind and was organized within the framework of PCUz’s programme on environmental security.

In 2021, the OSCE in close co-operation with national partners launched a project to introduce environmental education into the system of preschool education and the method of riding balance bikes. Within this project, 13 pilot state preschool educational organizations were provided with 400 balance bikes.

The first children's cycling marathon took place on 1 June 2021 in Tashkent in the Ecopark, where 65 children, teachers, and cycling athletes took part. In 2022, within the framework of the project, 20 state preschool educational organizations were selected and provided with 500 balance bikes.

This initiative was attended by high-level officials, including Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva,  Minister of Sports Development  Adkham Ikramov, the Minister of Preschool Education Agrippina Shin, Head of the Main Department for the Formation and Conduct of Policies in the Sphere of Preschool Education of the Ministry of Preschool Education Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, and Governor of the Samarkand region Erkinjon Turdimov.

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On 2 June 2022, the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD/ATU) held an interactive workshop on media literacy to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT), in which 26 OSCE-trained facilitators from South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia participated.  

Using scenario-based exercises, the participants explored how information disorder is exploited by various actors including violent extremist organizations, and to what ends. Participants also reinforced their knowledge of the importance of media and information literacy to address VERLT and disinformation in a human rights compliant manner; and explored possible roles for civil society.

The workshop was implemented under the OSCE Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism (LIVE) initiative, a flagship training programme that seeks to build the resilience and capacity of communities.

The training is part of TNTD/ATU’s and the OSCE field operations efforts tobuild an enduring LIVE Community of Practice of LIVE facilitators.

The OSCE’s LIVE Initiative consists of three different training courses tailored to youth, women and community leaders across the OSCE area. From 2018 to 2021, the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE field operations, delivered a series of regional LIVE train-the-trainer seminars for South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and supported OSCE field operations in their implementation of national LIVE training courses.