Central Europe

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the Mission recorded 117 ceasefire violations, including eight explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 117 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded 79 ceasefire violations, including 76 explosions. In the previous reporting period it recorded five ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including by a member of the armed formations in a non-government controlled area of Donetsk region. Its mini- and mid-range UAVs experienced instances of jamming.*

Bosanski Petrovac, 22 September 2021 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), together with the Embassy of Sweden in BiH as the 2021 Chair of the OSCE, the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator’s Office in BiH, and the Municipality of Bosanski Petrovac, organized today a high-level visit to Bosanski Petrovac for the unveiling of a Monument to Peace. The visit was organized on the occasion of World Peace Day, celebrated on 21 September. 

“Bosanski Petrovac has become one of the few municipalities across BiH to initiate such a memorial and to commemorate all, regardless of ethnic or religious belonging,” said Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “Indeed, this comes as the culmination of an entire month celebrating peace and tolerance, which filled Bosanski Petrovac with activities and messages highlighting love, coexistence, co-operation, and the richness that multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities such as this one symbolize” added Kavalec.

“We need more good examples where people come together to find ways of building a better future together for everyone. I hope that many more will follow in the footsteps of Bosanski Petrovac” said Johanna Stromquist, Swedish Ambassador to BiH, on behalf of 2021 Swedish Chairpersonship of the OSCE. 

"In our community we must build peace, coexistence, respect and make good deeds as much as we can. The biggest gift we can give our children are roots of accountability and wings of independence, and if we want a true peace let's start it with kids," said Mahmut Jukić, Mayor of Bosanski Petrovac.  

"Bosanski Petrovac is showing us that – no matter their nationality or background – people simply want to move forward in a constructive way.  And that way involves rebuilding trust and recognizing that everyone has suffered and that everyone has common aspirations and priorities. Bosnia and Herzegovina is full of positive examples; positive narratives and real champions of peace.  But more needs to be done so these people and these communities are seen and heard" said dr. Ingrid Macdonald, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in BiH. 

This event demonstrates the international support for the progress made in Bosanski Petrovac and all other municipality striving to amplify positive actions, policies, and messages and to set an example for other communities across the country.

498636 Marina Živaljević

At the invitation of the Vijesti media outlet to support their efforts in strengthening journalistic skills, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a three-day in-house training course on “Live and Emergency Situation Reporting”, from 20 to 23 September 2021 in Podgorica.

As emergency reporting demands a unique skillset mirrored in working under pressure, recording in the field and during live broadcasts, the Mission engaged Adnan Rondić, an international media expert to support Vijesti journalists in improving their skills and techniques to better report live on developing stories.

Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Acting Head of the Mission said that the Mission invests significant efforts in strengthening the overall capacities of Montenegrin media outlets. “One way of doing so is by enhancing the knowledge and skills of journalists, and enabling them to work professionally, under sometimes difficult and challenging circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided journalists with many new challenges and, therefore, new skills are needed when reporting from the field,” said Leirtroe.

The Mission remains committed to supporting pluralistic and independent media in Montenegro and will continue to encourage professional and ethical standards in reporting, in line with best practices.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the Mission recorded 117 ceasefire violations, including seven explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 29 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded five ceasefire violations, all explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 62 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission followed up on reports of damage to and near civilian properties in government-controlled Taramchuk, Donetsk region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at the SMM’s mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near non-government-controlled Panteleimonivka, Horlivka, and Oleksandrivka, Donetsk region; the SMM lost spatial control over one of its mini-UAV near the disengagement area near Zolote.*
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Zaichenko, Khreshchatytske, Ozerianivka, and Olenivka, Donetsk region. Its mini-, mid- and long-range UAVs experienced multiple instances of jamming.*

SUMMARY

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons significantly increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week. 

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international Mission members, including the Chief Observer (CO) and a First Responder.[1] The Mission is supported administratively by a staff member and the Chief of Fund Administration based in Vienna.

Update on COVID-19 measures

Activities have been impacted by COVID-19 and measures undertaken by the OM to ensure the safety and duty of care of its Mission members and compliance with measures set by the host country authorities. The Mission is continuing to keep the situation under review, in close contact with the OSCE Secretariat and the Chairpersonship. Following the host country’s recommendations, the observers are adhering to social distancing. Due to the preventive measures taken by the central and regional authorities, the OM is faced with certain difficulties, but is still able to continue to fulfil its mandate without any limitations in its observation and reporting activities. The vaccination process provided by the host country medical system continues on a voluntary basis. To date, 80 per cent of OM staff have now been vaccinated. The OM is fully staffed and operational.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border                                                                                                                                                 

The profile of persons crossing the border can be categorized as follows:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage.
2. Persons in military-style outfits.
3. Families (often including elderly persons and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits significantly increased from 9,358 to 13,079 per day at both BCPs compared to last week. During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 179 per day for both BCPs. The Donetsk BCP continued to experience much more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Responding to the COVID-19 situation, the host country closed its borders for the majority of foreigners starting from 18 March 2020. Among the exceptions of persons allowed to cross the border (which entered into force on 19 March) are Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons holding passports or identification documents proving permanent residence in certain areas of Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine. In addition, reportedly, due to the threat of the spread of COVID-19, starting from 10 April 2020, the organized passenger transport commuting between the non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region of Ukraine and the Russian Federation was temporarily suspended and restored from 25 June 2020. Currently, the crossing of people is going on at a quasi-normal level.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border was 11, compared to three last week; six persons crossed into the Russian Federation while five persons crossed into Ukraine. These individuals crossed the border on foot.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families, sometimes with elderly persons and/or children, crossing the border at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, seven families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while two families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when no families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while four families were observed crossing into Ukraine.

Bus connections                                         

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a significant increase in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (576 compared to 369 observed during the previous week). There were 282 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 294 bound for Ukraine.

On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses did not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slight increase in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (785 compared to 781 during the previous reporting week); 401 at the Gukovo BCP and 384 at the Donetsk BCP, 386 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation, and 399 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, on a daily basis, the OTs also noted trucks registered in Belarus, Lithuania, the Russian Federation and trucks with “LPR” and “DPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting period, the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs decreased (28 compared to 34 during the previous week). These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks had hazard signs, indicating that they were transporting propane or a mix of propane and butane. All trucks underwent systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavorable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.

Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP slightly increased from 168 to 176. Of the total number of all trucks scanned 176 trucks (100 per cent) were bound for Ukraine.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slight increase in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (131 compared to 125 observed during the previous week); 72 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 59 into Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains on the railway tracks located approximately 150m south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 25 occasions; the OTs assessed that 17 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining eight trains were travelling to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance” below).

Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP.

Other observations

The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. A significant number of vehicles with “LPR” plates were also observed crossing the border in both directions on a daily basis. The OTs also observed vehicles with Georgian and Lithuanian licence plates, in addition to “DPR” plates.

On 14 September at 16:07, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with Russian Federation licence plates entering the BCP from Ukraine. The driver and a female passenger were observed on board. After undergoing customs and border control procedures, the vehicle left the BCP to the Russian Federation at 16:27.

On 15 September at 00:23, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed two medium-sized trucks with “LPR” plates and inscription “LPR Post” (in Russian) entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and queuing at the customs control area. After undergoing customs and border control procedures, the vehicles left for Ukraine at 01:03.

On 15 September at 07:48, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed two ambulances with Russian Federation licence plates entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking at the customs control area. The driver and a passenger were observed inside of each vehicle. After undergoing customs and border control procedures, the vehicles left the BCP for Ukraine at 08:20.

On 15 September at 12:20, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with Russian Federation licence plates entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking in front of the main building. At 13:04, the ambulance drove back to the Russian Federation. The OT was unable to notice any other details from its position.

On 15 September at 17:20, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with “LPR” plates entering the BCP from Ukraine. After undergoing customs and border control procedures, the vehicle left for the Russian Federation at 17:42. The same day at 19:38, the OT observed the same ambulance entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and queuing at the customs control area. After undergoing customs and border control procedures, the vehicle left the BCP for Ukraine at 19:50.

On 20 September at 12:57, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking at the customs control area. After undergoing customs and border control procedures the vehicle left the BCP for Ukraine at 13:20.

On 20 September at 19:18, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with inscription “Children Reanimation” (in Russian) entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking at the customs control area. After undergoing customs and border control procedures the vehicle left the BCP for Ukraine at 19:40. The OT was unable to notice any other details from its position.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 17 August 2021 to 21 September 2021, please see the attachment here.

[1]First responders are OSCE staff or Mission members deployed for a short period of time.

[2]Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles that correspond to driving licence C1).                       

The OSCE-supported annual Central Asian Leadership Programme (CALP) for some 40 young environmental leaders and decision-makers from the state, non-government, academic and business sectors of Central Asia and Afghanistan began on 20 September 2021 in Almaty. Participants from five Central Asian countries and Afghanistan took part in the event held in a blended format.

The five-day programme is co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan in partnership with the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), the World Bank, and the European Union through its SWITCH-Asia Programme.

CALP’s focus this year is sustainable consumption and production, and their relation to food supply and security. The invited speakers delivered lectures on green economy, transition towards low-carbon development, sustainable water management, and biodiversity conservation.

CALP is a follow-up to the Office’s long-standing efforts to strengthen the network of young environmental leaders in the Central Asia region and beyond, and to promote regional dialogue and co-operation in environmental security and sustainable development. 

SARAJEVO, 21 September 2021 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) supported today the country's Ministry of Defence in holding the 18th Session of the BiH Strategic Committee for Weapons, Ammunition and Explosive Ordnance.

The session brought together key representatives of the Defence Ministry, Armed Forces, and BiH Parliamentary Assembly’s Joint Committee for Defence and Security, and international organizations and embassies supporting security and defence sector reform. They reviewed the progress achieved in the safe disposal of surplus weapons, ammunition and explosive ordinance (AWE), and jointly planned future activities.

“Up to 14 September 2021, 26,837 tons of ammunition and explosive ordinance were safely disposed of in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our armed forces are now left with 4,800 tons of surplus ammunition and explosive ordinance and 40,000 surplus weapons," said Sifet Podžić, BiH Defence Minister.

Podžić noted that significant progress has been achieved in improving the security and safety at the AWE storage sites and thanked the OSCE, UNDP and EUFOR for their support through the implementation of the SAFE-UP, EXPLODE+ and Small Arms and Light Weapons Marking projects, among others.

“Prior to 2011, the security and safety situation at ammunition and weapons storage sites in BiH was alarming,” said Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH.

“We have achieved a great deal since then by increasing the security at four storage sites through two OSCE projects, SECUP and SAFE-UP, and by helping establish a modern ammunition testing laboratory at TROM Doboj. Those two projects had the support of 17 OSCE participating States that jointly invested more than 3.3 million Euros into those efforts,” added Kavalec.

Kavalec further noted that the OSCE Mission will continue to work with its national and international partners to support the implementation of the BiH arms control priorities, which now include reducing stockpiles, improving security and safety at prospective ammunition storage sites, and decommissioning non-prospective sites. 

The OSCE Mission to BiH is mandated with strengthening human rights, democratic governance, and security co-operation. It is one of the key strategic partners to the BiH Ministry of Defence in the implementation of the country’s master plan for the management of ammunition, weapons and explosives.

498501 Marina Živaljević

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a final peer-to-peer workshop on time and stress management for 17 parliamentary staff on 16 and 17 September 2021. This concludes a series of workshops to develop a pool of in-house trainers from parliamentary staff.  The first two modules on communication and presentation skills were organized in July.

During the interactive workshops, participants were acquainted with concepts and techniques of time management and project assignments. They discussed priority setting techniques, relaxing activities and learnt how to manage their activities and have different behavioral approaches to address stressful situations.

Experts Jadranka Vojinović and Bego Begu provided mentorship and guidance to the parliamentary trainers. They agreed that the gained skills will enable the participants to better balance their time usage and tactfully deal with stressful situations, which will result in enhancing their professional relationship to work and create a better working environment.

The Mission will continue to support the internal transfer of knowledge and mentorship within the Parliament.

Twenty-five representatives of the ombudspersons’ institutions from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River participated in two joint human rights monitoring webinars organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova on 14 and 15 September 2021.

“By engaging both ombudspersons' offices in these training webinars, we seek to build understanding and co-operation,” said David Gullette, Human Rights Programme Manager in the OSCE Mission to Moldova. “This is essential for strengthening the protection of human rights of all people on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. This is particularly important during the pandemic, when new challenges have emerged and require a common approach.”

Participants discussed the role of human rights institutions in public emergencies and the monitoring process, and shared their experiences and current challenges. They also learned about standard operating procedures in the field of human rights monitoring and actively worked together in small groups combining representatives from the ombudsperson institutions from both banks.

“Representatives of my office highly appreciated the discussions held during the training courses and the opportunity to familiarize themselves with modern methodologies for monitoring human rights, including healthcare,” said Olga Vacarciuc, Secretary General of the Ombudsperson's Office of the Republic of Moldova. “Equally important was the opportunity to exchange information and experiences, and establish a dialogue with the representatives of the Ombudsperson's Office on the left bank of Dniester/Nistru River.”

“Participating in these kinds of courses allows each of us on both banks to exchange our practical experiences in human rights activities, establish contacts between institutions and apply the knowledge we have gained to further our activities,” said Veaceslav Kosinsky, the Transdniestrian Ombudsperson. “The Ombudsperson of Transdniestria is looking forward to further co-operation with both the OSCE Mission and the Ombudsperson of the Republic of Moldova.”

The joint webinars follow on from the first joint training event conducted by the Mission for the two ombudspersons’ offices in 2019, which focused on the general principles of monitoring. The training courses took place in the context of the Mission’s project aimed at building confidence on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River through enhancing local capacities and strengthening the protection of human rights.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, from the evenings of 17 to 19 September, the Mission recorded 246 ceasefire violations, including 22 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 113 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, from the evenings of 17 to 19 September, the SMM recorded 62 ceasefire violations, including 34 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 33 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM temporarily evacuated its premises in non-government-controlled Luhansk city on 18 September following a false bomb alert.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM’s mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near government-controlled Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region.*
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission observed four border crossing points outside government control where it saw a number of buses entering and exiting Ukraine on 18 and 19 September.
• The Mission monitored the security situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The SMM monitored two gatherings in Kyiv.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Novoazovsk, and Markyne; approaching border crossing points near Uspenka, Marynivka and Novoazovsk, Donetsk region; and at a border crossing point near Izvaryne, Luhansk region.*

VIENNA, 20 September 2021 – The 2021 OSCE Asian Conference participants call for common responses to emerging security challenges, with the comprehensive security concept at the centre, free of dividing lines and zones. A two-day conference is held in Vienna and online, co-hosted by Thailand, an OSCE Asian Partner, and Albania, the 2021 OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group Chair, with the support of the OSCE Secretariat.

Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in opening the Conference, said: "Our comprehensive recovery after the pandemic is contingent upon a conducive environment of peace, stability and trust. Co-operation, not confrontation, must be given a genuine chance as a peace-building mechanism." Pramudwinai also highlighted the human-centred approach for advancing comprehensive security.

“Our principles and values are being tested, and divergent security perceptions are eroding the common efforts of international organizations, including the OSCE,” said Olta Xhaçka, Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. “We face shared challenges and our security should be comprehensive, co-operative, equal, and indivisible. The security of each participating State is inseparably linked to that of all others. Afghanistan is a clear example in this regard,” said Xhaçka.

Ann Linde, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, said there can be no security or peace without human security, which encompasses respect for human rights. “Developments this year have put a spotlight on how security in both Europe and Asia is closely interlinked. Recent developments in Afghanistan are deeply worrying. They cause great concern regarding the security and enjoyment of human rights of the Afghan people, in particular women and girls, but also have wide-ranging effects on OSCE participating States, as well as on the Asian partners.” Linde said that participating States and Partners for Co-operation need to continue to discuss what further could be done. “What is certain is that the comprehensive concept of security needs to be at the centre.”

Within the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security, discussions cover sustainable development, which is closely tied to good governance and environmental challenges, such as transboundary water co-operation, disaster risk reduction, climate change, and the partnerships in green energy transition.

Luca Fratini, Director of the Office of the OSCE Secretary General, emphasised that the pandemic has amplified existing challenges and presented us with new ones. “Sharing of good practices and lessons learned on a wide range of issues including technology, innovation, and digitalisation can be instrumental in strengthening climate resilience, sustainable growth and prosperity in the OSCE area and beyond, especially in a post-COVID era,” said Fratini.

The annual OSCE Asian Conference gives OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation an opportunity to share experiences and lessons learned in Asia. The OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation are Afghanistan, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand.

498426 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe concluded a four-day training course for lawyers working in the field of domestic violence on 17 September 2021 in Dushanbe. Twenty-one lawyers from the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs) and local authorities from the Sughd, Khatlon, Rasht Valley regions, and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan attended.

Participants were familiarized with international and national mechanisms on domestic violence, laws on preventing domestic violence, the concept and definition of domestic violence, ways to identify types of domestic violence and skills for working with victims of domestic violence. Other topics covered were referral mechanisms of the victims to other support service providers according to the needs and mechanisms of recovering compensation for materials and moral damages to survivors of domestic violence in criminal and administrative cases.  

“The problem of domestic violence, the protection of the rights of women and children, the prevention of various types of violence, as well as regulatory legal acts are very relevant issues now,” said Dilfuza Davronova, specialist at the Department of Law and Work with Personnel of Tajikistan’s Committee on Women and Family Affairs in Dushanbe.

Fotima Tojiboeva, expert at the Committee for Women and Family Affairs of local executive body in the city of Isfara said: “For the staff of the Committee and  other relevant local authorities and civil society organizations such training is timely and is a benchmark for progress and the implementation of our activities. I have received clear and concise answers to most of the complex legal issues that I faced during supporting the victims of domestic violence.”

Maksatullo Hasanov, a lawyer from WRC “Zanoni Sharq” in Penjikent said: “The training provided me with a lot of new information and knowledge about international and UN recommendations on the prevention of domestic violence, the mechanism for the implementation of international legal acts and optional protocols, which is necessary for legal professionals.”

The OSCE Programme Office will continue to support the Government of Tajikistan in implementing the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence. The Programme Office provides a comprehensive support to victims of domestic violence in the regions through a network of 14 OSCE-established WRCs in close partnership with local authorities.

The current activity is being implemented within the WRCs project of the OSCE Programme Office funded by Norway, the United States of America, Finland, the European Union, Andorra and Germany.

VIENNA, 20 September 2021 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, concluded her official visit to Kazakhstan on 17 September.

Ribeiro met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tleuberdi, Chairperson of the Supreme Court Zhakyp Asanov, Minister of Information and Social Development Aida Balayeva, Chair of the Senate of the Parliament Maulen Ashimbaev and Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan for International Co-operation Erzhan Kazykhan.

Ribeiro addressed the issue of safety of journalists, with particular focus on online safety of female journalists; various concerns related to disinformation; and other challenges that the media community faces in Kazakhstan.

The Representative and her counterparts also discussed several ongoing legislative developments pertaining to freedom of the media, with the aim of bringing the legal framework in line with relevant international standards and OSCE commitments. In this regard, it was agreed that her Office will provide assistance in drafting a law on Mass Media.

The Representative also met with Lazzat Ramazanova, Chairperson of the National Commission on Women Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Elvira Azimova, Human Rights Commissioner; and several journalists in the country.

Ribeiro expressed her readiness to continue providing all necessary assistance to local authorities in line with her mandate, relevant international standards and OSCE commitments on media freedom and freedom of expression.

She concluded her visit by participating in the Eurasian Media Forum in a panel titled “How the pandemic has changed the world and defined new vectors of global coexistence”. The Eurasian Media Forum took place in Nur-Sultan from 15 to 17 September.

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.

498420

On 13 September 2021, the OSCE convened the first meeting of the Multi-Agency Committee in Albania established as part of the OSCE project, Enhancing Criminal Justice Capacities for Combating Gender-based Violence — GBV — in South-Eastern Europe.

The project aims to increase the public’s trust in criminal just responses and the level of reporting of cases by enhancing the capacities of criminal justice systems in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to prevent and combat gender-based violence.

Representatives of the OSCE Secretariat and the OSCE Presence in Albania, the Albanian police, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, representatives of the judiciary, the Child Rights Centre Albania and the Center for Legal Civic Initiatives attended the online and in-person meeting.

The aim of the event was to discuss the project’s strategy and implementation with local stakeholders to help tailor the project activities to the countries’ needs.

The Committee will provide guidance to the project team to help ensure that the project activities comply with local strategies and other existing activities and minimize duplication of or conflicting efforts.

The project is currently being implemented with the financial support of Germany, Norway and Finland.

Good practices in the treatment of foreign terrorist fighter (FTF) returnees, including age and gender-sensitive approaches, was the focus of an expert dialogue organized online by the OSCE’s Action against Terrorism Unit jointly with OSCE field operations in Central Asia from 15 to 17 September 2021.

The event brought together government and international experts, academics, policy-makers and civil society from across the OSCE area, who discussed the treatment of FTFs, including their prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration. Particular emphasis was placed on the experiences of the OSCE’s Central Asian participating States.

Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan, Shodikhon Dzhamshed, explained the importance of establishing cooperation among relevant ministries and organizations, including partnerships with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the OSCE. He expressed confidence that “Tajikistan will continue its efforts to ensure the successful reintegration of repatriates from conflict zones back into society”.

The three-day event provided participants with an overview of the situation that women and children associated with terrorist groups face in different regions of the OSCE, and how they came to join these groups. Discussions addressed the importance of gender-responsive programmes and individually tailored approaches to helping returning women disengage and reintegrate into society.

The seminar also addressed the need to provide age-sensitive support in rehabilitating and reintegrating FTF-affiliated children and juvenile offenders.

"It may take us several years to fully reintegrate people into society. We should be ready to accompany them on every step of this difficult path,“ said Oliya Ilmuradova, Director of Barkaror Hayot, a non-governmental organization working closely with the Ministry for Support of Makhalla and Family of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The event followed on previous exchanges by OSCE participating States and the international community during the 2020 High-level Regional Conference on Foreign Terrorist Fighters organized by the OSCE, Switzerland and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism. It also built on a number of OSCE and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights guidebooks including Non-custodial Rehabilitation and Reintegration (2020) and Addressing the Threats and Challenges of “Foreign Terrorist Fighters” within a Human Rights Framework (2018).

TBILISI, 20 September 2021 – Recently appointed OSCE PA Special Representative on South Caucasus Kari Henriksen (Norway) and Secretary General Roberto Montella have just completed a visit to Georgia, where they held a series of meetings with government authorities, leaders of political parties and representatives of the international community. The visit on 18-19 September focused on domestic and regional challenges in Georgia and the South Caucasus.

“I have decided to make my first visit in this new capacity to Georgia, as the country has been an example in the South Caucasus of actively implementing political reforms to strengthen democratic principles and the rule of law,” said Henriksen. “The OSCE PA has been closely following developments in Georgia for over 20 years now, recognizing its steady engagement in pursuing efforts aimed at building a stable and sustainable democratic system.” Henriksen further underscored the importance of political stability, dialogue and compromise, which are also vital for conflict resolution, she said.

The visit of Special Representative Henriksen and Secretary General Montella took place while campaigning for the 2 October local elections in Georgia was ongoing. In a number of meetings held with representatives of European Georgia, United National Movement and Georgian Dream, issues such as the pre-electoral environment, the conduct of the campaign and polarized dialogue in the public sphere were raised.

“Concerning the local elections, many interlocutors noted that despite the harsh rhetoric surrounding the campaign, the overall atmosphere has remained calm, and I sincerely encourage all stakeholders to further engage constructively in the time following the elections, not just on the local, but also the national level,” Henriksen said. “Most importantly, all political stakeholders must refrain from incitement or carrying out any political violence.”

Henriksen and Montella also met with the Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission to the local elections in Georgia, Ambassador Albert Jonsson, and Deputy Head of the Mission Gilles Saphy, who briefed them on the ongoing work of the election observation mission, which has been present in the country since the beginning of September. Both Henriksen and Montella stressed that they fully support the work of the mission and look forward to the final assessment of the elections.

“We invite all stake holders to take good note of the ODIHR’s final report and to actively engage in further implementation of the electoral recommendations of the ODIHR,” Henriksen and Montella underlined.

Following this visit, Special Representative Kari Henriksen intends to return to the region to undertake visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan, to also discuss respective domestic issues and wider regional challenges.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 113 ceasefire violations, including 39 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 23 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 33 ceasefire violations, including 13 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM saw craters near a local power substation and a civilian property in government-controlled Taramchuk, Donetsk region.
• The Mission lost spatial control of two mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) near non-government-controlled Vesela Hora and Tsvitni Pisky, Luhansk region. The latter UAV was subsequently retrieved with severe damage.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repairs of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Novoazovsk and Markyne, and at a border crossing point near Uspenka, Donetsk region. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the Mission recorded 23 ceasefire violations, including 13 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 100 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 157 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repairs of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM monitored areas in southern Kherson region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations in Staromykhailivka, Donetsk region. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced instances of GPS signal interference.*

498243 Kunduz Rysbek

On 16 September 2021, sixteen Kyrgyz customs officers completed a four-day training course on profiling at the Leninskoe Training Center of the State Customs Service under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic. The event was organized with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The training course was led by an international expert from the United States. Participants gained an in-depth understanding of topics such as passenger profiling techniques, baggage and vehicle scanning, detection of drug trafficking in cargo and on the human body. They also enhanced their skills and knowledge of international best practices in the field.

Participants, in addition to theory, worked on practical skills by examining baggage and cargo for prohibited items, working with an X-ray television introscope, and searching for drugs on an airplane. Participants also had the opportunity to conduct real-time profiling of passengers and inspection of baggage during the arrival of a regular passenger flight at Manas International Airport.

The training is part of a series of capacity-building activities within the framework of the project of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek on building the capacity of customs officers of Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan”.

VIENNA, 17 September 2021 – The 2021 OSCE Asian Conference, focusing on “Common responses to emerging challenges in advancing comprehensive security", will be held on 20 and 21 September 2021, in a hybrid format, at the Hofburg in Vienna and via Zoom.

The Conference is co-organized by Thailand, an OSCE Asian Partner for Co-operation, and Albania, the 2021 Chair of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group, with the support of the OSCE External Co-operation Section/Secretariat.

Representatives of the 57 OSCE participating States, OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation, international organizations, academia and the private sector will discuss approaches to strengthening comprehensive security with particular focus on current trends and challenges in the fight against organized crime, as well as in the areas of sustainable development, economic and environmental challenges, including climate change and the unsustainable use of natural resources, and the nexus between human rights and public health against the backdrop of the ongoing global pandemic.

The Conference will be opened by:

• Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand;
• Olta Xhaçka, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania;
• Ann Linde, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden;
• Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN;
• Ambassador Luca Fratini, Director, Office of the OSCE Secretary General
• Bogusław Winid, Head, Task Force of the Incoming Polish OSCE Chairmanship.

The OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation are Afghanistan, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand.

The opening session on Monday, 20 September, from 9.30 to 10.30 (or 14.30 to 15.30 Thailand Standard Time), will be live streamed on www.osce.org/live. No registration is required. For questions, please contact press@osce.org.