Central Europe

SKOPJE/VIENNA/WARSAW, 25 November 2023 - Launching the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, OSCE leaders called on participating States to step up their efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls, end impunity and support survivors.

Despite progress made in raising awareness and strengthening responses to gender-based violence, it is estimated that one in three women have experienced gender-based violence.

In addition, the lack of accessible support services for survivors and the prevailing stigma surrounding gender-based violence, and the impunity that most perpetrators enjoy prevent survivors from receiving the support they need. OSCE leaders stressed that more needs to be done to ensure that women and girls are guaranteed their most fundamental right to safety.

“All participating States need to recognize the importance of continuing to implement their commitments to prevent violence against women, in particular during conflict.  The continued use of violence, including sexual violence has a long-term impact on victims and communities. We condemn all forms of gender-based violence and continue to call for accountability and relevant support for victims,” said OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani.

“Despite all efforts, and all around the world, violence against women remains a serious problem. This violence is not just a violation of women’s rights. It is a violation of their most basic human right: the right to feel safe. Whether we’re talking physical or psychological safety, online or offline,” said Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid.

She urged participating States to not only increase their efforts and take additional measures to implement strong commitments to prevent and combat violence against women, but also to protect and support women in conflict settings and other crisis situations.

“We must recognize all forms of violence against women in order to develop comprehensive protection systems. And we must not only act now but persistently and for as long as it takes,” she stressed.

Violence against women in politics is a growing part of the problem, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). “Women’s participation in political life is crucial to ensure all members of our society are represented,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “But violence against women is stopping them from deciding to run for office and then remaining active in politics, making it a serious threat to our democracies. We must work together to end this violation of women’s rights and ensure they are able to make a meaningful contribution to our societies.”

This year, the OSCE marks 16 Days under the theme "Prevent. Protect. Act for Survivors. Act to End Gender-Based Violence” with a special focus on the need to take immediate action, enhance protection and support survivors. 

For more information on the OSCE’s campaign during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, follow us on social media.

558597 Communication and Media Relations Section David Dadge

From 20 to 24 November, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and INTERPOL in co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and the Ministry of Interior of the Kyrgyz Republic, conducted a training course on criminal intelligence analysis for Kyrgyz police officers.

The training course introduced nineteen participants to available channels for international police co-operation, trained them in the full criminal intelligence cycle and provided them with expertise to conduct criminal intelligence analysis as part of application of intelligence-led policing (ILP). The course built on the knowledge gained in two previous OSCE introductory courses on ILP and its effective implementation.

“The Ministry of Interior of the Kyrgyz Republic appreciates the deep-rooted co-operation between the OSCE and Kyrgyz law enforcement authorities and the expansion of co-operation with INTERPOL, which will bring real added value to our national authorities,” said Deputy Minister of Interior Abdiev Nurbek Takabaevich.

“The event was a unique opportunity for our two organisations to join forces to pilot an activity that can pave the way for future collaboration, and a great personal experience for me to work with such engaged participants,” said Ash Smith, Coordinator, Operational Analysis, Criminal Analysis Sub-directorate, INTERPOL.

“I am very honoured that we were able to support this event. Watching the participants was a great opportunity to see the steep learning curve of everyone present and also to learn something myself,” stressed Constantin Zelenty, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bishkek.

The series of capacity-building events is part of an ongoing effort to assist Kyrgyzstan in its police reform process including implementation of ILP, following an in-depth needs assessment conducted jointly by the OSCE and the Kyrgyz authorities.

The training course, funded by Germany, was delivered as part of the extra-budgetary OSCE project “Building intelligence-led policing capacities on regional and national levels in the OSCE area”.

558585

On 23 November, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan organized a lecture on cryptocurrency-related crimes for the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

The OSCE briefed around 120 cadets and lecturers from the Academy about concepts and mechanisms related to cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency transactions, the role cryptocurrencies can play in facilitating crime, methods and approaches for investigating cryptocurrency-related crimes, and trends in the evolution of cryptocurrency market in Uzbekistan as well as in Central Asia.

“Cryptocurrencies are an ever-more important part of the cybercrime landscape, as they provide a useful tool for criminals to fund, hide and launder the profits of their illicit activities. Understanding how cryptocurrencies work and how to investigate crimes involving them is therefore a crucial part of the contemporary law enforcement toolkit. We are delighted to support our partners in Uzbekistan to deepen their knowledge on this critical issue,” said Martha Stickings, Deputy Head of the Strategic Police Matters Unit and Adviser on Cybercrime at the OSCE.

Speakers included experts from the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, the Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and private sector.

The in-person event was a culmination of the webinar series on trends in contemporary policing launched in the autumn last year. In total, the OSCE delivered seven webinars on a wide range of topics, including countering the use of the internet for terrorist purposes, cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime, intelligence-led policing, gender-based violence, malware and ransomware, online payment frauds, and Dark Web criminal landscape.

The events complemented the national and regional training activities conducted by the OSCE in Uzbekistan under the extra-budgetary project “Capacity building on combating cybercrime in Central Asia”.

558564

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, and the Permanent Representation of France to the OSCE organized a study visit to Paris for government officials from Tajikistan, familiarizing them with France’s approach to the protection of soft targets from terrorist attacks.

During the study visit, held from 20 to 22 November 2023, officials from Tajikistan met with representatives of the city of Paris and the national Government. They discussed the design of emergency plans in public spaces, including schools, hospitals, religious sites and shopping centres. They also discussed threat analysis procedures, the evolution of legislative frameworks on terrorism prevention, human rights-compliant approaches to the protection of public spaces and public engagement.

“France's experience in the fight against terrorism in general, and in particular on protecting vulnerable targets in a terrorism context can be very beneficial for further enhancing our national efforts in this area. It was a fruitful and informative study visit,” said Zafar Safaralizoda, Deputy Head of the Directorate on Human Rights Guarantees under the Presidential Office and Head of the delegation of Tajikistan on this study visit.

“For many years, our country has been a target for ISIS and Al Qaeda-inspired groups and their supporters. Attacks on vulnerable targets are a modus operandi that we must anticipate and be able to respond to. The terrorist attacks that have plunged French society into mourning in recent years, particularly those in Paris in January and November 2015, illustrate the crucial challenge of ensuring the safety of the French people while preserving our way of life, values and commitment to freedom. This study visit, initiated by the OSCE, enabled the delegation of Tajikistan on this study visit to meet the various players responsible for facing this challenge and contributed to our desire to strengthen the co-operation and exchanges of best practices with countries facing similar threats,” said General Christophe Perret, Head of the French Ministry of the Interior International Affairs Sub-directorate (SDAI), who co-ordinated the study tour.

“One of the OSCE’s greatest strengths is the expertise and experience of its participating States and their willingness to share with one another. We thank the Government of France for welcoming the delegation of Tajikistan in their country and making available the expertise necessary to truly grasp how schools, public spaces, houses of worship and other soft targets are protected from terrorist attacks,” said Jukka Tuononen, Head of the Politico-Military Department and Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Programme in Dushanbe.

The study visit will serve as a basis for further OSCE capacity-building and technical support to Tajikistan on soft targets protection, with a focus on preventing terrorist threats while upholding respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The study visit takes place alongside recent OSCE and partner activities in the field of soft targets protection, including the 2023 Workshop to Raise Awareness and Launch the Republic of Tajikistan’s Roadmap on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets and a 2022 Central Asia-focused regional workshop on vulnerable targets protection from terrorist attacks.

The study visit took place within the framework of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe’s unified budget project “Supporting Tajikistan’s National Strategy and Action Plan on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism for 2021-2025”, which seeks to assist the host country in implementing its counter-terrorism commitments in line with pertinent OSCE standards and principles.

558549 Marina Živaljević

How to investigate and report on gender-based violence with a victim-centred approach, was the focus of a training course the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized for students from the Media Studies and Journalism Department of the Faculty of Political Science on 23 November.

As part of continuous support to the University of Montenegro, the Mission gathered 30 journalism students and introduced them with the Mission’s Handbook on media reporting on gender-based violence against women, distributed to national TV stations, newspapers, news portals and local broadcasters last year.

During the training course, Slaven Živković, executive director of the DeFacto Consultancy, presented to the students an Analysis of media reporting and the effects of media reporting on gender-based violence against women and girls in family and partner relationships, which was undertaken to measure how the media reports on violence against women and girls. This analysis was an innovative experimental method to assess the extent and nature of the influence that media reporting on gender-based violence has on citizens’ attitudes, opinions, and subsequent behaviour.

Živković explained that through an analysis of 2,661 media reports, the research found that “the media predominantly reported on cases of physical (76.9%) and sexual (68.3%) violence while online or digital violence comprised only 9.8% and selective abortion cases (7%). Further the analysis revealed that the majority of reported cases describe gender-based violence and domestic violence as a private matter.

OSCE-engaged media expert Duška Pejović said that the media create public opinion and have a significant influence on shaping attitudes, changing social and cultural patterns and gender roles. “To this reason it is important to constantly educate journalists and raise their awareness about discrimination against women and gender-based violence,” said Pejović. She elaborated that the media should develop a critical, emancipatory spirit, promote human rights and gender equality, and promote positive societal change. “Unfortunately, there are stereotypes and prejudices based on the inferiority of women and the superiority of men, which are used to justify violence against women and make it part of traditions and culture. This needs to be constantly challenged,” said Pejović.

OSCE-engaged expert Paula Petričević explained that the handbook provides guidelines and recommendations to improve how journalists report on gender-based violence. Reporting should be based on two key principles - that violence is the responsibility of the abuser, not the victim or survivor, and that reporting must not jeopardize victim’s safety and dignity at any cost,” said Petričević.

The Mission will continue to support journalism students and journalists in enhancing their capacities when reporting on gender-based violence.

VIENNA, 23 November 2023 – At a pivotal juncture for media freedom, Teresa Ribeiro, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, delivered her sixth biannual report to the Permanent Council today. The report, a reflection on her three-year tenure, portrays a media environment under duress. With media freedom serving as a barometer of democratic viability, Ribeiro's findings signal an urgent call to action.

"Defending media freedom is defending the core of democratic societies, instrumental for maintaining peace and security," the Representative emphasized.

In her report, Ribeiro addresses several critical points, including the ongoing war against Ukraine by the Russian Federation and its repercussions for journalists, the complete clampdown on media freedom in some OSCE countries, and the ongoing safety concerns that journalists face, including online and physical attacks, legal harassment and detention. She also mentioned measures that some authorities have taken in the name of national security that suppress media freedom.

“There is no shortcut in addressing today’s security challenges,” the Representative stated. “Media freedom and security are not opposing ends of the spectrum, but rather concurring to the same goals. There can be no security without media freedom. Only by strengthening our democratic institutions and the rule of law, by preserving and defending media freedom and by investing in a resilient and well-informed citizenry, will we be able to revert the democratic regress and provide sustainable responses to today’s uncertainties.”

Ribeiro also paid attention to the various challenges in the digital realm that risk undermining media freedom and pluralism as a bedrock of democracy. “In a broader freedom of expression context, it is essential to ensure that online information spaces provide access to reliable, diverse, and public interest information. To this end, it is timely and necessary that we start thinking about what a framework for the information space that will promote the visibility and accessibility of public interest information and content could look like – in other words: a Public Interest Framework.”

The Representative concluded by noting some positive developments as a testament to the potential for progress amidst adversity, including measures by some participating States to enhance journalists’ safety, and new regulations to tackle emerging challenges in the digital sphere and to provide for a safer and healthier digital space.

The report can be found here: https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/b/0/558531.pdf

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.

558525 Therese Abrahamsen Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo, in co-operation with the Council of Europe and the Kosovo Assembly, organized on 22 November 2023 in Prishtinë/Priština a high-level panel on the role of the Assembly in monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Convention.

Preceding the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence” campaign, the event brought together MPs, representatives of the government, civil society organisations, international institutions and organisations active in the field of combating violence against women and domestic violence.

Through carefully-structured discussion, these leading experts and practitioners explored the modalities for strengthening the institutional instruments for monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, including the requirement to establish an institutional support mechanism between key stakeholders and across different levels of governance.

The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Michael Davenport, opening the event, said, “the theme of the 2023 campaign is around investing to prevent violence against women and girls. So, with that in mind, the Mission is focused on building up essential coordination mechanisms at central and local levels. For if we are not more coordinated, we cannot be more effective. This means engaging young people, young women and young men and also concentrating even more on the specific needs of vulnerable groups and non-majority communities.”

In her address, Saranda Bogujevci, Vice President of the Assembly, said, “one important point that I believe requires more work and more attention is the establishment of a form - be it through the Ministry or within the Assembly - to gather more data that would not focus only on the causes of violence but would encompass the manner in which we plan, both within the parliament and overall governance, and how this planning affects women across various spheres of life.”

Participants concluded that ending violence against women requires continuous, comprehensive engagement which transcends political lines and entails comprehensive institutional approach. In that regard, the role of the Assembly and its organs was underlined as instrumental in these efforts. The executive branch was urged to establish contact points within the Assembly and keep the legislators well-informed of the progress and challenges in implementing the Istanbul Convention. Finally, it was pointed out that both the legislative and executive branch need to strengthen their co-operation and coordination with the civil society sector.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with the protection and promotion of human and community rights, and with democratization and public safety sector development, and has women’s empowerment, gender equality and women’s rights at the core of all its activities. The Mission focuses on supporting enactment and implementation of non-discriminatory legal frameworks and policies and gives particular attention to women’s participation in public and political life.

558471

Numerous representatives of BiH civil society, media, experts and the international community called on the RS authorities to withdraw the draft legislation on ‘foreign agents’ at the “Civil Society and the Media: Critical Voices Under Pressure” conference held in Dom omladine in Banja Luka on 22 November 2023. The conference was organised by the EU Office in BiH with the OSCE Mission to BiH and Transparency International in BiH.

The Head of EU Delegation/EU Special Representative in BiH, Ambassador Johann Sattler recalled that the European Commission’s recent Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina identified the recent criminalisation of defamation, as well as the draft ‘foreign agents’ legislation as major backward steps for the EU path of the country.

He added, “Democracies do not place obstacles in the way of legitimate critical voices. Critical voices and diverse viewpoints are essential not only for the health of a democracy, but also the health of society, aiding for example the fight against corruption and the fight against intolerance. The draft legislation on ‘foreign agents’ would take Republika Srpska closer to standards in authoritarian regimes than to those in the European Union. The draft legislation on foreign agents is a step back for fundamental freedoms as well as the EU path and should therefore be withdrawn”, said Ambassador Sattler. 

The Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Brian Aggeler, recalled that the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) together with the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, produced a detailed opinion on the RS 'foreign agents’ law which stated that the RS authorities must reconsider the adoption of this law since it seriously violates BiH’s human rights obligations and commitments regarding freedom of association and expression.

“We are deeply disappointed that the RS authorities chose to disregard this opinion, as well as the opinions of several other international human rights mechanisms, including three UN Special Rapporteurs, and instead proceed with the adoption of this harmful and regressive piece of legislation,” Aggeler added. 

Many civil society organisations and activists participated in the conference and shared their views against the proposed legislation as well as the overall atmosphere or shrinking space for critical voices which was particularly created in Republika Srpska in recent months.

"Now we have the labelling of civil society organisations as foreign agents, limiting the work of non-governmental organisations monitoring and criticising the work of institutions and authorities, while on the other hand, non-profit media, which are also citizens' associations, are under pressure. We see all this as a strategic approach by the government to stifle freedom of expression and to send a message that only the way of thinking and acting promoted by the members of the ruling coalition in RS can and should be present in the public," said Ivana Korajlić, Executive Director of Transparency International in BiH.

The conference also heard from civil society activists from Georgia – a country where public pressure recently forced the government to abandon plans to introduce similar legislation.

558462 Religious leaders of Kyrgyzstan at the International Conference named "Kyrgyzstan - a Country of Interfaith Peace and Harmony", Bishkek. Chyngyz Zhanybekov

The State Commission for Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic hosted the International Conference "Kyrgyzstan - a Country of Interfaith Peace and Harmony" with the support of the Programme Office in Bishkek. The Conference is dedicated to fostering collaboration on current religious issues and interfaith harmony.

The conference brought together representatives from government bodies, international organizations, civil society, religious leaders, and experts from over 20 countries.

During the conference, participants engaged in discussions addressing a range of crucial topics such as the intricate relationship between religion and state, the intersection of religion and the economy, and approaches to ensure stability within society. These deliberations contribute to a comprehensive understanding of religious dynamics and promote strategies for preventing radicalism.

The outcomes of this conference are anticipated to have a lasting impact on the promotion of interfaith understanding, peace, and harmony not only in Kyrgyzstan but on a global scale. The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek reaffirms its commitments to promoting interfaith dialogue and supports this international conference on an annual basis.

558450 OSCEBiH/Zejd Kadric

On 23 November 2023, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully hosted a Cybersecurity/ICT Fair in Sarajevo. The primary goal of the event was to increase awareness and networking possibilities among stakeholders from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the surrounding region, including the public sector, businesses, academia, women, and youth. This distinctive platform serves as a crucial space for professionals and decision-makers to exchange best practices while supporting increased collaboration in the field of cybersecurity, with a particular focus on the meaningful participation of women and youth.

Bradley Shelton, Senior Politico-Military Officer at the OSCE Mission to BiH, underlined the event’s inclusive tone, emphasizing the organization's firm belief in the significance of collaboration among a wide range of participants: "Most of us are well aware of the enormous benefits and possibilities afforded by digital technology. Nevertheless, we frequently lack awareness about the threats that its poor management poses to human rights, safety, and security."

The event stressed the urgent need for a collaborative effort to address cybersecurity concerns, emphasizing the need for multi-stakeholder engagement. The fair provided a platform for participants to explore opportunities for co-operation, share insights, and develop relationships that would help to safeguard a more secure digital landscape.

The Cybersecurity/ICT Fair is part of the OSCE Mission to BiH’s broader initiative and commitment to enhancing Bosnia and Herzegovina's capacity in proactively preventing and effectively responding to security threats originating from cyberspace, in line with its international commitments as an OSCE participating State. Support for the development of a comprehensive cybersecurity framework strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the establishment of dedicated Computer Emergency Response Teams, is crucial to these efforts

558441 Communication and Media Relations Section David Dadge

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan brought together twenty-five senior representatives from all the major Central Asian law enforcement educational institutions and the staff from the regional OSCE field operations to discuss best practices in training criminal justice practitioners on the investigation of cybercrimes and other crimes involving electronic evidence.

During the two-day regional workshop held on 21 and 22 November in Tashkent, the participants discussed professional development of police officers and prosecutors, adaptation and modernization of training and educational programmes, integration of e-learning, and strategic approaches to identifying needs and priorities for further training and education of criminal justice practitioners.

“All countries in Central Asia are undergoing significant digital transformation, albeit at different speeds. While this brings a lot of opportunities and benefits for our people and economies, it also brings new security risks and challenges. For example, in Kazakhstan we have seen a ten-fold increase in Internet-related crimes in the last five years. Training our law enforcement on how to investigate such crimes is thus a priority for us,” said Rashida Kadyrova, Head of the Department for Cybersecurity and Information Technologies at the Almaty Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

“Identifying and collecting electronic evidence or conducting investigations online are not any more the domain of specialists. Such skills are becoming more and more necessary for any law enforcement practitioner investigating all types of crime. Our educational institutions need to adapt to this reality,” stressed Gayrat Musavev, Head of Scientific and Methodological Centre for Digital Forensics at the Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The workshop included representatives from all major law enforcement educational bodies in the region, namely from:  

• Kazakhstan’s Almaty and Karaganda Academies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and from Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s Office
• Kyrgyzstan’s Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, from the Training Centre of the Prosecutor General’s Office and from the Institute of State Committee of National Security
• Tajikistan’s Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and from the Institute for Professional Development of the Prosecutor General’s Office
• Turkmenistan’s Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and from the Training Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office
• Uzbekistan’s Law Enforcement Academy, and from the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

The workshop was organized under the extra-budgetary project “Capacity Building on Combating Cybercrime in Central Asia” funded by the United States, Germany and the Republic of Korea.

558369

On 21-22 November, the two-day training on preventing trafficking in human beings the hospitality sector was conducted by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) in co-operation with the National Commission on Combatting Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labour.

Thirty-two (seven women and twenty-five men) representatives from the business community, including hotel, tourism, and event management companies, gained specific knowledge on the ways in which trafficking in human beings affects the current business landscape and how the expansion of services in the hospitality sector is likely to have an effect on trafficking. Private sector initiatives in the tourism sector related to child protection was also a focus at this event. 

Participants acquired additional insight into national referral mechanisms and trafficking in human beings risks in supply chains in order to further support the prevention of trafficking in human beings in this sector. Silke Kloever, Senior Project Officer, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, emphasized “We are encouraging the private sector, trade unions and relevant civil society institutions to join our efforts and support government measures in the field of combating and preventing trafficking in persons. Your support is indispensable!”.

This training program was organized within the PCUz UB project "Promoting Gender Equality and Combating Human Trafficking”.

558306 Chyngyz Zhanybekov Aida Almazbekova

On 21 November 2023, the State Financial Intelligence Service of the Kyrgyz Republic presented the Unified Financial Intelligence Information and Analytical System (UFIAS) with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB). This innovative system aims to combat financial crimes and terrorism financing.

The UFIAS significantly increases the efficiency of collecting, processing, and analyzing information related to suspicious financial activities. By streamlining the information management process, it facilitates the prompt identification of indicators of money laundering and terrorism financing.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek reiterates its commitment to providing ongoing assistance in the digitalization of state services. The adoption of state-of-the-art digital tools underscores our dedication to supporting the Kyrgyz Republic's efforts in maintaining financial security.

558297 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The 2023 early parliamentary elections in Greece took place in a competitive and pluralistic environment, and fundamental freedoms were respected. Voters were provided with ample information to make an informed choice. While some technical aspects could be improved, the election was effectively administered and election management bodies enjoyed a high level of public trust. Issues related to transparency and accountability of political party and campaign financing, candidacy rights and criminalization of insult and defamation remain to be addressed, as noted in prior ODIHR recommendations.

These are some of the main conclusions of the final report on the 21 May elections published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The report offers 21 recommendations to improve the conduct of elections and to support efforts to bring them in line with OSCE commitments, as well as other international obligations and standards for democratic elections.

Key recommendations include:

• To adjust for the changes in population in each constituency to ensure that they are equal in size, in line with international good practice;

• Undertaking efforts to make the independent participation of all voters possible, including through alternative voting methods;

• Reviewing political parties’ internal policies to promote women’s participation as candidates and give them prominence in the party’s campaign;

• Requiring financial reports are made public in a timely, comprehensive and easy-to-understand manner, comparable with interim reporting on campaign finance before election day;

• Replacing criminal provisions for defamation and insult with proportional civil remedies.

ODIHR deployed an Election Assessment Mission for these elections from 8 to 25 May 2023.  All 57 countries across the OSCE region have formally committed to follow up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

VIENNA, 21 November 2023 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, has concluded her visit to Uzbekistan which took place from 15 to 17 November. The visit included a series of high-level meetings with Uzbekistan’s officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister, Gairat Fazilov, Assistant to the President, Saida Mirziyoyeva, Chair of the Committee of the Legislative Chamber for Innovations, Information Policy and Information Technologies, Ilhom Abdullayev, and the Director of the Agency for Information and Mass Communications, Asadjon Khodjaev.

The Representative and her counterparts discussed a range of media freedom issues, including the safety of female journalists and Uzbekistan's draft Information Code. They discussed the possibility of future assistance in assessing this draft law in order to align it with OSCE commitments and international legal standards.

“I look forward to continuing the very constructive dialogue I had with the Uzbek authorities to further our common goal of media freedom as an inseparable part of peace and security,” Ribeiro said.

A highlight of the visit was the Roundtable on Gender Sensitive Journalism on 17 November, jointly opened by Ribeiro, Abdullayev, the Chair of the Public Foundation for Support and Development of National Mass Media, Nozima Davletova, and the Acting Head of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan, Silke Kloever. This event, co-organized by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, and the Public Foundation for Support and Development of National Mass Media, furthered progress in the realm of gender-sensitive journalism and the building of a pluralistic media landscape.

"In an era where the integrity of media is under scrutiny, it’s imperative that our media landscape mirrors the diversity of our societies – enabling a broad range of voices to resonate, a spectrum of viewpoints to be acknowledged, and a breadth of experience to be recognized," Ribeiro underlined. The RFoM also presented the new Guidelines on Monitoring Online Violence against Female Journalists, which provided further guidance to participating States on safeguarding the work of female journalists.

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.

Communication and Media Relations Section David Dadge

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth of the Canton of Sarajevo and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered the second multi-stakeholder event to discuss the draft of the 2024-2028 Canton of Sarajevo youth strategy.

Building on the results of the first event in September, the second event, held on 20 November in Sarajevo gathered experts from academia and civil society. The members of thematic working groups discussed the 2024-2028 youth strategy and agreed on the steps to finalize it, aiming to meet the needs and aspirations of young people within the Canton of Sarajevo. Participants particularly focused on learning about international best practices in youth crime prevention, representing an essential part of the strategy.

Final consultations and presentation of the strategy to stakeholders and the Canton Parliament are planned for the beginning of 2024.

These efforts are part of the OSCE-wide multi-year project, Enhancing youth crime and drug use prevention through education on legality and awareness campaigns addressing threats of organized crime and corruption, which is funded by Italy. Other donors supporting this project are Andorra, Germany and Poland.

558279 Marina Živaljević

See for yourself, you’re not small boy – is a title of the campaign the OSCE Mission to Montenegro launched on 21 November in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, NGO Women’s Safe House and the Football Association of Montenegro.

In the campaign, Stevan Jovetić and Stefan Savić, members of the Montenegrin National Football team challenge stereotypes and seek to break the circle of silence around gender-based violence. The creative author of the campaign is Andrijana Vešović – Zombijana.

The campaign will unfold through a series of social media post and reels published on Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/vidjisam/ and on Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vidjisam.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Deputy Head of the Mission, stressed that gender-based violence is not a problem that can be solved in isolation; it requires a collective effort. “Football, as a universal language, has the unparalleled ability to connect people from all walks of life. Montenegrin football players, Jovetić and Savić’s commitment to this cause goes beyond the pitch, illustrating that influential figures have an important role in fostering societal change,” said Leirtroe, adding that with impactful social media campaign and education for youth we aim to reach every corner of society.

Mersida Aljićević, Director from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, noted that this was the first time that the Ministry participated in this kind of social media campaign. “Boys and young men were targeted with strong messages to prevent violence against women. Through the campaign, we recognize other forms of violence besides physical, because not all violence leaves bruises and injuries. Violence is persecution, harassment, sexual harassment and psychological and emotional abuse, and it is our duty to recognize it and to do everything in our power to influence every individual and prevent every form of violence against women and girls,” said Aljićević.

Jovana Hajduković, from the NGO Women’s Safe House, stated that the NGO, for 24 years, has been actively protecting women who have experienced violence. “Violence takes on many shapes, from emotional and psychological violence to online and sexual violence. Girls often normalize the first signs of violence, while men often have patterns of violent behaviour that are rooted in our patriarchal culture, which often promotes harmful gender stereotypes. Prevention is key. I am sure that the participation of our most successful footballers, who are role models for young generations, will contribute to changing attitudes and creating a society with zero tolerance for violence,” said Hajduković.

Branko Latinović, from the Football Association of Montenegro, said that the Association was happy to support this campaign. “Our captains Savić and Jovetić were more than willing to participate and set an example to the younger generations that violence in our society is absolutely unacceptable and to draw attention to the problem faced by women and girls. Their involvement is key, they are real examples to the youth of which behaviour models to follow,” said Latinović.

The campaign is launched ahead of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

See for yourself, you are not a small boy. Be better than the violence against women.

558243 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

On 21 November 2023, Turkmenistan’s International University for Humanities and Development hosted an OSCE-supported conference on engaging youth in addressing climate change.

The event was initiated to provide a platform for a regional expert-level dialogue to share best practices on raising awareness of young people about issues related to climate change mitigation and adaptation and involving them into decision-making in this important area.

The conference was held in a blended format and brought together students from Turkmenistan’s institutions of higher education, and representatives of the Magtymguly Youth Organization and relevant ministries. Representatives of institutions dealing with environmental and youth issues in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan joined the conference remotely.

“We all know that climate change is the global challenge, which does not respect borders affecting people everywhere,” said John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat in his video message to the conference participants.

“It is our moral obligation to leave the Earth unharmed to today’s children and young people, and to future generations to ensure their sustainable lifestyle,” stressed MacGregor.

An international expert from Italy facilitated the conference and emphasized that tackling climate change can immensely benefit from the engagement of youth as a key stakeholder.

Experts from the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and representatives of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek as well as youth parliamentarians from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly presented the work of the OSCE in promoting the role of youth in the climate agenda. 

Representatives from Central Asian countries elaborated on the main issues related to climate change in the region and discussed the role of youth as a driving force in tackling climate change. The conference enabled young participants to explore opportunities for developing national programmes and regional projects to address climate change.

The conference was organized jointly with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan.

558222 From left to right: Ms. Tansuluu Arstanbekova, entrepreneur from Osh province, Kyrgyz Republic; Mr. Jose Luis Lozano Garcia, Ambassador of Spain to North Macedonia; Ms. Helga Maria Schmid, Secretary General of OSCE; Mr. Akylbek Nasirdin, Programme assistant at OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek; and Mr. Nurgazy Raev, entrepreneur from Jalal-Abad province, Kyrgyz Republic at the Chairmanship in Office’s Youth Forum "Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Creating a Sustainable Future in the OSCE Region". Chyngyz Zhanybekov

Two aspiring entrepreneurs from the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Nurgazy Raev and Ms. Tansuluu Arstanbekova participated at the Chairmanship in Office’s (CiO) Youth Forum titled "Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Creating a Sustainable Future in the OSCE Region." This initiative underscores commitments of the OSCE participating states to advancing and nurturing youth entrepreneurship within the OSCE region.

Mr. Nurgazy Raev and Ms. Tansuluu Arstanbekova are pioneers in sustainable business practices, specializing in the production of environmentally friendly goods and services in Jalal-Abad and Osh provinces of the Kyrgyz Republic. Tansuluu specializes in the packaging and manufacturing of dehydrated fruit products intended both for local markets as well as for exporting. Nurgazy oversees a chain of coffee establishments that additionally offer a selection of freshly squeezed juices. Both Tansulu and Nurgazy are graduates of the Entrepreneurship Support Centres, established by the OSCE Porgramme Office in Bishkek in five provinces of the Kyrgyz Republic. The centres have played a pivotal role in providing comprehensive support for the development of youth entrepreneurship, offering comprehensive consulting services in areas such as business development, legal aspects of doing business, finance, and marketing.

Over the course of two years, the Entrepreneurship Support Centres have provided guidance to more than 358 young entrepreneurs, empowering them with the knowledge and skills necessary for navigating the complexities of business. This robust support system aligns with our overarching objective of fostering a conducive environment for youth entrepreneurship to thrive, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the Kyrgyz Republic and the wider OSCE region.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek remains steadfast in its commitment to nurturing the potential of young entrepreneurs, recognizing them as key contributors to economic growth, innovation, and a sustainable future. The participation of Mr. Nurgazy Raev and Ms. Tansuluu Arstanbekova in the CiO Youth Forum served as a dynamic platform to showcase their accomplishments and foster the exchange of knowledge and best practices with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs from the OSCE region.

World Children's Day - Say no to discrimination in education

OSCE Mission to BiH marks World Children’s Day

On the occasion of World Children's Day, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina would like to remind all institutions and individuals of their responsibility to protect children from any and all forms of discrimination. Although BiH has ratified and endorsed multiple treaties and commitments that protect the rights of children, 13% of parents responding to a 2023 public perception survey commissioned by the Mission stated that their child feels uncomfortable in school because of their gender, ethnicity, social background, language, religious beliefs, economic status or disability.

We must continue working together to protect all children from discrimination and ensure that their educational experiences are inclusive, inspiring and motivating. 

Please see the video prepared for this occassion: Ujedinjeni protiv diskriminacije! - YouTube