Central Europe

TIRANA, 23 April 2021 – International election observers will hold a press conference to present their findings following the parliamentary elections in Albania on Monday.

NB Due to pandemic related requirements, the press conference will take place online. All will have the opportunity to watch and ask questions via Zoom.

What:

• A news conference of the international election observation mission to the parliamentary elections in Albania
• The press conference can be attended via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream on www.facebook.com/osce.odihr and www.oscepa.org

Who:

• Azay Guliyev, Special co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE election mission
• Aleksander Pociej, Head of the PACE delegation
• Reinhold Lopatka, Head of the OSCE PA delegation
• Amb. Urszula Gacek, Head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission

When:

• 15.00 CET (GMT +2) on 26 April 2021

Registration:

• To take part via Zoom, please register by 11:00 CET on 26 April using this link.

The international election observation is a joint mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The mission totals 122 observers from 20 countries, including 37 ODIHR-deployed experts and long-term observers, 62 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, and 23 from PACE.

For more information, please contact:

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

Anna Di Domenico, OSCE PA: +45 601 08380 or anna.didomenico@oscepa.dk

Bogdan Torcatoriu, PACE: +33 6 50 39 29 40 or bogdan.torcatoriu@coe.int

484595 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The 2020 parliamentary elections in Romania were competitive, respecting fundamental freedoms, and organized professionally, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the late adoption of a number of regulations. While the legal framework generally provided for the conduct of democratic elections, its quality was affected by numerous amendments that led to legal uncertainty. The lack of effective mechanisms to promote women’s political participation indicated the need for a greater commitment to more equal representation. These are some of the main conclusions to be found in the final report published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The report offers 22 recommendations to further improve the conduct of elections, increase transparency and raise public confidence in the electoral process.

Recommendations

Key recommendations include:

• Revising the legal framework, following a broad and timely consultation, in order to ensure a harmonized, coherent and stable electoral framework 
• Considering additional incentives to provide more favourable conditions for candidates of both genders to stand for elections
• Removing undue restrictions during the campaign period to ensure the freedom of candidates to campaign
• Ensuring effectiveness of campaign finance oversight by strengthening the mandate of the Permanent Electoral Authority as well as relevant legislation
• Making detailed campaign finance reports of election contestants, and their analysis, publicly available in a timely manner
• Including explicit provisions on the right of observers to be present at all stages of the electoral process 

The ODIHR Special Election Assessment Mission for the 6 December 2020 parliamentary elections in Romania took up its work on 12 November 2020 and remained in the country until 13 December 2020.

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

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On 22 April 2021, Mathieu Lemoine, Senior Project Officer in the Human Dimension at the OSCE, awarded a tablet to Muattarkhon Burkhanova, Public Relations Specialist of the Republican Social Information Center "Istiqbolli Avlod" (Tashkent) and winner of a competition for the best script for an animation video or a short film on combating trafficking in human beings.

The competition focused on the topic: “Internet: how to protect yourself?” and ran from 18 November to 2 December 2020.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, together with the country’s National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labor and the Ombudsperson for the Rights of the Children, launched the competition and selected the winner within the framework of the project "Supporting the further development of national institutional frameworks for combating human trafficking in Uzbekistan."

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On 22 April 2021, the OSCE Presence in Albania concluded a three-month national voter education campaign ahead of the 25 April parliamentary elections. The campaign — conducted in close co-operation with the Central Election Commission — aimed at informing citizens about Electoral Code amendments, and encouraged their participation in the elections. 

As part of the campaign, the Presence prepared two informative TV spots calling on citizens to check the validity of their identification documents and the accuracy of their data on the voter lists, as well as informing them about election-related criminal offences. National public and private TV stations broadcasted the spots and they were shared through social media.

To enhance the awareness of Roma and Egyptian women and youth, the Presence organized online and in-person voter education sessions, and prepared podcasts focused on promoting participation, providing information on the legal changes, and voting procedures.

The campaign also targeted youth — including first-time voters and young people with visual impairments — to equip them with an understanding of the election process. They discussed fake news and its effects on elections and media influence on voters’ perceptions and choices. Additionally, the Presence organized four online workshops with journalists covering the electoral campaign from both public and private media. They focused on the novelties of the upcoming elections, and on an enabling environment for journalists to report on election-related issues in an accurate, impartial and balanced way.

More than 300 participants attended the online and in-person informative sessions and training courses.

The campaign was implemented under the Presence’s mandate to assist Albania in developing democratic institutions and promoting the rule of law. Specific campaign activities were organized as part of the Presence’s “Support to parliament and civic education in Albania’’, which is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC.

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The Constitutional Court of Albania, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence and the Office of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), launched its first Strategy at an event on 22 April 2021. 

The Strategy – supported by the Presence with KAS financial contribution – constitutes the first strategic document of operations of the newly-composed Constitutional Court, aimed at addressing current and upcoming challenges of the institution.

“The multiyear Strategy of the Court and its Action Plan that we are launching today set a new useful framework for our co-operation. The Strategy is a very solid and concrete document to enhance the human resources and technological capacities of the Court, to strengthen access, transparency and the external communication, which in turn will reinforce citizens’ trust in the work of their Court,, Head of Presence Vincenzo Del Monaco said at the launching ceremony. 

The event was also addressed by the Chair of the Constitutional Court Vitore Tusha, all its members, and KAS Head in Albania, Tobias Rüttershoff. 

Through concrete measures of the Strategy and its Action Plan, the Constitutional Court envisages to enhance its human resources and technological capacities for an increased quality and efficiency of cases. The Court also takes additional steps to strengthen access, transparency and communication with the parties, media and the general public.

The development of the Strategy was a thorough and inclusive process. It involved all the judges and staff of the Constitutional Court, who periodically gathered and analysed the internal resources and the needs of the institution, while planning strategically for the years to come. Three technical roundtables and two sets of individual interviews with the Court fed the Strategy and Action Plan. 

In 2021, the Presence also assisted the Court to assess its internal case management system, as well as provided access to professional literature and legal research on constitutional law, standards and practice.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 276 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 279 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded three ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) spotted people inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• SMM UAVs spotted anti-tank mines, some for the first time, on both sides of the contact line.
• 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 both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM visited two border crossing points outside government control and monitored areas close to the border with the Russian Federation in Donetsk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at two checkpoints of the armed formations in southern Donetsk region, and at a heavy weapons holding area and a compound in government-controlled areas. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

KYIV, 22 April 2021 – While ceasefire violations remain below the level observed before the measures to strengthen the ceasefire entered into force on 27 July 2020, Ambassador Y. Halit Çevik, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, said today there are a number of trends that give cause for concern.

In an online address to the OSCE Permanent Council, Çevik stated that the SMM had observed intensification and “a broadening of kinetic activities along the contact line,” and increased numbers of civilian casualties and damaged or destroyed civilian infrastructure. “Each casualty devastates families and communities, and furthermore inflames tensions, contributing to cycles of violence that undermine political efforts to contain the situation,” he said.

The Chief Monitor emphasized that even though the SMM had reinforced its facilitation efforts, this could not substitute the sides’ commitment to take the necessary steps to fully implement the measures to strengthen the ceasefire. “There is no third party enforcement mechanism for ceasefire implementation,” he added.

As these developments unfold, the Mission is facing near-unprecedented restrictions and impediments to its ability to operate, many of which appear both deliberate and targeted. “These increasingly severe constraints limit the Mission’s ability to resupply, to operate, and provide impartial facts at a time when this could not be more important,” Çevik said. “In this period, as the eyes and ears of this Council, the SMM’s role is all the more critical.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

KYIV, 23 April 2021 – Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Y. Halit Çevik today paid tribute to SMM medic Joseph Stone, who was tragically killed in 2017 when an SMM armoured vehicle was struck by an explosion, most likely caused by an anti-tank mine in a non-government controlled area near Pryshyb in Luhansk region.

“We mourn the loss of a colleague and friend, but we also pay tribute to a life committed to the cause of peace in eastern Ukraine,” Çevik said.

Mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive objects have claimed the lives of 82 civilians and have injured an additional 241 since then, he said. “Clearing or at a minimum marking off these deadly objects is both a key step on the road to peace and a lasting legacy to a brave medic who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he added.

484349 Andrii Dziubenko

The results of the Global Environment Facility project ‘Enabling transboundary co-operation and integrated water resources management in the Dniester river basin’, were officially presented on 22 April 2021 online at a meeting of representatives of the governments of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, international organizations, academia, businesses and non-governmental organizations.

The project is part of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine’s commitments within the framework of interstate cooperation in the field of protecting and sustainable development of the Dniester river basin. At the request of both countries, the project was developed and implemented from 2017 to 2021 by the OSCE and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Financial support was also provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The project included a dialogue with the Dniester Commission — an intergovernmental body on the sustainable use and protection of the Dniester River — on water distribution studies of the river basin and its conditions and an inventory of tailing storage facilities in the area. An impact analysis of recreational fishing on the river’s resources was also conducted, along with identifying areas prone to flood risks and the implementation of a demonstration project at a small river in the Dniester basin.

The project also supported both countries’ European integration efforts on water policy issues, which are reflected in the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union (EU) and the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

According to the project results, the main problems in the Dniester river basin are the conditions and character of the river’s water; pollution from organic, biogenic, hazardous substances, plastic and other household waste; the spread of invasive species; as well as interrelated water quantity and quality issues, such as climate change, floods and inundations, drought and water scarcity. The results indicate that these problems exacerbate economic, social and environmental challenges in Moldova and Ukraine, as well as affect the environmental state of the Black Sea.

The project results comprise two documents, the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis of the Dniester River Basin and Strategic Action Programme, both of which will also form the basis for the two countries’ future management plans. Both documents were developed based on the methodologies of the Water Framework Directive of the European Parliament (2000/60 / EC), and are a key part of the work of the Dniester Commission.

The Strategic Action Programme spams from 2021 to 2035 and aims at restoring the river ecosystem and ensuring sustainable development of its natural resources. It outlines activities such as reducing water pollution, preventing accidental pollution, managing tailing storage facilities, addressing the consequences of climate change and natural disasters, improving regulatory frameworks and strengthening Moldovan-Ukrainian cooperation. The Programme also includes 74 actions related to, among others, responsible authorities, timing and budget.

Find more information about project results here: https://dniester-commission.com/en.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 279 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 138 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded three ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 27 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It spotted people inside the latter two disengagement areas during night time.
• In violation of withdrawal lines, SMM unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) spotted weapons on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk region, including 12 multiple launch rocket systems, six near Kaiutyne and six near Chornukhyne.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation 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 SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a border crossing point outside government control near Voznesenivka. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*

VIENNA/YEREVAN, 21 April 2021 — Armenia will aim to rebuild trust and confidence to protect OSCE principles and commitments and prevent further erosion of the OSCE security environment, said Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ara Aivazian, as he opened the country’s Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) today.

“Armenia is taking over the Chairmanship of the Forum for the second time after 17 years. Back then FSC’s preventive measures aimed at reducing the risk of armed conflicts and the threat of such conflicts set the tone of our Chairmanship’s agenda,” Aivazian said. “Today, Armenia assumes the Chairmanship of the Forum when the security, peace, and stability in the OSCE area is being challenged like never before due to several factors.”

He outlined new, emerging challenges, such as the use of foreign terrorist fighters in the OSCE area, and how disagreements have “seriously damaged” the integrity of arms control regimes and confidence- and security-building measures (CSBMs). He emphasized the “decline and erosion” of global multilateralism and how the use of force in the conflicts and crises in the OSCE region is undermining the Helsinki Final Act and OSCE commitments and principles.

Calling for a reassessment of the work of OSCE executive structures and the implementation of OSCE commitments, particularly in the politico-military dimension, Aivazian said, “Genuine dialogue among participating States on the implementation of the OSCE commitments should be our first priority.”

“The current security environment in the OSCE area requires joint efforts, commitment, and political will to uphold the OSCE concept of comprehensive, indivisible and cooperative security,” he added, noting the motto for Armenia’s FSC Chair’s work programme, ‘Rebuilding trust and confidence through implementation of the Politico-Military Commitments’.

Referring to the work programme, Aivazian said that Armenia’s FSC Chairmanship will dedicate several sessions to arms control and CSBMs, new generation warfare, military exercises, small arms and light weapons, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 on preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

“Arms control and disarmament issues have always been in the center of the OSCE’s activities as they are key in ensuring security and stability,” he said. “Yet it is unequivocally clear that today we are experiencing a crisis in this field as many participating states believe that those regimes no longer serve their interests.”

“We need to stand back and assess the very foundation of the comprehensive and cooperative security upon which all arms control regimes were hinged.  Without clear commitments of all participating States to non-use of force and collective efforts to prevent use of force everywhere in the OSCE area, the efficiency of legally and politically binding mechanisms will be elusive,” he said.

Other sessions and Security Dialogues over the course of Armenia’s Chairmanship will focus on participating States’ commitments to international humanitarian law, as well as the part played by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in enhancing regional security arrangements and addressing current security challenges and threats. Being a priority high on the Armenian FSC Chair’s agenda, the role of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in armed and security forces will also be highlighted.

The FSC’s Tenth Annual Discussion on the Implementation of the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security will also be held during Armenia’s FSC Chairmanship. The FSC Chair will also convene, with the Swedish OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, a joint FSC and OSCE Permanent Council meeting to explore the OSCE’s role and commitments in preventing and combating terrorism in all its forms. The FSC Chair will also lead a session on conventional arms control and CSBMs at the Annual Security Review Conference, as foreseen to be held during the Armenian FSC Chair’s tenure.

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

COPENHAGEN, 21 April 2021 – United States Senator Ben Cardin, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance, on Tuesday issued the following statement in response to former police officer Derek Chauvin being convicted in the death of George Floyd:

“America’s justice system may be far from perfect, but it can still deliver justice. George Floyd did not need to die. Derek Chauvin’s use of force was far beyond anything that should be acceptable anywhere in this country. The officer’s guilt was unequivocal. At this moment, my thoughts are with the Floyd family and this personal moment of justice, as well as with every family of color that has watched video after video and pictured their child or family member as the next victim of excessive force or profiling. This deadly cycle cannot keep repeating itself.

“As a nation, we simply must do more to ensure that the basic human rights of Americans are protected at all times, even if they are suspected of a crime. We also must fundamentally reform our thinking and systems so that individuals are not assumed suspects because of the color of their skin or the clothes they wear. It’s morally wrong and a waste of legitimate police resources.

“No matter how this trial ended, the Senate has a duty to take up and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that was approved by the House of Representatives last month. This comprehensive package includes bills that I authored, including the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act, which would prohibit the use of racial and religious profiling by police, and the Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act that can begin to change the tactics used and the tenor of interactions between law enforcement and American communities, especially those of color. We need to make a change now.”

For more information on the work of the Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance, please click here.

VIENNA, 22 April 2021 – Climate change is a risk multiplier and is affecting economies, the environment and societies in South-Eastern Europe in complex ways, according to a report published today by the OSCE and the Berlin-based think tank adelphi.

The report, Regional Assessment for South-Eastern Europe: Security Implications of Climate Change, which identifies risks, hot spots, shared challenges and opportunities for cooperation, presents the results of extensive consultations on climate change and security in the OSCE region. These consultations included a series of workshops and surveys and involved over 80 representatives of governmental bodies, civil society organizations, academia from South-Eastern Europe, and regional and international organizations.

Climate change is accelerating globally and the effects are felt across South-Eastern Europe with increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires.

The report outlines seven risk clusters that are particularly relevant in terms of regional security and stability, including, agriculture, tourism, energy, health, and forests. It also defines seven specific geographic hotspots, such as shared river basins and shared mountain ecosystems, and two important challenges shared across the region: air pollution and migration.

Above all, the report highlights several regional co-operation opportunities that should be seized to address climate-related security risks.

The launching of the report coincides with Earth Day and the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement.

“Climate change is one of the most crucial issues of our time in the political, economic, social and environmental spheres. It can also emerge as a security issue when it interacts with other pressures such as unequal economic development, social inequality, and resource constraints. These challenges can be tackled only through a multilateral and co-operative approach,” said OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid. “In South-Eastern Europe, we have already made progress by mapping shared potential risks and defining joint solutions.”

As early as 1975, the Helsinki Final Act recognized the need for co-operation on climate change as part of the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to peace and security.

Vuk Žugić, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities said that consultative processes like this one are instrumental in addressing various impacts of climate change in the OSCE area. “We are thankful to all participants of this regional consultation process. A great majority of participants were female who have set the scene for climate resilience in the region. In our next steps, we need the strong engagement of women and men, including youth for the development and implementation of co-operation measures that will further contribute to security and stability in the region,” said Žugić.

This report is part of the OSCE’s project “Strengthening responses to security risks from climate change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia” funded by Andorra, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Norway.

WARSAW, 20 April 2021 — OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded a one-day visit to Poland for discussions with the Polish President, Andrzej Duda, Foreign Minister, Zbigniew Rau, Deputy Foreign Minister, Marcin Przydacz, and the Polish delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

“The OSCE Secretariat will be working closely with Poland when it takes over as Chair of the OSCE in 2022. By getting started now, we can lay the foundation for our successful cooperation and be ready to get to work on building security throughout the OSCE region in 2022,” said Schmid.

The Secretary General’s meeting with President Duda focused on the situation in and around Ukraine and Belarus. Schmid welcomed Poland taking a leadership role as Chair in the OSCE in 2022. They also discussed Poland’s long-standing role as host of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the importance of ODIHR’s work to strengthen democracy and human rights across the OSCE region.

Schmid’s talks with Foreign Minister Rau and Deputy Foreign Minister Przydacz covered the incoming Chair’s priorities, as well as how to ensure the Organization most effectively utilizes its tools and resources.

Discussions included how the Chair and Secretariat can support efforts to address and resolve the ongoing conflicts and crises in the OSCE area, including concrete steps to improve the lives of people affected by conflicts.

The Secretary General met the Head of the Polish Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Barbara Bartus, along with other members of the Delegation. Secretary General Schmid expressed her gratitude for the important role parliamentarians play in rebuilding trust and improving dialogue throughout the OSCE region. They explored how to strengthen cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly and parliamentarians across the OSCE agenda.

She also met with ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci and ODIHR staff to discuss the details of their critical work to promote democracy and the rule of law, safeguard human rights, and increase the tolerance of our societies, with a focus on their support to OSCE countries in responding to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic has delivered a hard blow to our societies. By helping countries to increase the resilience of their democratic institutions and encourage dialogue between governments and citizens, ODIHR plays a vital role in ensuring the voice of each individual is heard and the rights of each individual are respected”, said the Secretary General.

Reflecting on the Secretary General’s visit, incoming Chairman-in-Office Rau said, “During the Chairmanship in 2022 we will seek to develop interconnections and cohesion with the performance of previous Chairmanships and aim to advance an integrated and inclusive approach of the OSCE across three dimensions and dialogue with all parties involved.”

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In the period between 7 and 13 April 2021, the Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) carried out a series of awareness-raising seminars on the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture. The seminars were organized jointly with the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsperson).

The events were held in the Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya, Tashkent, and Khorezm regions and from the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. The seminars brought together representatives of regional state bodies working in the field of education and health care, law-enforcement agencies, judicial bodies and at the Chamber of Advocates. An expert from Kazakhstan shared her knowledge on the international standards of the freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment and punishment. In total, over 100 participants were trained.

Participants were informed about the large-scale reforms happening in the penitentiary system in the country to prevent the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment against detainees and prisoners. OSCE standards for the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, as well as foreign experience in public oversight of human rights in closed institutions were also discussed. Participants worked together in groups to make the seminars more interactive and they analyzed real cases on human rights issues. At the end of the seminar, participants were awarded with certificates.

The seminars were organized within the Project “Support to Establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism against Torture”, funded by the Governments of Italy and Norway.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 138 ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 93 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 27 ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 59 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM was unable to access its camera site at Oktiabr mine near non-government-controlled Donetsk city.
• SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were assessed as targeted by small-arms fire near government-controlled Krasnohorivka and non-government-controlled Yasne, Syhnalne, and Petrivske in Donetsk region.
• The Mission followed up on reports of the death of a girl due to the explosion of a hand grenade in non-government-controlled Snizhne, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation 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. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference.*

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 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 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. During this reporting period, the vaccination process provided by the host country medical system continues on a voluntary basis. By now, 73 per cent of OM staff have received the first jab of the vaccine.  

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 increased from 7,704 to 8,378 per day at both BCPs compared to last week. During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to the Russian Federation, with an average net flow of 182 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.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border was seven, compared to nine last week; five persons crossed into the Russian Federation while two 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, three families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while no families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when four families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and no 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 an increase in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (326 compared to 299 observed during the previous week). There were 175 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 151 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 decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (735 compared to 740 during the previous reporting week); 439 at the Gukovo BCP and 296 at the Donetsk BCP, 415 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation, and 320 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, Georgia, the Russian Federation, and trucks with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (40 compared to 48 during the previous reporting 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 significantly increased from 45 to 136. Of the total number of trucks scanned, all 136 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 just a slight decrease in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (140 compared to 141 observed during the previous week); 77 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 63 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 41 occasions; the OTs assessed that 16 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining 25 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 observed vehicles with Georgian, Armenian, and Lithuanian licence plates; they also observed a vehicle with “DPR” plates.

On 16 April at 17:38, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a group of nine brand-new ambulances with no licence plates entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking at the customs control area. Out of nine vehicles, eight had the inscription "Urgent Medical Help" and the remaining one had the inscription "Sanitary" written in Russian on the side. After undergoing border control procedures, including an X-ray check, the ambulances left the BCP for Ukraine at 20:20.

On 20 April at 01:53, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a white medium-sized truck and two white minivans with “LPR” plates, arriving at the BCP from Ukraine. All vehicles had an inscription ''LPR Post'' displayed on the side (in Russian). After undergoing border control procedures, the vehicles left the BCP to the Russian Federation at 02:03.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 16 March 2021 to 20 April 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).

VIENNA, 20 April 2021 — We must unite across countries and organizations to comprehensively prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism (VERLT), said participants today during the opening of the OSCE-wide Counter-Terrorism Conference online from 20 to 21 April.

“Terrorism is cruelty in its purest form. Innocent people are the target and the sites of attack are difficult to predict. The aim is to instill fear in the population, and to destabilize our societies at the expense of peace and security,” said Ann Linde, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. “That is why the OSCE participating States need to unite and never give up in their ambitions to prevent and combat terrorism, as well as to stand up for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.”

This year’s annual OSCE-wide Counter-Terrorism Conference, organized by Sweden’s 2021 OSCE Chairpersonship with the support of the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, has had more than 500 registered participants from across the OSCE area.

Over the two-day Conference, high-level representatives and experts from governments, state agencies, the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations, as well as representatives from the public and private sector, civil society, and academia will engage in dialogue and mutual learning. Together they will share good practices and lessons learned and explore ways to reinforce a comprehensive approach to preventing and countering terrorism and VERLT.

“Terrorism remains one of the most significant threats to security, social and economic development, and the enjoyment of human rights,” said Helga Maria Schmid, OSCE Secretary General, emphasizing the OSCE’s commitment to providing a “substantive and comprehensive contribution” to countering terrorism. “But we can only succeed in concert with others,” she added. “That’s why we have once again brought a plurality of voices to this meeting to exchange ideas and to strengthen our ability to act together, in line with international human rights obligations.”

Turning to the changing landscape of terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), said terrorist threats are evolving, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of far-right violent extremism, and the increased abuse of the internet for terrorist purposes. Underscoring the UN Secretary-General’s call for a sustained, reinvigorated and networked multilateral response to prevent and counter terrorism, Voronkov in this context stressed the importance of the strong OSCE-UNOCT partnership, as well as the efforts of the UN Global Counter Terrorism Coordination Compact. He also recognized how a number of OSCE participating States have repatriated nationals from Syria and Iraq who have been affected by terrorism, and reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s call to follow their example.

Andrey Novikov, Head of the Commonwealth of Independent States Anti-Terrorism Center, said the risk of terrorist threats remains high in Central Asia and called for continued cooperation in the region and across the OSCE area.

Over the course of the Conference, participants will explore how to address violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, tools for preventing terrorism and VERLT online within a human rights framework, and how to break the cycle and move away from violent extremism. They will also take part in three side events organized by OSCE participating States, academic and research institutions, and civil society organizations from different regions across the OSCE area.

The OSCE Presence in Albania presented a Handbook on Prosecutorial Leadership to heads of local prosecution offices across Albania, at an online event, on 20 April 2021.

The Handbook — which will be made available to all prosecutors — is a practical, go-to instrument to help prosecutors in managing their daily work and caseload and facilitate their role as leaders of an investigation. It is based on the findings of a gap analysis that the Presence conducted in 2019, which served to better inform the Presence’s further activities and engagements in support of the prosecutorial system in the country. One of the main findings of the gap analysis was the need to further enhance prosecutorial leadership, which the handbook addresses.

In the recent years, the OSCE Presence has engaged in the field of prosecution, because of the changes that the justice reform introduced to this system.

The Handbook on the Prosecutorial Leadership is available at https://www.osce.org/presence-in-albania/483992

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From 20 to 21 April 2021, the OSCE Programme Office in Uzbekistan (PCUz) is conducting a roundtable discussion, in blended format, aimed at advancing women's participation in politics and business, and investing in women's professional development and leadership skills. The event was jointly organized with the National Commission on Gender Equality and the Committee of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Women and Gender Equality.

More than fifty participants from Tashkent and the Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya regions are taking part in the discussions. Participants include members of the National Commission on Gender Equality, officials from the ministries and state agencies, members of political parties, NGOs and the media. Discussions focus on advancing the role of women in political participation and providing comprehensive support to businesswomen, especially the development of family entrepreneurship.

In her opening speech, Malika Kadirkhanova, Head of the Committee of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Women and Gender Equality, stressed that: “The committee works on strengthening the role of women in socio-economic and political life”. She added that the Committee is planning to study and raise these issues in the Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions that will help “seek solutions with the heads of the relevant state bodies, and to carry out systematic work.”

John MacGregor, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, said: “There are a number of OSCE commitments related to this sphere. The OSCE recognizes that equal rights of women and men are essential to foster peace, security, and sustainable development. We are continuing to organize a series of roundtable discussions between women leaders, and women in business, law enforcement and in civil society on the challenges women face in the different regions of Uzbekistan”.

The roundtable discussion is part of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Support to Women’s Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan”. The Governments of Finland and Norway provided financial support. This project is part of a longstanding commitment of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan to assist the country in promoting women`s participation in social, political and economic life within the society.