Central Europe

481036 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe completed a four-week training course on Sustained Field Operation Capacity for representatives of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence (Committee) in Bokhtar city of the Khatlon region on 12 March 2021.

The course aimed to improve the skills and capacities of the rescuers, using practical exercises in different situations, which will enhance their conduct during complex rescue operations in difficult field conditions all over Tajikistan.

During the training course, another group of 18 rescuers from Khatlon (in addition to the 64 rescuers trained previously) refreshed their skills in military/topography map reading and orientation, trace tracking, and river crossing, as well as in search-and-rescue operations in mountainous and water areas, in transport and collapsed buildings and during mudflows, avalanches and road accidents. Participants also learned about legal, human rights and gender-related aspects of conducting rescue operations.

Classes were delivered by representatives of the Committee and the OSCE.

Lieutenant General Rustam Nazarzoda, Chairperson of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence said that this is the first seminar held for a regional level rescue team, which brings the total number of seminars organized by the OSCE for the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense Rescue Unit to five. “We highly appreciate this training activity as it has not been conducted at the regional level before. The goal is the same - to save lives of people affected by natural disasters. I express my gratitude to the OSCE, the EU, the Committee’s Central Office and the Regional Administration for organizing such a seminar to improve rescuers skills. We are glad that a local specialist with the knowledge of disasters prevalent in the region was involved in holding these training courses.”

Naimjon Hojimatov, Commander of the Special Rapid Response Rescue Team of the Committee in Bokhtar city said: “During the four-week training course, we improved and enhanced our search and rescue knowledge both theoretically and practically. In the future, we plan to use new and digital technologies in our daily rescuing activities. New methods of search and rescue operations in various situations and first aid skills will be applied into practice to rescue victims affected by disasters.”

“Three cycles of five training courses on Sustained Field Operational Capacity, Advanced First Aid and Winter Specialization have been conducted for the representatives of the Committee. So far, ten male trainers and a local female trainer conducted the courses. In addition, 82 training participants, including 11 women, benefited from those courses,” said Valeriu Chiveri, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. “At the request of the Committee, regional rescuers were also involved in the training courses. Close and well-maintained co-operation between the Committee and the Office allows us to conduct the training courses in a proper way and achieve the expected results. It would have been impossible to achieve the results of the training course and the entire project without the significant financial contribution of the European Union.”

Petra Gašpárová, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Tajikistan said: “It is a pleasure to see that the EU-funded programme on “Stabilization of Tajikistan’s southern border region with Afghanistan” contributes to the development of skills and capacities for civil protection and emergency response. Efficient co-ordination and professional rescue or emergency operations help save lives, but also significantly contribute to security in the border areas.”

Over 180 participants, experts and high-level officials from around the OSCE region gathered for the OSCE webinar titled, “Terrorist Use of the Internet: Designation of Illicit Content Online and Gaps in Regulatory Frameworks”, held on 12 March 2021.

The online event was organized by the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department with the support of the Albanian Chair of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group and the OSCE External Co-operation Section. It aimed to build on the OSCE roundtable discussion on Leveraging Innovation and Technology to Address 21st Century Security Challenges and Crises across the OSCE and Asian Partners for Co-operation held in November 2020.

Opening the event, Ambassador Igli Hasani, Chair of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group said: “Building effective partnerships is crucial in our fight against terrorism. For our partnerships to be operational and meaningful, we need to co-operate beyond the layers of government and international organizational structures. As participating States, our fight against terrorism will only be as strong as our partnerships — building on mutual trust and pooling the resources between government agencies, civil society and the private sector.”

Alena Kupchyna, OSCE Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats, said: “The OSCE is committed to supporting efforts aimed at countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes. In pursuing all these efforts, we are striving to ensure that the benefits of new technologies are backed up with the necessary human rights safeguards, thereby furthering the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security.”

The webinar provided a platform for participants to review and examine the current and emerging trends, key issues and gaps related to how states’ regulatory and policy frameworks designate illicit and terrorist content online, as well as how online platforms handle this through their “terms of service”.

Expert discussions elaborated on how initiatives that claim to address various forms of violent extremist and terrorist content online may negatively affect fundamental human rights.

Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative for the Freedom of the Media, said in her keynote speech: “In practice, counter-terrorism and counter-’extremism’ approaches have proven to have far reaching effects upon media freedom across the OSCE region. Anti-’extremism’ laws, in particular, have been used to crackdown on journalists and others raising their voices in states across the region, in various ways, including for reporting or speaking out on matters in the public interest.”

The webinar panellists included representatives of the OSCE, as well as researchers and practitioners from think tanks and academia from Canada, Italy and Japan. They shared innovative practices and expert knowledge on designating and moderating violent extremist and terrorist content online. The important role of transparency, remedy and accountability measures in any pertinent legal and regulatory frameworks was also highlighted.

The OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, based in Geneva, has published its annual report for the year 2020. The report gives an account of the activities undertaken throughout the year.

The highlight of last year’s activities was the intervention of Emmanuel Decaux, President of the Court, at the Permanent Council of the OSCE in February 2020.

The report mentions also the book “Flexibility in International Dispute Settlement – Conciliation Revisited”, co-edited by Professor Christian Tomuschat, member of the current Bureau and former President of the Court. The book was released in August 2020 and presented at a virtual book launch event that took place in November 2020.

Another key activity covered in the report, is the first moot court organized by the Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana, an initiative targeted towards the younger generation and future jurists.

The report puts a particular focus on the communication efforts initiated by the current Bureau of the Court, elected in November 2019, to make the Court and its procedures more visible. Finally, the report provides some key information on institutional and financial matters.

The Court of Conciliation and Arbitration provides a set of mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes between States. The Court was established by the Convention of Stockholm, which entered into force on 5 December 1994. To date, 34 States have ratified the Convention.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 13 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 45 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 14 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 70 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure, and a transfer of funds from non-government to government-controlled areas.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Kreminets, in Donetsk region.*

481045

On 11 March, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Didier Nagant de Deuxchaisnes to discuss media freedom in the OSCE region and in Belgium.

During the meeting, Ribeiro and Nagant de Deuxchaisnes agreed that the current pandemic and the economic situation creates difficulties for the media, with the costs of quality journalism rising. They also discussed some of the challenging trends; including the increasing impact of Artificial Intelligence on the freedom of expression and the threat that disinformation can pose. They noted that disinformation extends beyond the topic of freedom of expression alone, affecting the overall security situation within the OSCE region.

Ribeiro and Nagant de Deuxchaisnes discussed the possibilities for the OSCE, as an intergovernmental organization, to closely collaborate on many media freedom issues. They also noted that it had been a good week, with a successful Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting, focusing on gender equality and bringing together participating States and civil society.

481078 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

The OSCE-supported “Safer Communities in Kazakhstan” Forum took place on 12 March 2021 in Nur-Sultan. The event focused on unifying the efforts of government bodies and NGOs in developing sustainable and safe communities in Kazakhstan.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Yerlan Turgumbayev, and Gyorgy Szabo, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan attended the Forum along with some fifty representatives of governmental institutions, NGOs and private sector companies, including speakers from Argentina, Canada, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom.  

“We strive to involve society as much as possible in the reform process. We establish an ongoing dialogue with the police and other government agencies, and assist the public in becoming more responsible for their own safety”, said Gyorgy Szabo.

The results of a pilot project of the Office on service approaches in security policy, which was undertaken by the Akimat (local administration) of the Karaganda region and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, were presented. Within the framework of the pilot project, an interdepartmental group was created to address the issues of the designated community areas. The group included representatives of government agencies and the public. It built upon the United Kingdom experience of Crime and Riot Prevention Partnerships.

Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan presented results of the modernization of the police and outlined prospects for the future. The IT community of Kazakhstan made presentations on the possibilities of digitalization of processes to improve the state of security in the country, as well as the role of video cameras in the prevention of offenses.

International experts shared experiences of their countries in maintaining safe and comfortable conditions for its citizens, police reforms, and the establishment of a dialogue with the public. The village of Rodina in the Akmola region presented the positive achievements businesses created for a safe community. Civil activists and public figures of Kazakhstan got the opportunity to share their ideas and points of view. Similar Forums will be conducted twice a year.

The event was part of the OSCE Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to support the host country in police reform within the OSCE Project “Supporting Police Reform in Kazakhstan.”

Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ton van den Brandt

WHEN

8 March 2021, 15:00 - 9 March 2021, 17:30

WHERE

Given the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic, this meeting will exceptionally take place online. (CET time zone)

ORGANIZED BY

The Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

Background

The first Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting of 2021 will provide a platform for an exchange of views among OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions and other executive structures, and a variety of international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders on the implementation of commitments related to the promotion of media freedom and gender equality.

The first session will focus on gender equality and the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds through any media.  

The second session will focus on the role of the media in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. A particular focus will be given to gender-sensitive reporting and the inclusion of women’s voices to strengthen conflict resolution.

The third session will focus on the safety of female journalists online and will be based on the RFoM #SOFJO Resource Guide.

Participants

Representatives of OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions and executive structures, representatives of inter-governmental organizations, representatives of civil society and researchers from the 57 participating States that have relevant experience in the topic are encouraged to participate in the SHDM. The Partners for Co-operation are invited to attend and contribute with respect to their co-operation and links with the OSCE in the field.

Live streaming

Live streaming of the event will be provided here. 

Modalities

The meeting will start with the opening session, followed by three working sessions and the closing session.

Interpretation will be provided in the six official OSCE languages: English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 45 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 128 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 70 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 26 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Sentianivka (formerly Frunze), Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded 53 ceasefire violations, including 17 undetermined explosions, at north-easterly and north-westerly directions of the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure. It heard two ceasefire violations close to the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) near the time when a bus with DFS workers was driving from the station.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and their corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

481012 Communication and Media Relations Section

OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid presented annual Gender Equality Champion awards at the Permanent Council on 11 March. Empowering women leaders in Uzbekistan, combating COVID 19-related domestic violence in Ukraine, dispelling discriminatory rumours in North Macedonia and working for gender parity in OSCE executive structures were among the achievements recognized.

“Congratulations to our gender champions and also to all the nominees. You are an inspiration to your colleagues, your departments and field operations and to the entire organization. Your hard work and efforts bring us closer to implementing the 2004 OSCE Gender Action Plan,” Secretary General Schmid said.

• Lola Maksudova, National Project Officer and Gender Focal Point in the office of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, was selected for the transformative effect of her many initiatives for gender equality. She especially initiated projects on women's political participation, combating violence against women, ensuring the development of the national referral mechanism for survivors of gender-based violence and on supporting the country's efforts on developing the national action plan on Women, Peace and Security.  

• Cornelius Nolen, Monitoring Officer in the Odessa Monitoring Team of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) was recognized for his unwavering dedication to combating violence against women and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. He designed and implemented an online lecture series on combating gender-based and domestic violence in the COVID-19 era for legal and psychological service providers. A second lecture series titled “UNSCR 1325 and SMM Women on the Line of Contact”, was presented to future leaders, young males and females, at six universities in the Odessa region, including law students and 150 police cadets.

• An anti-rumour campaign in North Macedonia received the award for raising awareness of the detrimental effects of discrimination on grounds of sex and gender by addressing deeply rooted gender biases. The campaign was implemented by Zhaneta Poposka, National Rule of Law Officer and Silvana Boshkovska-Georgievska, Senior Program Assistant at the OSCE Mission to Skopje. Facebook posts that reached 3.6 million people and 20 in-person events debunked stereotypes about Roma women, women with disabilities, Muslim women wearing religious insignia, young women, rural women and refugee and migrant women.

• Micheal Conneely, Deputy Director for Human Resources in the OSCE Secretariat, was named Gender Equality Champion in the leadership category. His inspirational and innovative work to support the OSCE’s Gender Parity Strategy includes the Bias Bites Campaign, Gender Coaching Programme, the webinar outreach programme and the Recruitment Boot Camp for Women.

The annual OSCE Gender Equality Champion awards were created three years ago to acknowledge exceptional work done by leaders, individuals, teams, and projects that promote gender equality. A total of 48 nominations were received in the four categories of the award: leadership, staff members, gender focal points and projects.

PODGORICA/VIENNA, 10 March – Increased participation of women in the police sector contributes to enhancing public confidence in the police. This was the conclusion of an online event of the OSCE project “Increasing and Supporting the Participation of Women at all Levels of Policing” held on 10 March 2021.

The final event of the project, piloted in Montenegro between July 2020 and February 2021, brought together 67 participants from Montenegro and regional and international organizations to assess the status of women’s participation in the Montenegrin Police and share experiences of female and male police officers in various levels of seniority. The study includes concrete and tailored recommendations to assist Montenegro in further advancing the participation of women at all levels of policing.

Opening the event, Alena Kupchyna, Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats at the OSCE Secretariat, said that the event is a milestone in the common efforts to enhance the participation of women – in societies and law enforcement. “We are here today because we want to accelerate the change, to make concrete progress and to be champions for equal participation of women and men in society as a whole. It is crucial that the police staff mirrors as much as possible the communities they serve.”

Sergej Sekulović, Minister of Interior in the Government of Montenegro, said that the project offers a roadmap for the Ministry and the Police Directorate, as well as for all other relevant social actors. “The percentage of women in the Police Directorate is not at a satisfactory level, especially in managerial positions and in the operational staff. The statistics show that only 15.9 per cent of women are among police officers, while 84.1 per cent are men. This fact is based on the patriarchal patterns of Montenegrin society, and should be addressed through a multidisciplinary approach.”

Maria Gratschew, Counsellor in the Swedish OSCE 2021 Chairpersonship, said that supporting police development and reform, which includes building police-public partnership, creating multi-ethnic police services, and promoting gender mainstreaming, are among the key elements in the OSCE’s present mandate and priorities of policing.

Luca Zelioli, Ambassador of Italy to Montenegro, stated that by implementing recommendations within this OSCE study, Montenegro could become a leading example in gender equality among law enforcement services in the Western Balkans. “This would represent a major step forward not only for the Police Directorate, but also for the entire Montenegrin society, helping to break traditional patterns that, unfortunately, continue to obstruct female contribution in so many fields.”

Boris Gandel, Ambassador of Slovakia to Montenegro said that comprehensive security could only be achieved if everyone in our populations is included. “The meaningful inclusion of women in all spheres of public and private life is vital to the security and development of societies.”

Thanking the Montenegrin authorities for volunteering as the pilot site for this project, Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, said research shows that the professionalism of the police improves with increased participation of women police officers, along with the quality of services they provide to the public. “Women bring a positive impact on law enforcement practices and women officers help improve police-community relations.”

During the event, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro presented six public information campaign videos promoting women as police officers, with the slogan, “We are the power of the team — For more women in policing.” This campaign will be launched in Montenegro this spring.

The project was led by the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department and implemented in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, with financial support from the governments of Italy and Slovakia.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 128 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period it recorded 105 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 26 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 20 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Troitske, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure. It heard 77 ceasefire violations, including 54 undetermined explosions, close to the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS), near the time when a bus with DFS workers was driving from the station.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM monitored an event on the occasion of International Women’s Day in Kherson city.
• The Mission saw a gathering in central Kyiv related to events in the Crimean peninsula in March 2014.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.

VIENNA, 10 March 2021 — Progress has been made since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security more than 20 years ago, but more concrete actions are needed, said participants at the joint meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) and the OSCE Permanent Council held online today to mark International Women’s Day this week.

The joint session, organized under the United States’ FSC Chairpersonship and Sweden’s 2021 OSCE Chairpersonship, provided a platform for discussing UNSCR 1325 and subsequent resolutions, and concrete steps toward the resolutions’ implementation, as well as gender equality more broadly. It also explored how the FSC and the OSCE work to integrate and empower women in the security sector and the fields of arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation.

Adopted in October 2000, UNSCR 1325 is a landmark document addressing the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women and girls, recognizing the importance of women's equal participation in maintaining and promoting peace and security, and the need to enhance protection of women and girls and their rights. UNSCR 1325 and subsequent resolutions provide a framework for furthering the role of women in matters of peace and security at all levels.

Stating that women often are “strong actors that facilitate positive change and conflict management in their communities”, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ambassador Ulrika Funered said, “We have come far on the path to gender equality, but much is still left to be done. Twenty years since the adoption of UNSCR 1325, the figures speak for themselves — it is not good enough.” She emphasized that, “research and knowledge on the role women can and should play in peace processes must turn into prompt action and real implementation on the ground.” 

While progress has been made, women are far too often facing unequal access to important decision-making fora on security policies, said OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid. “Peace agreements carry a higher risk of falling apart when women are not included in the negotiation process. The evidence is absolutely empirical. So ensuring women’s equal participation in matters of peace and security will benefit us all.” She outlined how the OSCE proactively supports the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, including through the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, as part of its comprehensive approach to security.

Reflecting on the growing role of women in the United States military over the last 30 years, Jessica Meyeraan, Brigadier General of the United States Air Force and Deputy Director of Partnering and Missile Defense at U.S. European Command, shared her perspective on why gender equality matters in peace and security.

“Women frame problems, apply experiences, demonstrate important sensitivities, attend to details, and present considerations in a way that can have a powerfully positive impact on peace and security,” she said. “When we work to shatter antiquated gender expectations, change social and cultural factors and acknowledge intellectual equality between women and men, we can actually make a difference.”

Recalling efforts by OSCE participating States to support UNSCR 1325 at the 2020 Ministerial Council, Alexandra Bell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, said it is time to turn discussions into action. “Provide women with capacity-building, access to decision-making opportunities, and the protection necessary to allow for full and meaningful participation in our security work in the FSC.”

Closing the meeting, Chantal de Jonge Oudraat, President of Women in International Security, laid out research on the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and proposed three inter-related projects to help advance gender equality to strengthen security throughout society and the FSC’s objectives on transparency and trust and confidence-building.

“In our globalized world, security is not just about the security of states, but also about the security of people and individuals,” she said. “We have to recognize that the gender equality agenda is a global, multi-dimensional, multi-generational campaign — but the outcome is critical for war and peace.”

SKOPJE, 10 March 2021 – The OSCE Mission to Skopje launched today a new project aimed at assisting North Macedonia in reducing the risk of trafficking and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SALW), which pose security risks to the country and the wider region.

“The safety of national SALW stockpiles is of paramount importance to increase security, contribute to fighting organized crime, and prevent trafficking, ultimately contributing to the security of citizens in the region and beyond,” said Clemens Koja, Head of OSCE Mission to Skopje at the opening of the kick-off event.

The project, based on input from the government of North Macedonia, builds on the results of a previous project, which the Mission delivered over the last four years.

Oliver Spasovski, Minister of Internal Affairs, said that the problem of uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons has gained importance in recent years in international, regional and national agendas. This global situation affects mass migration, which changes the existing terrorist models and therefore multiplies the potentially dangerous consequences of small arms and light weapons.

“We often see that this type of illegal and criminal activity is one of the catalysts that further transforms local incidents into much wider regional and global events. From this aspect, it is of utmost importance, on a global level, to build standards for developing effective systems for exchange of information and transparency, sharing best practices, and raising public awareness through the implementation of appropriate projects,” said Spasovski.

Otto Graf, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Skopje said that the aim of this project is to support the law enforcement sector of North Macedonia to develop its professional service. “This will help the country better address trans-national threats through small arms and light weapons as well as fight organized crime.”

​The European Union and the German Foreign Office provided financial support for both projects. Within the initial project, the Mission helped the Ministry of Internal Affairs upgrade the security infrastructure at 15 border posts throughout the country, establish standard rules of procedure for SALW stockpile management, and strengthen the role of the National SALW Commission.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 105 ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours it recorded nine ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 20 ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and observed people inside the area near Zolote.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission visited two border crossing points outside government control in Luhansk region.
• The SMM monitored events on the occasion of International Women’s Day in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Kramatorsk.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.

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). 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.

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 6,930 to 7,319 per day at both BCPs compared to last week.

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 307 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 15, compared to four last week; seven persons crossed into the Russian Federation while eight persons crossed into Ukraine. These individuals crossed the border on foot.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families, sometimes with elderly persons and/or children, crossing the border at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, seven families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while 17 families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when six families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and five 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 (322 compared to 297 observed during the previous week). There were 169 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 153 bound for Ukraine.  Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the “irregular” route “Sevastopol” was noted.

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 decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (724 compared to 849 during the previous reporting week); 394 at the Gukovo BCP and 330 at the Donetsk BCP, 383 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation, and 341 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 Armenia, Belarus, Lithuania, 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 slight increase in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (36 compared to 30 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 increased from 137 to 160. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 160 trucks (100 per cent) were bound for Ukraine.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[1] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (130 compared to 198 observed during the previous week); 81 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 49 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 27 occasions; the OTs assessed that 15 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining 12 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 Belarusian, Georgian, and Lithuanian licence plates, and vehicles with “DPR” plates too.

On 5 March at 13:55, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a group of nine brand-new ambulances, all “Gazel” models, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation without licence plates and parking at the customs control area. The OT noticed only one driver inside each vehicle. All the vehicles underwent customs control procedures and left for Ukraine at 15:55.

On 8 March at 10:46, the OT at the BCP Donetsk observed a Russian Federation police minivan, also a “Gazel” model, arriving at the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking next to the main building. At 11:02, the police vehicle drove back towards the Russian Federation. The OT was unable to observe any other details from its position.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 2 February 2021 to 9 March 2021, please see the attachment here.

[1] 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).                       

480820

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in co-operation with the Centre for Retraining of Journalists and with the support of the British Embassy in Tashkent, is organizing a train-the-trainers workshop on 10 and 11 March 2021 in Tashkent. Thirty-five local media professionals will be trained as instructors in the use of social media, in legislative and regulatory developments related to social media, and in journalistic ethics and the rights of journalists and bloggers.

Subsequently, participants will pass on their newly acquired skills to other journalists and bloggers in six regional centres (Andijan, Jizzakh, Navoiy, Samarkand, Termez and Urgench) of Uzbekistan during a similar training event from 12 to 24 March.  

“Free and independent media are at the cornerstone of democratic societies. The OSCE is engaged in media development through organizing training courses and by providing support for journalists,” said Project Officer Natasa Rasic.

This series of capacity-building events is organized in the framework of the project “Supporting mass media through increased capacity of journalists and bloggers in Uzbekistan”. It aims at developing professional skills of independent journalists and bloggers across the country to improve media content for local audiences. It is supported by the extra-budgetary contribution of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK).

VIENNA, 9 March 2021 — Ensuring both equal opportunities and equal safeguards for women and men is key to an independent and diverse media landscape, which is vital for open societies based on the principles at the heart of OSCE commitments to human rights and democracy, participants said at a two-day OSCE meeting that ended today.  

“This meeting covered two areas that are central parts of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security — freedom of the media and gender equality. In Milan 2018, we all reiterated that independent media is essential to a free and open society, and that accountable systems of government are of particular importance in safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms. This was also the first time when we explicitly expressed our concern about the distinct risks faced by women journalists in relation to their work. Our commitments are strong, and it is our duty to implement what we have jointly agreed on,” said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde.

There were more than 370 registrations from across the OSCE region for the meeting, which has been held online since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A broad mix of participants from OSCE states and civil society took part, as well as representatives from international organizations and national human rights institutions. Participants emphasized the importance of a diverse and independent media that is able to report on issues of public interest, as well as the free flow of information accessible to all citizens.

“Now, perhaps more than ever, we need to invest in a free and vibrant journalistic scene,” said the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro. “This means, amongst others, that we need media and information literacy, fact checking initiatives, transparent governments that refrain from bashing the media, strong quality journalism and independent media regulators. But, perhaps most importantly, we need to support media pluralism, with a multitude of voices, including those of women journalists.”

As well as debating gender equality and the right to freedom of expression and information, experts discussed the importance of women’s voices in strengthening conflict resolution and peacebuilding, as well as the need to make the online space safe for women journalists. While new technologies have provided unparalleled opportunities for freedom of expression, attacks on journalists are becoming increasingly frequent. Nowhere is this form of abuse more visible than online. A guide developed by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media is helping to effectively combat and prevent these attacks, which not only harm those targeted but also freedom of expression more broadly.

“All OSCE countries have recognized the importance of the free flow of information for our societies,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “Democracies can flourish only when citizens and institutions can engage in well-informed discussions and make considered decisions. In order to achieve this, it is important to have access to a broad range of opinions and sources, and the work of women in the media is a vital part of this mix. No journalist should have to fear for their safety — whether off- or online — for performing this essential task in any democracy.”

Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings are a platform for the OSCE’s participating States and OSCE institutions, as well as international organizations and civil society, to exchange views and good practices in order to find common solutions for the challenges facing societies across the OSCE region. Two more such meetings on pressing topics related to democracy and human rights are planned for 2021.

A roundtable event to discuss and co-ordinate activities on the effective implementation of the National Strategy on Penal Reform for 2020-2030 took place on 4 March 2021 in Dushanbe.

The European Union, together with Penal Reform International, organized the event, whose aim was to discuss key areas of co-operation on how to implement the National Strategy on Penal Reform as well as developing concrete recommendations for the effective implementation of the Strategy and its Action Plan. The Strategy was developed with the Programme Office’s support in 2016 and approved by the Government on 25 June 2020. Participants discussed the work of the penal system of the Republic of Tajikistan during the COVID-19 pandemic and further plans for developing the medical service within the framework of the Penal reform strategy.

Some 47 experts, civil society representatives, government officials, media community and international organizations, almost half of them women, attended the event.

Robert Heuer, Head of the Human Dimension Department of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe said: “Today's event provided a platform for dialogue, information-sharing and updates on the new national penal reform strategy and various implementing efforts that are already underway, including rehabilitation and reintegration for adult and juvenile offenders, alternative sentencing and probation. We look forward to continued co-operation in advancing penal reform with a human rights based approach.”

Ilhom Mahmudzoda, Deputy Head of the Main Administration for Execution of Criminal Penalties of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan said: “The Main Administration for Execution of Criminal Penalties of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan is grateful to the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe for its assistance in developing and implementing the Penal System Reform Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan until 2030 and looks forward to constructive cooperation in the future work.”

“The European Union remains committed to providing its full political and financial support to the implementation of the prison reform in Tajikistan, with a particular focus on human rights aspects,” said Nils Jansons, Political Officer-Attaché from the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan.

Participants discussed issues related to the rehabilitation programme for prisoners; methodology and criteria for prisoner classification and risk assessment tool; alternative sentencing and probation; and promoting a human rights-based approach in reforming the penal system.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 5 and 7 March, the SMM recorded 106 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 59 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 5 and 7 March, the Mission recorded 12 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 46 ceasefire violations.
• An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was lost near government-controlled Romanivka, Donetsk region. During the flight the UAV experienced a dual GPS technical failure.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM 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 their corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission monitored the security situation in south-east Kherson region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

SKOPJE, 8 March 2021 – Today, on the occasion of International Women’s day, the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of North Macedonia published a Mission-supported analysis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender and diversity.  The analysis shows that the pandemic, and the response to it, has had a disproportionally negative effect on women in all sectors and age groups.

According to the study, mothers are almost 70 percent more likely than fathers to have taken the role of the main caregiver, following the closure of schools and kindergartens.

“If not properly addressed by targeted government policies, the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic may also increase inequality, exclusion, and discrimination. Women in general, and vulnerable groups such as Roma, single mothers, persons with disabilities, and rural women in particularly are the most affected,” said Clemens Koja, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje during the online event.

Minister of Labour and Social Policy Jagoda Shahpaska said: “The pandemic was not an obstacle; on the contrary, it was a challenge to adopt two key laws that largely affect women, namely the Law on Prevention and Protection against Discrimination and the Law on Prevention and Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. This is proof that women are most powerful when they are united. There is still a lot of work to be done in the field of eliminating discrimination in the labour market and ensuring gender-responsive budgeting, but above all the challenge is to fight the pandemic and adapt to the new normal.”

The analysis, available at https://www.osce.org/mission-to-skopje/480401, was developed together with the Centre for Research and Policy Making and the civil society organizations Radar, Polio Plus, Rural Coalition, and the National Network to End Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.